The preparation for the Culling Game continues. Maki may not have gotten the cursed tools of the Zenin Clan and lost her sister, but she did wipe them all out. No more of their toxic influence and Game of Thrones scheming. Meanwhile, Yuji and Megumi have to go and convince a senpai on bad terms with the authority figures to help them in the Game. And this guy is a real rebel who believes in following oneโs passion to the fullest!
Which is fine by me, as I like people who want to follow their dreams even if they’re crazy. And anyone on bad terms with the leaders of the Jujutsu world gets bonus points in my book. Plus, it helps that their seiyuu is the guy who plays Roronoa Zoro!
Those Old Geezers at JJ HQ are on my Hate List
If it hasn’t been made clear by my reviews of JJK, or some of my other writings, I hate toxic conservatism. By which I mean I hate dogmatic people who insist on maintaining things the way they are, even when changing with the times would benefit them. And the leaders of Jujutsu society that aren’t named Satoru Gojo all qualify as such. Not only did they try to kill Yuji and make it a crime for Gojo to be unsealed, but this episode opens with one of their most heinous crimes: the murder of Principal Yaga.
Yaga was the one who created Panda, the first self-sustaining Cursed Corpse. HQ wanted that secret technique to create their own army of puppets to enforce their rules, but Yaga refused. And he made sure that before he died, he only told his fellow Principal Gakuganji the secret because he saw that knowledge as a curse. And this actually manages to get to the old man! Even more so when Panda comes along only moments after Yaga died and says that he’s not mad at him for following orders.
This entire thing was genuinely heartbreaking for me to watch. This is the equivalent of Pinocchio coming home to find Geppetto dead because some jerk ordered a hit on him. It’s downright tragic to watch, and even Gakuganji is shaken by his fellow educatorโs death. When Gojo is unsealed, those higher-ups shouldn’t even bother praying, because they already signed their own death warrants.
I Like Hakari Already
While all of this is happening, Yuji and Megumi are on their own mission: to find and recruit their senpai, Hakari Kinji. He’s a third year at Tokyo Jujutsu High, but he’s been suspended by the higher-ups for being a good-for-nothing, headstrong rebel. As the two first-years see for themselves, that’s not an unwarranted opinion; he’s running a fight club for Sorcerers.
Even before we meet him, it’s clear why the conservatives running Jujutsu society hate Hakari. They’re rigid traditionalists who hate any concept of changing with the times, while Hakari is the new blood chafing under authority and longing to break free. Heโs the kind of guy who encourages people to indulge in what they love and find passion in, because without that, what is life even about? Hence, his main reason for clashing with the higher ups is because wants encourage everyone in Japan to follow their passions. And for him, that means wanting to legalize his fight club and gambling in Jujutsu society.
I have to admit, I was pretty sold on Hakari before we even got a chance to meet him. Firstly, itโs because HQ hates him. Secondly, while I dont exactly approve of a fight club, I respect the hustle. Thirdly, he’s voiced by Zoroโs seiyuu, which gives him bonus points for aura. And once Yuji meets him, his aura only manages to get even better.
The entire meeting between Yuji and Hakari has to be one of the best scenes in the entire anime. It’s just one continuous shot with no change in perspective, camera angles, or anything. It’s impressive, crazy, and somehow manages to work. Then again, chaos seems to be what this series is about to run on, so I’m not surprised.
"Jujutsu Kaisen S3 Episode 4"
LMAO 4+ min single-camera-angle shot, only JJK can pull this unusual stuff in every ep. ๐ญ tho idk if any anime did that already. pic.twitter.com/6vkCtvzI2N
On the last episode of Sentenced to be a Hero, we got to see what Xylo and the hero unitโs missions are like when theyโre not basically going AWOL. Xylo, Teoritta, this madman called Tatsuya, and this guy named Norgalle whose convinced heโs a king, all went on a mission to secure a mine. But when they discover demons infesting the place and a group of miners still trapped inside, what does Xylo do? Disobeys orders to rescue them, naturally. Which, to be frank, is a pretty heroic thing to do. And after this episode, I think that Xylo and the others deserve to be called heroes in the traditional sense, especially Norgalle.
Don’t Try to Die Nobly in Battle if you Can Avoid it
So, with the Holy Knights ordered to collapse the mines hanging over their heads, Xylo, Norgalle, and Tatsuya work to rescue the remaining miners. Teoritta is forced to stay behind due to Xylo refusing to unnecessarily put her life at risk. This ends up conflicting with Teorittaโs own willingness to do just that, not caring what happens so long as she does a noble death.
The entire theme behind this whole episode seems to be about how we view war and death in battle. Teoritta and Norgalle donโt seem to mind dying so long as they do so helping others live to see another day, which is an admirable mindset. That, and they think going out taking as many enemies as possible is a metal way to die. In contrast, we have Xylo, the weary war veteran who understands that once youโre dead, thatโs it. Barring unnatural methods like what the heroes are sentenced to, and unless thereโs an afterlife or reincarnation cycle, thatโs the end. Even coming back like the heroes takes a toll on them, so death is still something to worry about. And after seeing what he has, Xylo refuses to let anyone die a pointless death.
Which is why, when Teoritta eventually chooses to ignore his orders to stay behind, heโs mad. But I can understand why she did it.
Never Abandon your Comrades
Anime has taught me a lot of things, but one big one is that if you have to choose between following the rules or breaking them to save lives, itโs better to break them. Itโs why Xylo and the others went to rescue the miners, and itโs why Teoritta opts to do the same. But while Xylo is the one who agreed to this, itโs actually Norgalle who steps up in this episode.
I donโt know if Norgalle is actually a king or not, but even if he isnโt, heโs got the bearing of one. Whereas other monarchs would insist on staying behind the frontlines and act as if their life is more important, Norgalle is the kind of king who does the opposite. Je spends this entire episode putting the miners’ needs before his own, doing everything in his power to ensure they make it out alive and refusing to see them as expendable. Delusional or not, that kind of selflessness is endearing, and it inspires the miners to help fight back the demons. Which, by the way, were indeed created due to a Demon Lord brainwashing the other miners, much to Norgalleโs fury. His majestyโs best moment, though, comes when he chooses to cut off his own leg so he can stun the Demon long enough for Xylo to kill it. That is the kind of crazy that can get things done!
Thanks to the heroes and Teoritta, all the remaining miners are able to escape and return home to their families. And despite many still viewing them as scum, a small handful of them work up the courage to thank them. Scum or not, they saved people, and that is worthy of respect. Even Kivia stands up for them by saying they did the right thing. I donโt know if this will end up sticking or not, but if Xylo was able to change a small group of peopleโs minds, then maybe he can do it more and more until everyone sees him as the hero that Teoritta, and by extension, the audience, know he can be.
I Give “Sentence: Spearhead the Recapture of the Zewan Gan Tunnels 2” a 4/5
The Uchiha Clan Massacre, one of the defining moments in the backstory of the Naruto series. In a single night, one lone ninja proceeded to slaughter almost the entirety of his powerful clan, save for himself, the guy who helped him, and his little brother. And he did it all under the orders of a man who had no authority to make him do that. It was a tragedy that could’ve been prevented, and in the long run, it caused more harm than good for everyone involved. Why am I bringing this up now when we’re talking about Jujutsu Kaisen? Because the anime just gave the Uchiha Clan Massacre 2.0. Except this time, it’s entirely justified, the one doing the killing is in the right, and the clan in question deserves everything happening to them. Maki did what she had to do.
F the Zenin Clan
So, after spending the last episode focusing entirely on exposition as Tengen, Yuji, and all their allies prepare to stop Kenjaku’s plans, this one is focused on the actual preparation. Their first order of business is to retrieve all the weapons and gear the Zenin Clan has locked in their storehouses. So Maki heads to their compound with the authority of her cousin Megumi, who is now the clan head, remember, to do just that. The Zenin Clan, though, has no intention of playing ball whatsoever.
Let me remind you what I said in my review for the preview movie: the Zenin Clan sucks. They are one of the three biggest and oldest clans of Jujutsu sorcerers in Japan, and a family of backwards thinking, ultra-conservative, sexist jerks. Not to mention how they’re convinced that they’re in a story like Game of Thrones where it’s all the intrigue and scheming. Because even though they are facing the existential threat Kenjaku is bringing to Japan, all they care about is their own power. They have no intention of letting Megumi be clan head, with their leaders using those dumb orders banning Gojo from being unsealed as an excuse to try and off him. And when Maki comes back, all they do is look down on her for having zero cursed energy and being a woman. Naoya even says she’s worthless now that she’s got all those scars on her. But that’s only the start, as Maki goes to the vault, and all she finds there is her deadbeat dad and her mortally wounded twin sister, Mai. And then her dad almost kills Maki and leaves them both for dead.
Time for a quick tangent, by the way. Gege, you are an absolute master of the art of making characters whose existence people can loathe with their entire being. Naoya was already a arrogant, sexist jerk that deserves a punch to the face. But the girl’s dad? All he does is whine about how he’s not the clan head and blaming it all on his daughters’ existence. He even says that “children shouldn’t hold back their parents,” with a straight face. This is the definition of a deadbeat parent, and while there are a lot of things I hate, there’s nothing worse than a bad parent.
Which only makes what happens next all the more satisifying.
All my Homies Hate the Zenin Clan
There’s a reason why Maki has no cursed energy whatsoever. The rules of Jujutsu treat twins as the same person. So when twins are born, they get restricted. In the girl’s case, Mai got all the cursed energy, while Maki should have gotten a superhuman body like Toji did to compensate. So long as one lives, the other can’t reach their full potential. Which is why Mai, who never wanted to be a sorcerer, chooses to let herself die so that her sister can unlock her full potential.
This is an absolute tragedy, and even though I wish that the anime could’ve spent an entire episode on just this, I think it manages to hammer that aspect home. All Maki wanted was to change the Zenin Clan so that it could accept her and Mai and give them the home they wanted. But the Zenin Clan was so rigid in their beliefs that they refused to let that happen, even when it would’ve benefitted them in the long run. Thanks to everyone’s stubbornness, Mai has died, and Maki has lost everything.
But thanks to their arrogance, the Zenin Clan didn’t kill the twins when they had the chance. Because now, it’s time for their own Uchiha Clan Massacre.
Toji Could’ve gone Full Kratos on the Zenin Clan if he Wanted
Fans of JJK know who Toji Fushiguro is. Born to the Zenin Clan with no cursed energy, he bailed on them and discarded his last name due to them treating him like dirt. They shouldn’t have, because the universe chose to compensate him for his lack of cursed energy by giving him a body as strong as steel, with superhuman senses and strength to go with it. That meant that he could kill Jujutsu sorcerers with hardly a scratch, and made him their absolute worst nightmare. He could’ve killed his entire clan for treating him like garbage, but chose to take the high road on it.
Maki, on the other hand? Let’s review everything all the crimes the Zenin Clan has committed against her:
A lifetime of emotional and physical abuse
Disobeying a direct order from the head of their clan
Murder of her sister
Multiple accounts of attempted murder
The verdict is guilty, the sentence is death, and the executioner is Maki, courtesy of the sword Mai made her before she died.
The Massacre Straight out of Kill Bill
What happens next isn’t just the Uchiha Clan Massacre for a new generation. It’s the Uchiha Clan Massacre fused with Kratos’ rampage against the Olympian Gods. And it is as close to perfect as possible…at least if you’re from the West.
It’s common to find anime fans from the West disagreeing with their Japanese counterparts, but there’s something special about how our reactions to this episode of JJK. Everyone I’ve seen stateside has been calling the best episode of the series. They’re looking at the scene of Maki wasting those mooks and are saying how it’s just like the Bride killing the Crazy 88 in Kill Bill. I looked up a clip of the scene on YouTube, and everyone’s commenting just that!
And the part where Maki tanks the hits from the Hei unit! That one guy dies thinking that he helped kill Maki, but she just walks away with the head of another Hei member and throws it into a pond!
And that fight with Naoya! Even if he gave us one of the first memes of the year, everyone agrees Naoya deserves to get his face caved in! And the anime didn’t disappoint as Maki absolutely embarrasses him! They repeated the clip of her breaking his skull four times, and it’s still satisfying! And her carnage didn’t stop at the compound! She hunted down any Zen’in clan members who weren’t there and killed them all! Is it any wonder why those with Maki stock are taking a victory lap?
So why are the Japanese hating on this? From what I’ve heard, cultural differences.
Japan Didn’t See this the Way Americans Did
According to what I’ve heard, a big issue they have with the episode is how it portrays the massacre. They don’t like the upbeat and energetic music and pacing. To them, this event is supposed to be a somber tragedy because of what happens to Maki and Mai. And I do agree with them on that part. What happened to Maki and Mai is indeed a tragedy brought about by Maki and her clan’s mutual stubbornness. Had Maki not tried to spite the family that didn’t deserve her and just walked away with her sister, Mai wouldn’t have had to die. And I do think that the anime could’ve made this entire thing more menacing to respect Mai. Remember, despite thinking it had to be done, Itachi hated himself for having to kill his clan and wanted to face justice for it, even if others might not see it that way. But while what happens is a tragedy, Westerners don’t see it like that.
We often consider getting revenge to be a costly, self-destructive act. At the same time, though, if we find the ones who are the targets of said revenge to be utterly reprehensible, we’re willing to justify it. And, admittedly, there’s something satisfying on a primal level in seeing the hero beat the snot out of a villain who greatly wronged them. Ergo, while we may mourn Mai’s death, I couldn’t help but smirk as I saw Maki bury the backwards, sexist, backstabbing Zen’in clan six feet under. Even more satisfying is seeing Naoya go out like a chump at the hands of Maki’s dying mother.
So, despite what the Japanese have to say about it, and despite me wanting an entire episode dedicated to Maki’s killing spree, I still loved this. I have been wanting to see this animated for a while now, and while it wasn’t quite what I expected, it’s already one of my favorite anime moments of the year. Maki, you have effectively solidified your place as THAT girl! All hail the Queen of Jujutsu Kaisen, Maki!!
My fellow Jujutsu sorcerers, Jujutsu Kaisen is back! Well, it’s been back for about a week by the time I’m writing this, but I didn’t write about the first two episodes. There was no need to, since I had already covered them in my review of the compilation movie. But now that they’re out, I’m free to cover everything going forward as we get into the Culling Games. I’m going into this basically blind, but from what I’ve heard, and based on how crazy the new OP is, this is going to be absolute chaos!
What is the Culling Game?
So, where were we when we last left off? Yuji was a fugitive from the corrupt Jujutsu heads alongside his half-human, half-cursed spirit half-brother. Nagoya โDbagโ Zenโin tried to kill Yuji. Yuta showed up like an absolute CHAD and helped Yuji fake his death. And now all the good guys reunite at Tokyo Jujutsu High to meet Tengen, the immortal responsible for the barriers protecting the high schools in Tokyo and Kyoto. This brings us to this episode, which is more or less dedicated to exposition dumping on what the heck is about to happen.
Which is good, because I’ve always had a hard time understanding the power system in JJK, and I’ve had an even harder time trying to understand what the end goal of the antagonistโs is for the Culling Games.
To sum it up as best as I can understand it, it’s like the Infinite Tsukuyomi from Naruto meets Fortnite.
No, really. The ultimate plan of Kenjaku, the sorcerer who has possessed Getoโs corpse, is to force humanity to evolve by giving everyone access to cursed energy. His plan is to have humanity fuse with Tengen, who has evolved to become less a human and more an abstract entity, granting them all curse energy. To do that, he needs a massive amount of cursed energy be unleashed, hence why he’s been working behind the scenes for a thousand years trying to make the Culling Games happen. He made pacts with ancient sorcerers to have them participate in exchange for bringing them back in new bodies, which he did by feeding people cursed objects containing their souls. He also found people with cursed techniques who couldn’t use them and modified their brains so that they could, using the disaster curses and others to accomplish this. And since users of the Six Eyes like Gojo kept foiling him in the past, he made sure to seal Gojo so the technique wouldn’t pass on to someone else. All of this culiminated at Shibuya, where Kenjaku used everything to awaken thousands of sorcerers, both ancient and modern-day, and unleashed countless cursed spirits across Japan.
Da Rules
So, there a boatload of sorcerers who appeared out of nowhere, hordes of cursed spirits that have formed colonies across Japan, and Kenjaku is forcing them all to fight in the Jujutsu equivalent to Fortnite. All so he can merge humanity for the sake of transcending their current limitations. And to make matters worse, joining the Culling Games is non-negotiable for those picked. There are rules that even say so!
Anyone who gets a cursed technique has to join nineteen days after awakening said technique by entering one of the colonies.
Refusal to join will lead to players deaths by removal of cursed technique.
Non-players who enter colonies become players by default.
Points are gained by killing players and non-players
Point values are determined by game master
Players who gain 100 points can ask game master to add a new rule to the game. No takebacks!
The game master must agree to new rule as long as it doesn’t mess with the game.
Players whose scores haven’t changed after 19 days will die.
And to make sure that the game can’t end if he dies, Kenjaku made it so he isn’t the game master. This Shinigami thing called a kogane is!
Credit where credit is due; as someone who enjoys games myself, Kenjaku really thought this out. A pity that he’s doing this for the sake of evil. And with Gojo sealed in the Prison Realm, and the tools needed to free him destroyed or out of energy, there’s no way for him to stop Kenjaku.
Or is there?
One Chance
As fate would have it, one of those reawakened sorcerers, Angel, has a technique that can nullify other cursed techniques. Which means that she’s able to open the back door to the Prison Realm and let Gojo out. So, if they want to stop this madness, then they’re going to have to find Angel. But since this episode already gave us plenty of exposition, the anime decided to cut us some slack and give us this video explaining the good guyโs plans.
Everyone has their marching orders now, and so everyone must get ready to play the deadliest game of their lives.
Now, some people are no doubt asking why Kenjaku decided to make the rules as they are, let alone give players the chance to alter them or provide an out. That seems counterproductive to his evil plans for forced assimilation. The thing is, he probably doesn’t care if he ends up failing. His only goal is to force humanity to evolve, and conflict has always been a surefire way of seeing this happen. Think of how many leaps and bounds in technology have been made thanks to war making them a necessity. Even if he fails and even if the game falls apart, that won’t change the fact that he’s shaken Jujustu society to its core. They have to change now.
Great Exposition
Personally, I liked this episode. It might have to do with growing up watching Yu-Gi-Oh!, but I enjoy hearing exposition so I can better understand what’s going on. And judging by the comments on that Crunchyroll video, there are plenty who are having a hard time understanding how this whole thing will work. But what I think is my favorite part of this episode has to be the ending as we get our first look at one of those awakened sorcerers. I read about him on TV Tropes, and from the sounds of it (and how he is in the OP), he’s going to be pretty funny. Heaven knows we need that considering what’s about to happen.
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen a group of convicts be used as cannon fodder by uncaring superiors, I’d have a few extra dollars. Which isn’t much, but it’s weird how I’ve seen it happen multiple times in fiction. That being said, Sentenced to be a Hero is looking to be one of the biggest anime of the season. People are praising it for the story, the animation, and the characters, and it’s not hard to see why. Motherโs Basement included it in his list of heavy hitters for the winter 2026 season; he nicknames it โGantz of Thrones.โ That’s incredibly accurate, in my opinion! The Heroes are people being used as fodder in a war they’re expected to die in, but can be brought back for more, and not all of them are mentally put together. But that won’t stop them from doing their job.
So, despite the premiere ending with Xylo getting arrested and accused of stealing Teoritta, he wakes up in a tent with nothing having happened to him. Which makes sense, considering how he’s already been sentenced to the worst possible punishment as eternal fodder in a war. Credit where it’s due, though: that knight Kivia does apologize for the accusation when they meet up later in the episode. But Xylo couldn’t care less, as he tells her point-blank that she wouldn’t have believed him anyway. He’s right; no one would believe him, so why bother?
What does surprise him, though, is the fact that Teoritta refuses to end their contract, despite knowing what he didโฆor was forced to do by his circumstances. Some would call her naive, but I see it as her being a good judge of character. Xylo may hide it underneath his bitterness, but he’s a good and decent person. If he wasn’t, then why would he make it his mission in life to find the people responsible for Senervaโs death? He’s such a good person that he’s ready to burn everything to avenge her.
Another Suicide Mission
Speaking of mission, the heroes get their next one: defeating some demons called faeries infesting the mines at a town called Zewan Gan. This is when we are introduced to two more heroes, and, in keeping with what seems to be the theme for them, they’re quite eccentric. There’s his majesty, Norgalle Senridge. He’s an expert in sacred seals and magic, but he’s convinced that he’s the rightful king of their nation and everyone are his subjects. Iโd say he’s delusional, but Iโve seen crazier things be true, and he does look out for the others. There’s also his servant, Tatsuya. He’s been a hero for so long, he’s practically feral. It’s tragic for him, but it makes him super vicious in battle.
So, we’ve got a fallen holy knight, a thief, a coward, a delusional magic expert, and someone as feral as Ezekiel from Total Drama. This whole thing is reminding me more and more of Game of Thrones meets that Suicide Squad isekai from a few years ago, but better. Consider me invested in it.
At any rate, their mission is to seal up the mines and make sure the demons donโt get out. That is already a hard job. But to add an extra layer of tragedy, its revealed that the faeries they’re fighting were humans transformed into monsters. The heroes and holy knights are basically having to perform mercy kills. The mission gets complicated, though, when they find a survivor who says there are more deeper in the mines. Kivia has orders to collapse the mines, but Norgalle insists they save โhis people.โ So what can they do?
You Can’t Ignore Being a Good Person
Xylo shows why he’s a good person once again when he tells Kivia โScrew it. I’ll go save them. If I’m not back in time, feel free to blow the place. Not like you’re going to lose anything valuable.โ But as a precaution, he refuses to allow Teoritta to accompany him. Which means if they run into trouble, they’ll be at a disadvantage.
If the extra-long premiere was meant to serve as a first look at this world, then this second episode helps to flesh out the world. And once again, the animation is still gorgeous and I love it. I’m now fully invested into this series and I’m looking forward to watching it over the rest of the season. Next week, weโre likely going to see the heroes race against the clock as we see them try to live up to actual heroes. Bring it on.
I Give “Sentence: Clear the Zewan Gan Tunnels Part 1” a 4/5
Happy New Year, everyone! And what a good year it is looking to be for the world of anime! We are going to see the return of many popular anime that we here at the D&A Anime Blog are all looking forward to seeing. However, I think that the first big hit of the year is an entirely new show. A show thatโs animated by some of the people that made the first season of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation a legend of animation. As a fan of that Isekai series and agreeing that the animation from the first season was near god-tier, that fact alone was enough to get me interested in this. However, now I’m going to want to stay for the story, because Sentenced to be a Hero has the potential to be one of the best anime of the year.
I feel so good about being right.
Sentenced to be a Hero Inverts the Praise that Comes with the Word
The hero. A four-letter word that has done more to inspire feelings of hope, courage, and inspiration than any other in existence. Itโs a concept that appears in every culture thatโs ever existed, and one that comes with respect. That is not the case for the premise behind Sentenced to be a Hero, though. Before we even get to see the animation (which is god-tier), we get a text block explaining what a hero is in this story. In this story, being a hero is a punishment for the worst criminals. They are sentenced to fight on the frontlines in the never-ending war against Demons until they drop dead. Theyโre not even granted the peace of death, as theyโre revived and forced to continue fighting, as unending cannon fodder, for eternity.
Now, this isnโt the first time Iโve seen a story where someone called a hero is treated terribly by those theyโre having to save. It sure as heck isnโt the first time Iโve seen death being irrelevant to a story. And of course, we have video games, where players are expected to die and then have to start back from their last save. For all we know, science and technology could give people alive today the ability to tell death to piss off for as long as we want.
But dying is still dying, and while Goku and the others are able to shrug it off with zero signs of mental trauma, thatโs not the case for everyone. Itโs still going to hurt, and even someone with the strongest mentality they could possibly have is going to start cracking if they experience that over and over. And as we are introduced to the world of the show and its main cast, Sentenced to be a Hero demonstrates this in all its nightmare-fueled glory.
Xylo Has a Bone to Pick With those in Power
We are introduced to our main character, Xylo, in the middle of a battle against the Demons as one of his fellow Heroes steals something from their โallies.โ The other Hero, Dotta, almost bites it and asks to die so he can be revived. However, as Xylo tells him, dying and then having your soul ripped out of the afterlife has consequences. It will erode away a personโs soul, causing them to lose memories of who they were until thereโs almost nothing left. He even makes it a point to say that if happens enough times, a Hero will be like a living zombie!
Now, we may never know for certain if there is an afterlife, or if we reincarnate, or cease to exist. But compared to what Xylo is describing, death seems better. Regardless of whatever crimes a person may commit, I donโt think anyone deserves to suffer a fate like that. Whoever came up with that system must be some morally bankrupt sadist!
What makes it even worse, though, is that the crime that Xylo was sentenced to be a hero for wasnโt even his fault. As the end of the episode reveals, he was put in an impossible situation and left to die.
Goddesses are Little Girls.
In the world of the show, there are beings called goddesses, little girls who were created to help humanity fight the Demons by bestowing contracts on their chosen champions. Xylo made a pact with one such goddess after his unit was sent into a battle as cannon fodder with no reinforcements. That goddess used up so much of her power that she hit her breaking point and started to turn into a demon herself, forcing Xylo to put her out of her misery. If that wasnโt traumatizing enough, the countryโs leaders placed all the blame on him, saying he acted without orders, that he was never ordered to fight, and that he killed her in cold blood. And they were saying all of this at his trial right to his face.
Basically, take what Naofumi went through and somehow crank that up to eleven. Thatโs how bad this is. And so, Xylo did what any sane, rational, understandably pissed-off person would do: he vowed revenge. He vowed that he would find the people who set him up and make them wish they had given him the death penalty when they had the chance!
Iโve seen it happen plenty of times in fiction, but it never fails to grind my gears than to see a good person get screwed over by those in power. It takes a rare kind of person to endure that level of getting screwed over to not want to seek revenge, and while I applaud those who can move on, I understand why Xylo acts so bitter throughout this first episode. Heโs saving so many lives and looking badass while doing so, but his so-called allies spit on him anyway when they donโt know a thing. Even worse, when he ends up meeting another goddess, Teoritta, his ptsd is triggered. The girl only wants to help him, but he claims he hates goddesses and tries to drive her away. In the end, though, circumstances force the two to work together in order to win, meaning theyโre now stuck with each other. And also Dotta, who stole the casket holding Teoritta in the first place.
Remember how Peak Season One of Mushoku Tensei Was? This is it on Steroids
There was a lot to unpack for this first episode, not the least bit because it was an hour long. But beyond the story, which sounds super interesting, the main draw of the episode was the animation. This show is directed by the people who helped to make the first season of Mushoku Tensei one of the most beautiful anime in living memory. From the bread scene to the fight between Dead End and Orsted to Eris fighting those knights in her solo ova, that first season was gorgeous beyond belief. And this episode was pretty much each of those moments extended into an hour.
To start with, thereโs the color palette. Most of this episode is set at night, and they reflect this using a lot of dark colors. Itโs doubly appropriate considering how this is a dark fantasy series. The animation is smooth as butter, especially during the fighting scenes. As for the fighting scenes, take the best ones from Mushoku Tensei and yourself what made them look so good. Now apply that to every fight in this episode. Itโs a visual feast.
Iโve got a number of anime that I want to cover for the Winter 2026 season, and after seeing this episode, I can say that Sentenced to be a Hero is going to be one of them.
I Give “Sentence: Support Retreat From Couveunge Forest” a 5/5
All the Anime RJ Writing Ink is Looking forward to in 2026 (So Far)
Looking back on 2025, it was pretty much a golden year for anime. There were so many amazing series, both new and returning, that graced our TVs, smartphones, and computers. But with the new year upon us, that means new anime to appreciate. So much so that my poor brain is struggling to remember everything we have to look forward to. However, that will not stop me from going over all the confirmed series that I think most people will want to see.
Sentenced to Be a Hero, January 3rd
You would think that getting to be a hero would be a sweet gig, but then you remember all the peril that would involve putting yourself in. Then you have what’s going on in this anime, where being a hero is considered a punishment for criminals wjo are forced to fight against demons. Not even death can save them from this fate, as they just get revived and forced to go through it all again. What makes this anime stand out isn’t the story, though. It’s the animation. The directors behind this anime adaptation are the ones responsible for the best scenes from Mushoku Tensei. The first season of that isekai has some of the best animation you’ll find in an anime, so this could end up being one of the most beautiful anime of the year. I’m very tempted to review it myself!
Speaking of whichโฆ
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3
One of the pinnacles of the isekai genre will be returning for its third season sometime in 2026, and I’m absolutely stoked for it. A lot has changed in the life of Rudeus Greyrat. He’s back home with his mother and the rest of his family, he’s now married to both Sylphie and Roxy, and to top it off, he’s now a father. All seems right with the world for Rudy, but as we see in the trailer, things are only going to get crazier for him. The return of his ex-girlfriend Eris is just the tip of the iceberg, as things will be revealed that will reframe the entire story thus far. And as someone who read ahead, I’ve been keeping my mouth shut about everything long enough!
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, January 5th
My Hero Academia may be over, but we still got the prequel spin-off series to look forward to as it returns for its sophomore. After the events at Narufest at the end of the first season, Koichi and Pop are surprised when Knuckleduster up and disappears, leaving them on their own. Nonetheless, they strive to continue their roles as Naruhataโs friendly neighborhood heroes without their mentor. Anyone who misses MHA will be able to rest easy knowing that we won’t be leaving the world of MHA behind anytime soon.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, January 9th
Ladies and gentlemen, peak shonen is about to return. I already talked at length about what we have to look forward to with the third season of JJK in my review of the movie preview, but I just want to remind us that things are going to get crazy. Yuji is a fugitive from a corrupt Jujutsu society, Kenjaku has turned Tokyo into a warzone, and one of the craziest arcs in the story is about to begin. And that’s not even going into the sub-plot about the Zenโin clan!
Frieren Beyond Journey’s End Season 2, January 16th
I have yet to watch the show for myself, but even I’ve heard about the fantasy greatness that is Frieren. And now that greatness is coming back for more. I think that’s all that needs to be said.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Season 4, April
We here at the D&A Anime Blog are big fans of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and for good reason. It’s another example of what I call the Seven Summits of Isekai, and 2026 is looking to be a good year for Slime fans. Not only are we get a new film about Rimuru and the others going on vacation in February, but it’s reported that season four of the anime will be premiering sometime in April. In short, we’re going to be eating well this year.
Dr Stone: Science Future Cour 3, April
Another long-running Shonen series is returning for its final act in the form of Dr. Stone. Despite knowing how things would turn out, I more or less abstained from the second part of the final season because it was way too depressing for my tastes. However, considering how the ultimate goal of the Kingdom of Science remains getting to the moon, I cannot help but want to watch what comes next.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run, March 19th
The legend returns, and that means it’s time for everyone to brush up on their JoJo poses and memes. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure will be returning for Part Seven, Steel Ball Run, this March exclusively on Netflix. Set in an alternate timeline from the one we’ve known, Steel Ball Run is Araki’s take on the spaghetti western as we see an alternate version of the original JoJo, Johnny Joestar, participate in a race across the United States that hides some deadly secrets. Steel Ball Run is the biggest shake-up to the long-running Shonen series since Stardust Crusaders, but JoJo is still JoJo. So, expect gorgeous artwork, epic posing, and plenty of memes to be made starting in the spring.
One Piece, Elbaph Arc, April 5th
It’s crazy to believe that One Piece will now be a seasonal anime, but it’s for the best. It means that Oda will not have to worry about keeping the manga ahead of the anime, and that the anime can focus more on quality over quanity. And given how the next arc is also the biggest yet, that is saying something. As the Straw Hat Pirates finally make it to the homeland of the Giants, fans will be in for an experience unlike anything we’ve seen up to this point. Having been reviewing the manga on my personal blog, I can say that Elbaph will be worth the wait.
And this is only the anime that I’m aware of and want to watch. There is going to be plenty more to look forward to in 2026. Happy new year, everyone!
RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Best Anime Moments of 2025
What a great year of anime that we’ve had! 2025 was filled with so many hits that there was no way I could possibly watch them all. From Jin-Woo continuing to slay as an aura farmer to Rentaro’s legendary yap about his girlfriends, there were a lot of anime moments that will live rent-free in my head for a long time. To celebrate the end of the year, I’m continuing my tradition of naming my favorite anime moments of 2025. Full disclosure: I will be limiting this to the anime that I managed to watch. This year got pretty busy for me, so I was unable to follow through on everything I wanted to see.
Super Saiyan 4 Returns, Dragon Ball Daima
Dragon BallDaima was a bittersweet event for Dragon Ball fans, as it would be Akira Toriyama’s final contribution to his creation before his passing. However, he made sure to cook us up a feast before he died, culminating in the return of one of Goku’s most legendary forms, Super Saiyan 4. While Dragon Ball GT remains a controversial entry to the franchise, everyone agrees that SSJ4 was the best thing to come out of it. Needless to say, getting to see it re-enter the canon at the climax of Goku’s journey through the Demon Realm was like a blessing from the heavens themselves. Thank you, Toriyama.
Kuma Gets Revenge on Saturn, One Piece
If you remember my post praising the story of Bartholomew Kuma, then you also remember how offended I am by the mere existence of his mortal enemy, Jaygarcia Saturn. The monstrous member of the Five Elders of the World Government went out of his way to make Kuma’s life miserable, kidnapping and injecting the love of his life with a fatal illness, giving said illness to her daughter, and then forcing Kuma to give up his humanity to save her life. Needless to say, every fiber of my being wanted Saturn dead before the Straw Hats left Egghead. While that would end up happening, I found it way more satisfying when Kuma came to rescue his adoptive daughter from death at the hands of Saturn, and then repay him for a lifetime’s worth of pain in one cathartic punch. Guess good things come to those who wait.
Rentaro’s 2-Minute Monologue about his Girlfriends, The 100 Girlfriends
100 Girlfriends went above and beyond for this. Apparently on the Blu-ray release it will be slowed down and in normal audio pic.twitter.com/iNBqwIBt9Z
I know I like to talk about 100 Girlfriends a lot on this blog, but normally, I wouldn’t include something from it as one of the greatest moments in anime for the years. However, I think this should count as an exception. In the final minutes of season two, Rentaro proceeds to go on an entire monologue about everything he loves about his girlfriends. Besides demonstrating just how much of a CHAD he is, that monologue actually made the record books, earning the record for the longest speech in Japanese Animation at over 7,453 characters. The dub is just as impressive, coming in at more than 3k words! And all of it had to be sped up to fit it into that one scene. Earning a world record is more than enough to make it onto this list!
The moment when Wataru Kato, the voice actor for Rentaro from The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, REALLY Love You, was certified a World Record holder! ๐
Jin-woo vs the Ant King, Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows
I’ve called Sung Jin-woo the Black Air Force Hunter for a reason, and the second season of his show continued to demonstrate why he’s worthy of that title. There were plenty of epic moments throughout the season, but its magnum opus is, without a doubt, when Jin-woo faces off against the Ant King on Jeju Island. When the best Hunters of two countries are left at the brink of death, Jin-woo shows up to save the day. The entire country then gets to see firsthand why Jin-woo is the strongest as we get this visually spectacular battle between Hunter and Monster. And the music they used was just the icing on the cake!
Natsuko Rewrites the Ending, Zenshu
After getting isekaied into a world based on her favorite movie, A Tale of Perishing, Natsuko did everything in her power to change the story’s ending, only for it to seem to be for naught. As the world begins to be destroyed by the embodiment of despair, the Ultimate Void, Natsuko uses all her drawing skills to make one last attempt to rewrite the story, creating a version of Luke strong enough to destroy it. In doing so, not only does she confess her love for the actual Luke, but manages to recreate the entire world and bring back everyone who died in the process. Not only is this whole thing absolutely gorgeous to look at, but it ties back into the show’s overall message of hope over despair. And it’s a much better ending than the film’s creator could ever have made. Score one for fan writing!
Speaking of which…
Midoriya and the Heroes Defeat All for One, My Hero Academia Final Season
Speaking as a fellow Star Wars fan, I can’t but think that Kohei Horikoshi looked at the climax of The Rise of Skywalker and thought, “hey, maybe I can do better.” I don’t know if that’s true or not, but seeing all of the Heroes help Deku defeat the evil All for One definitely gave off those vibes. As Midoriya puts everything he has left into one final attack, we get a montage of all the Heroes still capable of fighting doing everything they can to help him, culminating in a final, gorgeous moment as Deku lands the blow that will ultimately seal the villain’s fate. To make it even better, the entire thing was played to the series most iconic song, the ever-memeable “You Say Run.” That song really does go with everything!
You know what’s better than giant robots fighting equally giant monsters. Absolutely nothing! There were a lot of standout moments in the second season of DanDaDan, but I think the gang turning the Ayase house into a mecha to fight a space kaiju takes the cake. But even more importantly was getting to see newcomer Kinta not only solidify his role as an ally of Okarun and Momo, but he got to live out his dream of piloting a giant robot. Every Gundam fan in the world has got to be jealous of that guy at that moment! He may have his flaws, but when push came to shove, Kinta proved he had that dawg in him!!
Chainsaw Man vs Storm Devil, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc
After waiting years for the story ofChainsaw Man to continue in anime form, the Reze Arc movie didn’t fail to disappoint. Denjiโs fight against the likes of Reze was already crazy enough as it was. However, we all know that Chainsaw Man is one of those series that thrives on being as chaotic as possible. Ergo, instead of fighting just Reze, we get to see Denji fight her and the Typhoon Devil. All while riding atop the Shark Fiend. What is is crazier than riding a shark into battle?
The Whole Thing, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba-The Movie: Infinity Castle
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle was the kind of film that needed to be seen on the big screen. Anything less would be a great disservice, as would my attempting to pick one moment from it to single out. This entire movie was pretty much one big greatest anime moment of the year. The Demon Slayer Corps charging into their final battle against the Demons. Shinobuโs ultimate fate fighting Douma. Zenitsu killing his former sibling disciple turned Demon. Tanjiro fighting and beating the Demon that killed Rengoku! There’s too much to choose from, so I’m choosing it all! I’m so glad I got to see it on the big screen!
So, what were your favorite anime moments from 2025? Let us know!
Scarlet, when I do my annual list of best waifus for 2025, you are going to be on it. Because you are just built different. Even when having to face down your brainwashed ally, Prince Julius, do you give up? Do you hold yourself back while trying to get through to him? You do not. Instead, you go full bore so you can stop him because heโs standing between you and Terenezza. The final episode of what might be one of my favorite anime for 2025, and Scarlet doesnโt hold anything back!
So, Terenezza continues to prove how stupid she is as she watches with incredulity as Scarlet refuses to back down from fighting the mind-controlled Julius. She fully expected Scarlet to be wracked with despair from this turn of events. But when she isnโt, sheโs quick to call her absolutely heartless.
Then we proceed to get a look at what her life was like back in Japan before she got isekaiโd. Even as a high schooler, she resented everyone around her for being happy when she wasnโt, and she psychologically projected her insecurities onto others. She wanted to prove that everyone could be as shallow and petty as she could be and see them wracked with despair. To make them suffer the same way she has.
Terenezza Was Never Heroine Material
I normally sympathize with people who are suffering from trauma. I take mental health pretty seriously. But with all disrespect, Terenezza really is a b****. So she was ignored all her life and not treated as the center of attention like she wanted to be. And now that sheโs in another world, she thinks that sheโs owed adoration when sheโs done nothing to deserve it? Does she know how many Isekai protagonists had to work to become liked and admired? Rimuru Tempest got the best possible build to start his Isekai life, but he had to put in the work to build an entire nation and loyal following. Naofumi was framed for attempted assault by some b**** and had to endure an entire country being out to get him before proving himself. And Rudeus Greyrat may have had his knowledge from his past life to give him a head start, but he still has to work on his personality flaws. Yet even with the power of an actual goddess on her side, Terenezza still wants to complain about things not going her way?
No wonder she canโt be the heroine. Sheโs just not cut out for the role, whereas Scarlet is. And to prove it, she does what any great heroine does in a time of crisis: uses the power of love to ruin the vilainessโ plans.
True Love’s Kiss
Juliusโ own blessing is actually something super embarassing: Heroic Tale, which only activates when the person the bearer loves the most is in danger. When that happens, they enter giga-CHAD God mode and are unstoppable. You can guess where this is going.
This was a solid finale. We got to see Terenezza getting the Team Rocket treatment and Scarlet and Julius professing their love for one another. Those two are a pretty cute pair. He likes to mess with her and sheโs constantly- https://t.co/Xcx8ysHoOXpic.twitter.com/Epi5aLuS5i
It should come as no surprise that the two end up kissing. Their dynamic, as strange as it may seem, has always had this romantic edge to it. Personality-wise, the two compliment each other so well. In fact, it makes me wonder why they werenโt engaged in the first place instead of Scarlet and Kyle.
At any rate, Terenezza crashes out and is possessed by Palmia herself. But like I said before, even with an actual god in her corner, sheโs still a *****, and it doesnโt take much effort for Scarlet to send her blasting off like Team Rocket. Sheโll liveโฆprobably.
All’s Well that Ends Well
And so, our tale of Scarlet the crash-out queen comes to an end. With Terenezza bested, the rank and file Palmians see her for the fraud she is and quickly return to Dianism. Especially since Saint Diana, or rather, Saint Sanya, saved them all. The leaders of the Palmians are arrested, and their religion is disbanded. The remaining foreign armies stand down. Dios becomes an agent for Julius in exchange for a pardon. And order and peace is restored as Sanya restores the barrier crystals. All is right with the worldโฆuntil Scarlet realizes that Julius put himself in danger on purpose just to get her to do what she did. Punch time!
Das war mal wieder ein Schuss in den Ofen fรผr den lieben Julius. ๐
"May I Ask for One Final Thing?" ist wirklich super gewesen, Scarlet war mir von Anfang an direkt sympathisch, immer direkt ins Fressbrett so wie es sein muss. pic.twitter.com/iwv7G0P6YK
I have to admit, I didnโt think that I would like this show as much as I have, but I was pleasantly surprised. The fall 2025 anime season hasnโt had as many good anime that I can write about on this blog, but this kept me going. At least starting next month, we will be in for a feast.
The time has come, Terenezza. She has been a very naughty girl and committed multiple nefarious acts against the kingdom of Pallistan. Murder, brainwashing, blackmail, acts of terrorism, and orchestrating wars. But worst of all, she managed to piss off Scarlet El Vandimion beyond belief. And one way or another, she’s going to have to accept the consequences of her actions. In this case, the pounding of Scarletโs fists. But it seems like the bitch has one last card to play.
So, Scarlet, Diana, Dios, Julius, and everyone else of importance flies to where the second gem is located, where the Palmians are holed up, and where Terenezzaโs waiting to finish this. The Palmians are dug in like ticks and rigged the place with traps, but…okay, do we really expect any of this to work?
Seriously, at this point, why’d the Palmians even bother with the booby traps. They should know by now that Scarlet can no-sell everything they throw at her. It’s a little more than comedy to see her waste them.
At any rate, it doesn’t take them long to reach the Palmians. They are heavily outnumbered by the cultists, and can only hold them off for so long without Dianaโs powers. And to make matters worse, Dios reveals he had to give up his protection from the wind spirit to get the Elves to fall back. They’re basically trying to hold back a flood.
Julius Triggered a Trap Card
Julius gets a chance to shine, at least. He faces off against the Palmianโs Grand Inquisitor, this man who’s so irrelevant that I can’t even remember their name. All that I know is that the fight between these two is surprisingly interesting to watch. We’ve rarely gotten to see Julius have the chance to cut loose, but when he does, we can see why he’s considered the crown prince. He’s close to being Scarletโs equal in combat as he wipes the floor with the Grand Inquisitor.
It’s too bad that he managed to activate his trap card in the process.
Meanwhile, Scarlet finally manages to reach her goal: Terenezza, the bitch from another world. On the one hand, her stupidity was the reason why she was able to finally break off her leash for good and give Kyle his punishment. On the other hand, though, Terenezza is guilty of all those other things I mentioned, including making her future little sister sad. So, she gets a double dose of punishment.
The fight between the two, if you could even call it that, was pretty much decided before it even started. Whatever Palmia gave Terenezza to work with, Chronoa gave Scarlet double the amount. It doesn’t take her long to get in close and grab her by the hair before retrieving the power she had stolen. Thanks to that, Diana gets her power back in time to save everyoneโs hides.
Terenezza is Only Delaying the Inevitable
Unfortunately, this is when Terenezza plays her trap card. When Nanaka was under her thrall, she had him place a spell on Julius to enable her to mind-control him with her charm. It didn’t work, merely weakening the defenses he had as a prince. However, the Grand Inquisitor had used his powers to tear a hole in space connecting her to Julius, allowing her powers to fully take control. In other words, Julius is now fighting for Terenezza. She’s gambling that Julius can kill Scarlet and that Scarlet would be too reluctant to harm Julius to do any real damage.
Once again, this girl is all kinds of stupid. Not only has Scarlet made it clear that she’s willing to beat up even Julius, but she will do it without hesitation. And Julius would want her to do that if it meant snapping out of this brainwashing. If anything, Scarletโs probably happy at the chance to pay him back for all the times he’s annoyed her.
And this is where we stand going into the finale. A mind-controlled Julius is all that stands between Scarlet and the bitch responsible for all this chaos. And as we have come to expect, nothing will stand between Scarlet and whatever has invoked her wrath. So, this final episode should prove to be very interesting, indeed. Don’t hurt Julius too badly, Scarlet!
I Give “May I Pay Off the Massive Debt My Fists Have Accrued?” a 4/5
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