In this week’s installment…

*crickets*… well this is awkward. Half the Roundup shows are taking the week off, but we still have GAMERS!, Restaurant to Another World, and Sakura Quest to talk about so we’re going to power through it!

Check out our full size coverage: Fate/Apocrypha | Made In Abyss | Princess Principal

GAMERS! Episode 4: “Karen Tendo and Slump Days” Thursdays 11:30 am EST on Crunchyroll

Jel: I really don’t like Keita. Up until now that’s been fine because the show has been shooting down his dumb, self-important philosophies about games. But this week we came dangerously close to validating them and that worries me about the show’s future. Having said that, Tendo is too pure and good for this world and maybe having the two balance each other out will end up being GAMERS! greatest accomplishment. More importantly though, how DARE they leave us hanging after where we left off with Tasaku and Aguri last week??? Hopefully we pick that back up right away in the next episode.

Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul Episode 18 Fridays 10:35 am EST on Amazon Anime Strike

Jel: Bahamut is going on a two week break starting this week, so I have plenty of time to cool down after getting pretty angry last episode.

Welcome to the Ballroom Episode 6 Saturdays or whenever they decide to air it on Amazon Anime Strike

Jel: I guess Ballroom is making up for having two episodes last week and taking this week off along with the MAPPA shows. Sorry.

Restaurant to Another World – They lost me at the fruit and custard sandwiches

Restaurant to Another World Episode 6: “Sandwiches/Steamed Buttered Potato” Mondays 2:05 pm EST on Crunchyroll

Iro: The isekai genre as a whole sure seems to have this weird fetish for modern 21st century convenience. This, In Another World With My Smartphone, Log Horizon; they’re fundamentally all about how basic stuff like owning a smartphone or knowing basic cooking allows you superiority over those silly elves and wizards. If you look at it a certain way, it’s really just a power fantasy of another stripe. These sorcerers, knights, gladiators, heroes, all powerless – inferior – against hot and cold running water, fried meats, and sandwiches. Like, does the modern isekai audience feel so trapped that they’re looking for ways to make themselves feel better about breathing? It’s honestly quite depressing if you think about it.

Sakura Quest Episode 19: “The Foggy Folklore” Wednesdays 12:00 pm EST on Crunchyroll

Jel: ​​​​Sakura Quest has been dropping some pretty heavy concepts on us in this second half. The overall festival revival plot has been emphasizing how small and insignificant in the stream of time we really are. The scene with the mural this week really drove that home in a simple, efficient manner. It’s a good thematic follow up to the dying town from the last arc.

Meanwhile, we’ve moved back to Maki’s story and her dad dropping the line about continuing to love what you love even if it doesn’t pay the bills was really sobering. It’s a hard reality most people have to face at some point and it makes sense that Maki feels the way she does given her experiences. I’m almost kind of hoping she doesn’t succeed with her audition as it would really drive home the point. It’s all a bit much to take in when you just want to watch a cute show about cool ladies handling their business but even so I appreciate the effort to explore these big life questions.

Sakura Quest – Imagine she’s pointing at adulthood

Kakegurui Episode 6 Licensed by Netflix (Release pending, please watch it there when it comes out)

Jel: Kakegurui is also off this week, I hope MAPPA’s doing OK considering they are running three shows this season.