‘Spy x Family’ 1×02 Review: “Secure a Wife”

Yes, we know, manga readers already know what is going to happen in the series. But some of us like to go into anime blind, so this is what the experience of watching Spy x Family 1×02 “Secure a Wife” was like knowing nothing. Let’s just say I love Yor already.

Spy x Family 1×02 finally hit us with the opening theme of the series. In all its colorful glory, this anime’s op perfectly captures the kind of adventure we’re here for. Everyone who watches anime knows it’s a crime to skip the opening and closing of an anime, and boy, Spy x Family 1×02 doesn’t disappoint. Having enlisted Official HIGE DANdism for the opening, there was no doubt the show was going to be a hit! Just listen to Cry Baby from Tokyo Revengers and you’ll know exactly what we mean.

MOTHER FORGER

Spy x Family (Property of WIT Studio/CloverWorks & Tatsuya Endo)

As Anya told the mailman in episode one, “Mother doesn’t exist.” So, to complete his mission Loid must go on the search for a woman to pretend to be his wife. He could trust his male confidant Franky Franklin to dress up as a woman and pretend to be his wife. But no amount of makeup was going to make Franky look like wife material. Even Anya agrees, Franky’s not the best fit to play her mother. So, Loid decides through a stack of files on every unmarried woman in the area. Please don’t try this at home. It’s never a good idea to go stalking your potential soulmate via the FBI.

As Loid goes to decide who will play the part of Anya’s mother, you can see that Anya and Loid have already developed more of a relationship. Anya’s developed the habit of asking for Loid’s permission to do things. While he’s reviewing the files, she asks him if she’s in the way of his work and he pats her head to assure her everything is okay. Anya’s probably never had this loving attention before and I want her to receive more of it.

As if the world doesn’t already love her… but we can tell that Loid will love Anya like a father. They just need that mother figure to get through the mission. Hence the title – Spy x Family

ENTER YOR BRIAR, THE THORN PRINCESS

Spy x Family 1×02’s Yor Briar is literally the textbook definition of “I’m 27, I’ve got no money and no prospects.” With her coworkers constantly berating her for being single and not popular like everyone else, Yor feels out of place. Yor’s situation becomes worse when she gets a call from her younger brother. He knows Yor’s been invited to a work party with her “friends.” What’s a girl supposed to do but lie? Sure, she’s got a boyfriend, she’ll bring him to the work party with the people who just reminded her of her singledom. While it’s hard to lie to her brother about her relationship, it’s nothing new. She’s been lying to him his entire life.

When Yor’s not being made fun of by her co-workers, she’s being sent on killing sprees. She’s known as the Thorn Princess, a suave assassin who is capable of killing anyone with her sharp daggers. Keeping her distance from everyone else in her life just makes the most sense. What’s great about Yor is her duality. When it comes to social situations, she’s quiet and meek despite probably being the most beautiful woman in the room. Some may say the most beautiful in all of anime… When she’s on a mission, she knows how to use her looks to her advantage and then uses them to kill. Yes, Yor is also the definition of “if looks could kill” because she literally can kill you. But while she’s not plotting for her next mission, she’s going to need to fix up her own good dress and find a boyfriend for this party in less than a week.

Think we know someone who could help?

ANYA FORGER: A SPY’S ULTIMATE WINGWOMAN

Trust me, Anya isn’t being sold off, even if Loid says she will if she misbehaves. She’s just off to get some nice outfits for the elite school she got into. Yor comes in looking to get her dress fixed at the shop. Loid can’t help but notice she’s the perfect candidate! Yor “I have no connections to anyone else” Briar is great for the mission because there are no loose strings with her. Except when Yor sees Anya, her appearance scares Yor into thinking that Loid is married and has a kid.

Cue Anya Forger, the best wing woman in anime, uses her telepathic powers to convince this spy and this assassin that she needs a mother. More like she’s really obvious with it but everyone else is too daft to catch a hint. Anya Forger is truly the driving force of this series. Forget whatever it says in Twilight’s mission file. The true mission of Spy x Family is to find Anya the best mother and father ever.

SPY X ASSASSIN: TIL DEATH DO US PART

Loid and Yor agree to pretend to be each other’s partners. One wants to get his daughter into the school of “his late wife’s dreams,” and the other wants to just prove to her brother that she isn’t a weird spinster. With a mission assigned to Loid on the same night as the party, they both run into risky situations. Yor shows up to the party without a date because Loid is getting his ass kicked by a smuggling ring. Luckily, he does make it to the party as Yor is leaving and tries his best to convince everyone that he’s still a simple psychiatrist and he doesn’t care what his wife (should’ve been girlfriend) does for a living.

If Anya is the one that shows that Loid isn’t 100% smart and powerful, then Yor is here to prove that he definitely isn’t always as suave as everyone might think he is. Yor saves Loid more than once. She’s the perfect partner to watch his back no matter what. Wouldn’t the perfect wife do the same? So, Yor proposes marriage so she and Loid can keep up appearances. But she asks this as they are both running away from various goons, so this makes Loid freeze and fall on his face. He thought he was the one in charge of this charade but Yor and Ana have proven that he’s less powerful than we thought. Of course, until he uses a pin from a grenade to propose to her officially. That has to be the most epic proposal ever, in anime and beyond.

Can’t wait to see how Loid, Yor, and Anya pass as a real family in the next episode. If only they could keep their double lives in check… Stay tuned for next week on Spy x Family!

OVERALL THOUGHTS

If I don’t get proposed to with super epic explosions, throw the whole man out
I’ll probably never understand why Yor’s “friends” are like that, are they jealous?
Anya yet again going in for the win! Best Girl!!!
Loid’s reaction to Yor’s proposal is priceless, this is what he wanted/needed, and still freezes at the thought of marrying her.
I hope that Yor and Anya continue to show us Loid’s flaws. Tear down those walls!
I can’t wait to see Yor’s interactions with Anya as her “stepmother,” I’m sure it’ll be as sweet as watching Anya and Loid.