‘Spy x Family’ 1×07 Review: “The Target’s Second Son”

Spy x Family is a series that makes you feel tense and then eases that tension in the next moment. Much like episode five, Spy x Family 1×07 lowers the stakes a bit. Loid needs Anya to apologize for punching Damian and will get her to do it using any means possible. This episode is both ridiculous and heartwarming, but that’s what this series is best known for. Its popularity continues to grow each week and now we have ways to show our excitement.

IS IT TOO LATE TO APOLOGIZE?

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

Donovan Desmond, the head of the National Unity Party, only makes appearances at meetings for Imperial Scholars. Anya needs eight Stella Stars to become an Imperial Scholar, Eden’s most elite student. Loid knows the best way to meet Donovan is to get Anya’s grades and attitude up. But after Anya punches Donovan’s son Damian, her standing as an elite student is anything but elite, so she needs to apologize. Quite frankly, I side with Becky, Anya’s new best friend, that it’s not worth it to apologize to someone like Damian. Loid won’t let Anya off the hook and reminds her to apologize every chance he can get… literally every chance. He’s written “sorry” in the bushes, “sorry” on her oumrice, and sent her messages to apologize from “the gods.” His way of getting her to move the mission along is anything but subtle.

Looking at Loid’s development, he hasn’t quite been able to separate his role as a parent from being a spy. That’s fair, his mission is to get into school meetings with Donovan, a man who only appears at certain times. But he’s going through ridiculous ways to get Anya to apologize, bombarding her with messages and watching her at school. This mission is making him the ultimate helicopter parent. Even if it is for world peace, the least he could do is leave Anya at peace because making friends after that incident is going to be near impossible. can’t wait to see Loid start trusting Anya in future episodes of Spy x Family so he won’t feel the need to interfere as much.

SCHOOLBOY CRUSHES

Anya’s tried several times to apologize to Damian but her new friend Becky keeps pulling her away. Loid assumes that Becky is a spy for the other side who is preventing Anya from completing her mission. Yet again, Loid forgets that kids will be kids. Becky is most likely just trying to protect her new friend from bullies. But Damian’s got something else on his mind and Anya can’t pinpoint what it is exactly. Finally, when she gets to apologize, his friends continue to be brutal in their minds, calling Anya a “broke raccoon” with “stubby little legs.” Of course, only Anya can hear this and it brings her to tears so she bursts out in apology, hoping that Damian and his friends will stop and forgive her.

SPY X PARENT

Anya needs to get her grades up in order to become an Imperial Scholar since she ruined her chances with Damian. Considering she fell asleep in her math class, she’s going to need the tutoring. When Anya tries to cheat her way to the answers in Loid’s mind, it makes her frustrated because he’s too busy worrying about the status of the mission. They say that parents can give their children anxiety by being anxious, but it must be worse when the child can read minds. Feeling overwhelmed, Anya gives up on studying and runs away to her room. Before Loid can barge in and scold her, Yor stops him.

The end of the episode is my favorite part because it’s the first time that Loid and Yor start looking at themselves as parents. Yor reminds Loid that Anya is a kid whose last priority is becoming an honors student. Granted, Yor doesn’t know that there’s a larger mission attached to this, but Loid needs that reminder. He forgets that encouragement goes a long way. She knows this by dealing with her younger brother Yuri, who was always eager to show her what he learned. I love how Loid and Yor volley encouragement to each other after. They both feel like they’re separated from their roles as parents. Yor apologizes for butting in as a stranger and Loid still feels like a father is a role he plays, not something he is. But they know Anya loves them all the same. “Wholesome” is usually what I use to describe Spy x Family but this episode was heartwarming. The Forgers are truly becoming a family now and not just for appearances.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

There’s no way Becky is a rival spy but it’s hilarious that Loid jumps to that conclusion.
Good thing I can’t read minds like Anya, my imposter syndrome is already terrible.
It’s official, I want to buy all the Spy x Family merch from Uniqlo, US drop date when?
I will need to binge this anime once the first half ends because I need to see Yor, Loid and Anya’s development in real-time for some reason
Yuri Briar! Yet another character I was curious about, finally, we get to meet him. I hope he gives Yor and Loid a hard time next week.