Spy x Family 1×19 wasn’t the strongest episode of the season. Granted, most of the storylines in this half of the anime’s cour haven’t been major to the overarching story. So perhaps, I got it wrong all along and this series really was meant to be a slice-of-life with these strange characters. It would make sense given we’re set to find out if Anya becomes an Imperial Scholar. I guess I was hoping for a bit more action week to week. However, I would say, “Mama Becomes the Wind” was important for Yor’s character overall, so there is still a bit of an arc.
Let’s get into the details of what I mean.
MISCOMMUNICATION AT HOME
Glooman Pharmaceuticals is about to go underground and the CEO doesn’t know how to tell his son that things aren’t looking bright. George Glooman, the son, overhears that the Desmond Group is the reason why Glooman is having so much trouble. So he takes that to school and makes it everyone’s problem. In the meantime, Anya still plotting for the best ways to get close to Damian. She’s not the only one. George wants to take his anger out on Damian for what’s happening with his father. So, how does he do it? He plots to get Damian expelled.
Not sure if it was just me, but George gave me dangerous quiet kid vibes. Like the type of kid you would want to call home about so you know he won’t do anything to harm anyone else. So, immediately, I didn’t trust him, didn’t really want to spend time with him. Then, we spent almost the entire episode with him… He wasn’t supposed to be likable and it was meant to be an uncomfortable moment, but not the best part of the series. However, he does reveal that he was the mastermind behind hiring Daybreak. It make a lot of sense that a slacker like that would be hired on a rich kid’s allowance.
RICH STUDENT BLUES
Yes, it is George’s rich privilege that is infuriating. He is not on the verge of being homeless or being forced to live in Westalis. He is just taking advantage of Damian because he is in a bad situation. Unfortunately, there are too many kids like that out there who turn into bad adults. Sure, Spy x Family is an anime, it’s fiction, but if it’s going to be so obviously based on real life East and West Berlin, I get to be upset at someone’s 2D privilege. The most cringe part of Spy x Family 1×19 was watching the kids sing along with George. There was this same sense of dread like watching the music note fight scene in Multiverse of Madness all over again. It’s not the music, it’s knowing that there is something bad coming out of the situation.
When George finally got all he wanted from the other students, it was clear that he misinterpreted what his father said. It was also satisfying to see his reign of terror on Damian end. Damian’s ego didn’t need a boost, but I’ll defend him on this one. George was being a pain and needed a lesson on how to be better. as to how this part moves the overarching story along? Well, we finally get a glimpse of what Anya’s school culture looks like. So far, it isn’t pretty. But Anya defending Damian with a Loid-esque look was the cherry on top.
YOR’S SCHOOL TRIP
The second mission of the otherwise underwhelming episode, focused on Yor being the best mom anime has to offer. When Anya forgets her gym clothes to school, Yor tries her best to make sure that the uniform gets to Anya without her getting in trouble. Spy x Family 1×19 is all about about miscommunication – but Yor’s was the sweetest. All she cares about is Anya’s well-being. So, if she has to use her assassin skills to hop to school, she will.
Yor’s conversation with Loid about feeling like a bad mother was poignant to her character arc. I needed Loid to point out the fact that she worried about Anya like any other mother would. Of course, she goes about it in unorthodox ways – not that Loid is aware of that. But she will put Anya’s needs before her own. She isn’t caring for her “stepdaughter” for some mission, she genuinely cares for Anya as her own. If only Loid could come clean that he feels the same way about Anya that Yor does.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
- This anime was amazing – until George Glooman. We don’t need him.
- Damian was tolerable in this episode and for once I was okay siding with him on anything. Until he sang, we didn’t need that.
- Yor is the sweetest mom ever. But also continues to be the biggest dumbass of this whole anime series.
- I am still waiting to see more assassin Yor. Is there a reason the series is holding out on that?
- TL;DR – Less George. More Thorn Princess. Thank you.
