I knew when the piano version of the first OP started playing that this was the only way for the cast to close the show. It’s the perfect, mellow ending to a show that’s had its ups and downs, though The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated! has had many more ups than downs. As you watch the ensemble cast watching the fireworks, there’s this sense that they’re going to be okay, moving forward. Of course, there’s also the fact that the manga’s ongoing: I feel immensely gerateful for that, especially since I’m going to need a Jahy fix in 2022.

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episode 20 / Season Finale on the Anime News Network

In its own way, episode 19 feels like the culmination of nineteen weeks (roughly) of thoughtful character growth. It feels like the anime is exactly where it needs to be: on the cusp of the end with a good amount of loose ends that leave me eager to see them get tied up. It’s the rise as we look towards the penultimate episode in four weeks and the finale in five. It’s good stuff, and at times in this episode, great and even excellent stuff, and I’ll gladly continue to eat up every second of the rest of this cour.

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episode 19 on the Anime News Network

Episode 17 is a mixed back: the front half feels like a loaf of bread that’s been left unsealed, and the back half feels like a fresh loaf that’s still warm. Whether we’re talking about Jahy getting dressed up in various outfits to her struggling through her day to day life, this series still has so much to offer, and honestly, even in its weakest weeks, has still wrangled a chuckle out of me. As a comedy, that definitely feels like the series gets a hanamaru and a gold star.

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episode 18 on the Anime News Network

Episode 17 is a mixed back: the front half feels like a loaf of bread that’s been left unsealed, and the back half feels like a fresh loaf that’s still warm. Whether we’re talking about Jahy getting dressed up in various outfits to her struggling through her day to day life, this series still has so much to offer, and honestly, even in its weakest weeks, has still wrangled a chuckle out of me. As a comedy, that definitely feels like the series gets a hanamaru and a gold star.

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episode 17 on the Anime News Network

A lot of the comedy this episode treads familiar territory: Jahy gets kicked in the non-existent pants by life, Druj simps for Jahy, Jingu continues to try to be her best friend, Saurva’s bad luck lands her in painful situations, and the Dark Lord eats a lot of food, though she does mix things up by sneaking into Jingu’s school bag and causing trouble. Familiar territory isn’t bad though, and the jokes still manage to wrangle chuckles out of me. However, it also means that Episode 16 as a whole is just kind of okay despite getting a lot more of the cast together, which does feel like a bit of a lost opportunity.

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episode 16 on the Anime News Network

Episode 15 is a somewhat middling episode: not bad, but not necessarily “wow” levels of fun, though the gags are still good and feel fresh. There’s lots of hilarious moments, lots of relatable moments, and lots of intensely “it me” kind of moments where you really connect with Jahy. I suppose what makes this kind of middling is that it just feels like a funny episode with no overarching goal, which… okay, while you could say, “Well Mercedez, that’s what every episode is,” I’d argue that most episodes of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated! have a plot of sorts. Episode 15 just feels like, “Let’s get Jingu into the ensemble cast a bit further”, which is funny, but… doesn’t hit like Jahy finding the Dark Lord or trying to grow a tomato plant.

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episode 15 on the Anime News Network

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw snap, Jahy ’bout to fight the magical girl y’all!

Finally, episode 14, “The Magical Girl Will Not Fight” brings us the much-anticipated showdown between Jahy and her nemesis. and would you know it, the fight itself actually has some solid enough impact! Jahy is back in all her demonic glory, flinging mana crystals and wielding a spear as she and Jingu have a riverside rumble, complete with dramatic music. 

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episode 14 on the Anime News Network

Jahy remains an incredibly loveable character who has upended all my assumptions from the premiere. Whether she’s rescuing children at the beach or sitting next to her green-haired underling, Jahy really has stolen my heart this year. I truly lament the fact that our time with her will eventually end. If only I could make The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated! go on forever and ever…

Read the rest of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated – Episodes 12-13 on the Anime News Network