Uma Musume: Pretty Derby - BNW no Chikai

I think this special has a fun little plot! Essentially it’s up to Spica to help “get the band back together” (BNW in this case) since they’re meant to be the big drawing force and climax of a city-wide relay race. 2/3 of BNW themselves have enough charisma to be enjoyable characters, and by the end I was rooting for all of them to win. And of course Spica have fun moments trying to solve the issues with organizing this grand event. The race itself has some neat moments that make it more than the usual grass oval the horse girls always race on; it ... makes me wish this series had more stuff like it.

My main complaint shouldn’t be surprising given this special is only 3 episodes long, but there isn’t enough time put into showing us why BNW is important. They feel like a presence you should already be familiar with. Which is strange because, despite this being released before Season 2, Season 2 had a couple of races that at least introduced them as threats. So I’m a bit confused by the chronology of events here.

So, weirdly enough, my recommendation is to watch this Season 1 special after Season 2. While Season 2 familiarizes you with BNW a little bit, that’s not the only reason why. Season 2 also highlights some of the horse girls you see in this, making their appearances more exciting. Plus, some other themes covered in Season 2 show up here, which make them more prominent in hindsight.

While I think some of the engagement is hurt by having BNW thrust on you, it’s not that big of a deal. The story itself is a good time and I think most jokes were actually well-done. By the end I looked back on it and thought it was a nice, short experience.