I'd usually consider myself to be very picky when rating manga/anime. In fact, I usually find romcom boring when it comes down to it. However, this series has won me over completely and utterly. If you're shounen trash like I am, or you just love romcoms in general, then this series is for you [Slight Spoilers Ahead].
Story [10/10]:
So far, the story is utterly amazing to say the least. I've seen no major flaws within it. It's always engaging and funny when it needs to be. From what I've seen, there are little to no pacing issues when it comes to the fight scenes, and the
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"filler," if you can even call it that, serves a purpose. Obviously as a spy husband and an assassin wife, they're both bound to have missions and/or fights with enemies. The story doesn't take it's self too seriously with overexaggerated frames or unrealistic strength or caricatured fights. The characters themselves are comedic by nature as well, which balances out the darker notes with these lighter ones. The family bonding scenes or even the little snippets of the Forgers' lives all serve a purpose—not just for the sake of Operation Strix, but to show the growing bond and emotional development of the coverup family the more time they spend together.
The main plot is Operation Strix, getting close to Donovan Desmond gather intel and ensure that the peace efforts between Westalis and Ostania follow through accordingly. However, the subplot is the aftermath of the war between the East and the West, after the iron curtain between the two nations had fallen. Sound familiar? If you haven't guessed it already, the setting of the manga is based on East and West Germany. Like Ostania, East Germany wanted to prevent its citizens from traveling or migrating to the West, which caused them to create propaganda that West Germany was trying to resurrect the Nazi regime after the war for the purpose of scaring citizens into not stepping over the border. There was even a secret police, much like the SSS in Spy x Family, that listened in on people to ensure they wouldn't go against the government in any way, shape, or form. While travel to the West was eventually approved through a treaty between the nations, the East tried making it as hard as they could with a high price and confusing paperwork. Despite that, many people still went over. This subplot, which could very well become the main one eventually, foreshadows that the story will not end after Operation Strix. Instead, it will probably end when both the East and the West have secured peace and unite into one country. That will have built the world peace, one of the main themes, that both Yor and Twilight are striving for.
This explains Yor and Yuri's ideals and upbringing. They truly believe that Westalis is a horrible country that does despicable things, thus leading Yor to become an assassin, killing traitors to their country as well as people that may bring harm to the peace in it. Yuri joined the SSS with a similar motivation in mind, although his real motivation was making the best world he could for his sister to live in. This is possibly a setup for another side plot between Yor and Twilight, or Loid, his alias. Twilight works for WISE (Westalis Intelligence Services' Eastern-Focused Division) in order to pursue peace between the East and the West. Both he and Yor have the same goal, but once they find out each other's lines of work, it could cause tension between the two of them since they're on opposing sides.
For more background on the setting—East Germany was communist while West Germany was capitalist. East Germany focused their attention on preparing in case of another war, while West Germany focused on renovating the nation. Thus, East Germany's economy was very poor. In the cruise ship arc, one of the contracted assassins fighting against Yor mentioned that Westalis was a wealthy country. In West Germany, their wealth was most likely due to the renovations made, plus several of the Allied countries occupying the land at the same time. While East Germany had free education, West Germany had higher pay, etc. We have reason to believe that the economic situation in Spy x Family is most likely the same or similar. It is very easy to see that the worldbuilding in the manga is effortlessly intertwined with the story, and it is pulled off masterfully, which is a hard feat to do when it comes to portraying war and the effects of it in my opinion. I also very much appreciate that there is no oversexualization or objectification of women in this series, as it's such a common trope in anime and manga, especially shounen. While I do appreciate fan service, it should be very obvious that the objectification of anyone, regardless of gender, is wrong, but that's a topic for another time.
Art [9/10]:
I have no problem with the art or the art style. The proportions and anatomy are solid and the facial expressions are always on point to that comedic level. The poses and fight sequences are fluid and dynamic, despite being unrealistic. However, evidently this choice hands itself to the comedic elements of the story and for the engagement of the audience.
The only thing I'd have to point out is that sometimes the art can be a little inconsistent if ever. Twilight appears to have a different looking face in several chapters, and personally, I'm not a fan of the way the characters' faces become flat when they're drawn at a downward angle. However, this is something I can easily ignore, and something that doesn't pose a nuisance in my eyes.
Characters [10/10]:
The characters' personalities and actions are just as overexaggerated as about everything else in this story, but not to the point where you'd feel out of touch with them or perturbed with how they were written. I suppose the perfect word to describe them is endearing.
I'd say that Twilight and Yor are pretty OP, but not by unrealistic standards. There are things that pose to be challenges or obstacles during missions, and the way there are added as well as how the characters face them is just beautifully written. Also, what do you expect from the best spy in WISE or the number one assassin in the country?
Before I picked up the series, I had the impression that Yor and Twilight would go from an enemies to lovers situation, where they'd be constantly fighting and at each other's throats in their fake marriage. I was pleasantly surprised. Once again, the story manages to throw all stereotypes and expectations out the window. From the start, the couple is lovely towards each other, and you can slowly watch the feelings between them build. This even ties back to the opening lines in the manga—about how there are some things that you keep secret from everyone—including family and friends. Yor, Twilight, and Yuri are all hiding their true identities. Subsequently, Yor and Twilight have to subdue their feelings because their marriage is fake, which only causes more confusion, especially in Yor's mind as she battles her emotions.
Not to mention, Yor and Twilight are foils. Whatever the other lacks, the other makes up for. Yor is more in touch with her emotions and more expressive than Twilight, who constantly puts up a facade to perfectly fit into his missions. Twilight is better when it comes to household chores and academic intelligence. However, both of them are indubitably strong and experienced fighters with different specialties, and they both share a common goal.
Now, getting to Anya. The only real critique I have is that she was pretty annoying in the beginning of the manga, but she's only a child and she acts exactly like one. Not too much fault there to begin with, and she easily becomes a lovable character the more you read. She's an esper with telepathy, so you could say she is a bridge. Not only with her parents' relationship, but with her friendships and school life as well. Her friendship with Becky is cute. Her interactions with Damian are absolutely adorable. She tries to act accordingly based on other people's thoughts and feelings, but she's not exactly the most angelic, LOL. She very much uses her powers to her advantage when it comes to cheating on literally everything. I'd love to see a spin-off series or even a timeskip solely surrounding her. I want to see her relationships at Eden blossom and see her character development the more she grows up. I'd also really like to learn more about her past at the lab, and see more of the lunar cycle come into play effecting her abilities. Therefore, she'd have to find a more creative way to help her parents succeed on missions. I'm sure the mangaka won't disappoint.
Yuri. Where do I begin? He's a very funny character, but also very creepy and weird. Has a sister complex bordering on incest, but I'll give it a pass since it's entirely one sided and viewed as strange by other people as well. From what I can see at the moment, he just really, REALLY loves his sister as a sister and parental figure to an unhealthy extent. I won't say any more than that. Outside of some very hilarious moments, he gives me a headache overall ALKSDJALKSJD.
All the side characters introduced have been relevant to the story or the missions in order to progress the plot forward or teach a bigger lesson. I don't recall seeing a single mission, arc, or character that was just there for the sake of being there, for the sake of filler. While the tennis arc may have seemed unimportant, the underlying message was about Nightfall's unhealthy infatuation with Twilight, which she probably knows deep down that it will never come to fruition outside her imagination. They work amazingly together as agents, but are ultimately unfit together, especially in the context of a family. Nightfall confronts this when she challenges Yor to a tennis match and is promptly defeated. The arc is also there to assuage Yor's anxiety about her role as a mother and wife, and create a closer bond between her and Twilight. However, this does bring up more confusing feelings for the both of them. Either way, the story beautifully progresses.
Enjoyment [10/10]:
Do I really have to say? The comedic and serious elements are perfectly balanced. The story doesn't take itself too seriously. The worldbuilding is stellar and there's no filler whatsoever. Everything has a meaning, a purpose. Outside of that, Spy x Family is just an entertaining and engaging story to read, and a very original concept for a romcom in my opinion. All of the characters are wonderfully endearing. There is no dull moment so far, and despite the themes and possible outcomes being more obvious than not, it certainly doesn't make you think less intuitively about the story, nor does the obviousness make it necessarily bad. It is a very normal reaction, especially after a war, to crave for world peace between two countries on the verge of destroying each other.
The jobs of a spy and assassin, while normally viewed as "wrong," bring up more silver linings and grey areas in between the black and white judgement scale. Yor questions why she even chose the life of an assassin to begin with, and her purpose is ultimately reanimated by her newfound family. Her job before was to provide for Yuri, and make sure he could continue to live a carefree live in peace. However, now that he's grown up and can provide for himself, Yor becomes lost. She finds a new light, a new purpose, through Twilight and Anya. Eden, while being considered a prestigious school, obviously has its downsides in the social aspect and the disrespect from peers to teachers. It highlights the evils of wealth and power, as other parts of the manga do, and illustrates the hypocrisies of an elitist lifestyle.
I love the darker themes mixed in with the romance and the comedy. It makes the story entirely more interesting. However, if you don't want to think much of those darker themes, you can still enjoy the series as a cute romance story.
Overall [10/10]:
I am in love with this manga. I would marry it if I could. I bought the first volume on a whim, and it completely swept me off my feet. I cannot wait for more updates. In fact, this series garnered my first 10 rating on MAL.
I'd highly recommend this to anyone to read as it's an enjoyable time all together. The critiques I had are so minor that, to me, it doesn't affect the story or my enjoyment of the story at all. The only reason I could see someone giving this a low rating is just if it isn't their cup of tea. But technically speaking, there are no faults in the story. I'm so glad it's getting an anime, and I can't wait to binge that too. This was super long, but I hope you took my thoughts and opinions into consideration. Thank you. <3
Mar 17, 2022
Spy x Family
(Manga)
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I'd usually consider myself to be very picky when rating manga/anime. In fact, I usually find romcom boring when it comes down to it. However, this series has won me over completely and utterly. If you're shounen trash like I am, or you just love romcoms in general, then this series is for you [Slight Spoilers Ahead].
Story [10/10]: So far, the story is utterly amazing to say the least. I've seen no major flaws within it. It's always engaging and funny when it needs to be. From what I've seen, there are little to no pacing issues when it comes to the fight scenes, and the ... 
Feb 14, 2022
Kimetsu no Yaiba
(Manga)
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To be completely honest, I was struggling with myself on whether or not I should give a lower score for the manga. Demon Slayer was the second manga I had ever read after getting up to date with Tokyo Revengers. I was so excited to read the it as I had greatly enjoyed the anime and the movie that had come out. However, my enjoyment was practically stepped and spit on. I'll try not to include any spoilers, but this will be a long review, so brace yourself.
The beginning of the manga wasn't too bad. The content I had watched in season 1 was basically ... |
