[Layton13]

This episode feels at odds with itself. The humor just does not blend at all and simply detracts from the somber, foreboding tone they seem to be going for. Not that it would work without the humor. George's actor is trying, dear god he is trying, but the material is just so laughably bad that it comes off as goofy and nothing else. Juuga also feels like he just does not belong with how easily he is ultimately swatted aside, once more not giving the heroes any real challenge and handing them the victory.

As for the memory plot line, way too little, way too late, filtered through a wet towel of a character. Aka, it leaves me feeling absolutely nothing. And given my dislike for the family in general, it almost feels like he'll be better off without them. Though, that's mostly a joke on my part.

What's not a joke is that I really dislike Ikki's position in the conflict this week. Masamune is not someone Geroge should have to accept. It doesn't matter that he loved his son; whenever it mattered, he chose wrong. George may go about his pain in the wrong way, but I don't think the conclusion he reached was the wrong one. Cutting Masamune out of his life feels like the right choice for him. In the end, the man has caused him more pain and trauma than he has done him good. Sometimes not having a family is better than having one.

Also, a small nitpick, the Weekend Base being Masamune's old house feels... wrong in some way. I can't exactly place it, but it feels just not right.

As for the next episode, seems to be pretty obvious where they are going, and am not a fan of it. Through that could be because the whole memory plotline feels incredibly contrived to me already.