[Enchilada645]

Ngl, aside from the Wakana parts, I very much enjoyed this two-parter. I'd dare even say it's probably my favorite of the series for the various moments it has?

While yeah Wakana's stuff is like important for the main plot of the series, the episodes really don't feel like they're that invested in it? Mostly every scene that involves the main plot of the series is short and usually used as intermediary footage to get us different cuts of what Team W Movie Edition is doing. And man, is "Team W makes an amateur movie" such a fun plot to land on.

The return of Shotaro and Akiko's period piece obsession. The hilarious fight against the Gene Dopant in which we get "My hand is a cow". Scarecrow Terui. The conclusion to part one where the Akiko's freaking out takes center stage as the cliffhanger while everyone's getting blown up in the background. The Terui Kiss Scene. Akiko actually stepping up and delivering an honestly solid speech with Shotaro earlier on in the arc showing genuine respect for her determination.

Like there's just so much good stuff about these episodes that really hit the light and delightful tone W has been going for.

That's also not mentioning the fact that in my initial watch I think I wrote Saeko off? But there's something entertaining about this woman who's basically downgrading herself on suitable husbands while learning nothing, letting her pride basically cost her victory (especially when she could've let W finish off Claydoll in part 1), and pretty much be the literal underdog of every single faction thus far. Also Red Nazca is a really nice suit, because well, it's Nazca. I still prefer blue though.

Also to comment on the Terui stuff, I feel like it works. Dude signed up to be a scarecrow, not to do something big like kiss a stranger on camera that'll likely get shown at least city-wide. Of course despair is waiting at his goal. I also figured that the ending was less about forcing and more about him studying up because he wants to act professionally and make up for running off and is so embroiled in wanting to do so, that he basically drags Team W into it.