[NGW]

Just wrapped up episode 29 as well. This pair of episodes are amongst my favorite this season so far. A lot seemed to happen, from a better look into how the puppet, douji and hime, and makamou stuff works to some really good moments between Hibiki and Asumu, great send off to the first half of the season. If I remember right, the next episode is where the production changes occurred, so we'll see how big of a difference that makes.

Edit: Watching episode 30 now, the first episode after the change in production.

First thing I notice, where the hell is my intro by Asumu? The hell.

Secondly, Kiriya is a dick.

Third, that sushi looked delicious.

Fourth, even though I noticed this before we were introduced to Kiriya (whatever, my thoughts can be out of order), nice seeing even more into the goings on of the mystery couple behind the makamou. While part of me did like things being kinda shrouded in mystery, I do enjoy seeing that mystery slowly revealed to us too.

Fifth, that guy getting burned to ash by the makamou was pretty gnarly. Which brings up another point, I'm actually really surprised at how violent this season has been. From people being fed to monsters, dissolved and fed to monsters, impaled and fed to monsters, the blood (even if it isn't red) when the makamou or douji/hime are attacked, etc. the blood when the oni are injured, that just took me off guard. Especially since this season is sorta recent, I'd have figured by this time they'd have toned it down considering how tame modern seasons have been.

Sixth, Kiriya is a dick. And a showoff.

Seventh, well he apologized for calling Asumu boring, so he's..not a complete dick?

Eight, ok so Kiriya invites Asumu over to thank him for the day prior. He's aight.

Nine, so I kinda have Kiriya figured out. He's a bit of a humble braggart, though him faking the sprained finger seemed a bit odd to me (at least it seemed like he was faking it to me). He came off like a bit of a dick at first, but now, I dunno, he seems to be genuinely trying to be friends with Asumu, and aside from his tendency to showoff how much better he is at everything, he's not really that much of an ass. And he seems to have some personal problems as of yet unexplored.

Tenth, Hibiki is his father?!?!?!