[Fish Sandwich]

Oh man, more of this please, Ex-Aid. This episode was basically exactly the simple but important character-building plot I'd been wanting for 5 episodes. Hiiro probably needed fleshing out more than anyone else, too. I'm actually kind of coming around to his character, and that's the best compliment you can give a focus episode like this. Random thoughts!

- Happy to see so much Level 1 action, I guess, although they quickly replace the worry of not seeing them with the worry of just skipping to Level 3.

- I liked the climax a lot, but I'm still confused as to this whole stage select business. I get that it justifies Toei Geography™, but like, what purpose does it serve in-universe?

- On a similar note, I'm mildly disappointed by how the MotW is another glorified vending machine. I get the stuff last time with Genm and here with Graphite was more important but it'd be kind of nice if these guys put up a fight. I mean, why do they even have Gashats jammed in their skulls if it doesn't make them tougher or something?

- Also, sooo cool to see Emu actually step aside and let someone else be the hero for once. He still gets his big moment taking a hit for Brave but Hiiro gets to actually do the hard work.

- Sort of an aside here, but part of me was hoping the irony of the stoic knight having an upgrade based around upbeat music would be a deliberate symbolic thing, where maybe Hiiro getting it coincides with him learning to loosen up a bit, but once again I guess I was expecting too much. What they did worked well enough.

So yeah, I really liked it, despite appearances. All my complaints relate mainly to niggling little things with Ex-Aid's unexplained (nonexistent?) internal logic that I honestly don't think the show needs to elaborate on, but it sure would be nice if it found the time somewhere down the line.

Next week looks to be doing this same routine with Lazer, a character I already like, so I'm pumped for that.