Show By Rock!!

Episode 9

The stakes are finally raised in Show By Rock!!, with the end of episode 9 featuring the show's darkest moment to date. It's disturbing in a good way, despite being somewhat tone-inconsistent with the rest of the series. Dagger and the shadowy figure exposit more about their malevolent goals, although there are still a few questions left to be answered. When Dagger confronts Criticrista at the end of the battle of the bands, he's almost certainly turning them into dark monsters, but the way they cower in the corner as his shadows envelop them, you'd think he was outright murdering them—if they're never healed, he kind of was.

However, before the episode takes such a dark turn, it's a commendably straightforward and successful take on the battle of the bands theme. Since this is Plasmagica's second face-off with Criticrista, the odds of them losing again are slim. (Thematically, anyway.) Still, even with such a predictable ending on the horizon, this episode hits all the right beats as it showcases the bandmates practicing for their big gig, trying in vain to incorporate over-the-top acts of showmanship into their performance, and finally, pulling off the ultimate concert. Episode 9 also marks the return of the CGI musical interludes that have been sorely missed these past few weeks. Thanks to the rematch against Cristicrista, viewers are treated to two upbeat tunes, courtesy of adorable chibi-fied animals. Not surprisingly, more screen time is given to Plasmagica's performance.

Despite being nicely incorporated into this episode, the girls of Criticrista remain underdeveloped. If they were meant to be Plasmagica's number one rivals, they should have been a more consistent part of the show. A joke that revolves around frog-girl Jacklyn getting depressed when her skin dries out is good for a chuckle, but having Holmy subsequently explain the joke to Rosia—something Rosia already knows—as she rehydrates Jacklyn is a blatant example of telling instead of showing (or in addition to showing). If the audience was given the chance to get a better feel for these characters, the quirks they exhibit during their brief appearances wouldn't be something that required lengthy explanations. Similarly, since we barely know her, Tsukino's weird daifuku analogies don't make her as charming and endearing as the producers likely intended.

Show By Rock!! is headed in the right direction as it begins to set itself up for an epic conclusion. The overall monster storyline wasn't really necessary to begin with, but since it's been established, it's high time the show started raising the stakes. The dark manner in which the episode ends might seem incongruous with the typically lighthearted nature of the show, and there's little doubt that Plasmagica (and Cyan in particular) will save the day and uncorrupt their freshly-felled rivals. Nevertheless, here's hoping the execution of the expected has a few entertaining surprises along the way.

Rating: B+

Show By Rock!! is currently streaming on Funimation.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for two decades.