When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace

Episode 4

When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace is a fun series to watch, but it's far from mindless in its entertainment value. This episode continues the pattern of accenting its enthusiastic comedy routines with clever observations and genuine emotion. The end result is a well-crafted and enjoyable half hour.

This time, the spotlight is put on Chifuyu, the group's obligatory elementary schooler. She's been spending more and more time at the high school playing with the members of the Literature Club, much to the annoyance of her classmate Kuki. When Kuki demands that Chifuyu stop associating with the high schoolers, it leads to a fight between the two girls. Jurai and company are stuck with the challenge of repairing this broken friendship without revealing their superpowers.

This isn't the most intense emotional drama we've seen from this series, but it's carried out in a satisfying manner. It gives the show a chance to examine the personal challenges that come with trying to conceal a special power. Chifuyu could have easily avoided the argument by revealing her abilities to Kuki, but she makes the tough choice to uphold the group's vow of secrecy. Rather than resorting to excessive tears and cheap theatrics, the show is subtle in showing the audience how this choice affects Chifuyu. The crumpled ribbon on her school uniform does a better job of conveying Chifuyu's distress than any sobbing monologue. While there's only so much drama that can be extracted from an argument between grade school kids, When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace does a good job of working within the limits of this episode's premise.

The show's comedic side also remains in fine form this week. The series is happy to let its characters produce humor naturally by letting their personalities run wild. This has already helped to elevate Jurai beyond the “boring male protagonist” archetype that might be expected from his character design. It's tough not to enjoy his goofy enthusiasm, and I love the show's firm refusal to let him look cool for even a moment. Even if the ensemble cast seems to be inviting fans to argue over their favorite girl, it's nice to see a guy who isn't just a blank stand-in for male viewers.

If I have any real complaint about this episode, it's that most of the characters' superpowers are left on the sidelines. Chifuyu's abilities produce a few laughs, but that's about all we get. Part of this show's appeal lies in the fun factor of teenagers playing around with incredible supernatural abilities, and it seems a shame to let that strength go underused. Jurai in particular should be breaking out the lovably useless Dark and Dark every chance he gets.

When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace remains high quality entertainment, and its cast becomes more likable with each passing episode. This increased emotional investment in its characters could be setting the stage for some heartfelt drama later in the season. In the meantime, it makes for a fun way to get the week started.

Rating: B+

When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Paul Jensen also covers anime and manga at SharkPuppet.com.