SPY X FAMILY season two spoilers follow.
SPY x FAMILY season two has seen the Forger family burst back onto our screens with more madcap anime adventures — but three episodes in, and it's starting to feel like something is a little off.
When the show returned after more than 10 months away, fans were excited to be reunited with its central group of loveable weirdos.
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SPY x FAMILY earned a killer reputation across the two halves of its first season, becoming an international sensation thanks to its unique and delightful combination of '60s-inspired spy hijinks and slice-of-life family moments.
Watch SPY x FAMILY on Crunchyroll
Key to SPY x FAMILY's success was the way it balanced its disparate elements (how many screwball-action-sitcom-farces can you name?) and mixed them into a cocktail that really worked.
Its sillier moments were complimented by moments of real peril, especially in its first half, and character development unfurled slowly as the core three Forgers opened their hearts to one another.
Unfortunately, a lot of that magic seems to have been lost in the early episodes of season two, thanks to two creative decisions.
Firstly, there's been a shift in focus to sillier and more purely comedic elements of the story. The anime show's attention across the first three episodes has fallen squarely on building out cute family memories, with Anya's adventures and perspective being prioritised for laughs.
The only serious spy mission we've had so far (unless you count Bond avoiding terrible food made by Yor) was Yuri's 'Mission and Family' story in episode three.
It's easy to understand why this shift has happened. Anya Forger has become a major brand and is integral to the show's success. Everyone's favourite telepathic tyrant has her own video game coming out this year, not to mention a host of brand deals and collaborations.
But part of what made Anya such a fun and appealing character in the first place was how she was deployed, undercutting serious moments with off-kilter commentary and her uncanny abilities. But so far in season two, there really haven't been many serious moments for her to undercut.
Our other major gripe with SPY x FAMILY season two is its structure, with the show opting to split each episode into two or more smaller stories.
This vignette approach means we haven't been given the chance to get lost in any specific story. Every instalment so far has felt more like postcards or quick sketches of Forger family life, leaving little room for anything bigger or meatier.
It's a shame because, honestly, the best moments from season one were those stories that spread themselves out across two or three episodes; the tennis tournament and Eden entrance exams were particular standouts.
The show's initial run also laid down breadcrumbs about the show's wider world, and while we're not expecting SPY x FAMILY to become a sprawling espionage story, we are missing some of those elements that combine to make a richer viewing experience.
We did get glimpses of the show's geopolitical setting in episode three, which featured a segment focused on Yuri's pursuit of a journalist suspected of sending propaganda to Westalis.
It was great to see SPY x FAMILY operate in this other mode, but the fact that it was disconnected from our other main characters and story meant it didn't add up to much.
The show still has plenty of time to address this issue, though. We're only three episodes out of 12, and there's a SPY X FAMILY movie coming in December. (This will have to be more focused since it'll tell just one story.)
In addition, after episode four (which, going by its title, looks to be another split-story episode), we're heading towards story arcs from the manga that fans adore. We've got the cruise ship arc and WISE agent drama focusing on Loid's past that should provide the show a perfect opportunity to earn some Stella of its own.
SPY x FAMILY is available to watch on Crunchyroll, with new episodes releasing every Saturday.
Ali is Hearst UK's deputy social strategy director. He has been covering TV and movies for more than six years, all while wrangling Digital Spy's social media and video channels - for which he received a PPA 30 Under 30 award. He specializes in writing about anime, LGBTQ+ representation, science fiction, and comic book adaptations. Recently he's begun collecting Star Wars interviews like Infinity Stones and has spoken with The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy and the creative team behind The Bad Batch. Dave Filoni, you're next.
