Anime Review Archive

Fruits Basket 2019 Season 1 Episode Guide

Episode 1: See you after school


Review: Fruits Basket Episode 01 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 1, “See you after school,” Tooru Honda does her best to be cheerful, helpful, and hard working. Given how she recently lost her mother, given how her family argued over who would take her in, and given how her grandfather just asked her to stay with friends, it’s a wonder she can smile at all! She stumbles upon the house where Yuki Souma lives with his cousin, and she’s conflicted: should she walk to school with him and risk not only the wrath of his fan club, but of him finding out her secret? And just why would Yuki, one of the most popular boys in school, want to walk to school with her, anyway?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 2: They’re All Animals!

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 02 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 2, “They’re All Animals!“, Tooru Honda is completely freaked out that her mere touch turned Shigure Souma into a dog, Yuki Souma into a rat, and Kyou Souma into a cat! She almost despairs when the delivery man doesn’t believe her. He just accepts the dog’s stamp as enough to prove delivery! She’s only marginally relieved when they turn back into humans, because they’re naked. Shigure in particular seems pretty relaxed about it. Now that she knows the family secret, will they let her go free without altering her memories? Is that what the head of the family intends to do? And why is Shigure so intent on getting Kyou back into their home?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 3: Let’s Play Rich Man-Poor Man

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 03 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 3, “Let’s Play Rich Man-Poor Man,” Kyou Souma continues to try fitting in with class — going so far as to make suggestions for the festival — but he thinks he’s still failing. The perception is not universal. Yuki Souma continues to be respected and well-regarded among his classmates though his perception, too, doesn’t match the reality. Tooru Honda begins to understand their enmity a little better, and it’s deep-seated. Can she get them to understand each other’s perspectives? And can she and Yuki save his secret base, a beautiful vegetable garden, from a sudden typhoon?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 4: What Year is She?

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 04 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 4, “What Year Is She?“, we find out that the girl looking for Kyou Souma at the end of the previous episode wasn’t some random stalker, but another member of the family, Kagura Souma. She’s so happy that Kyou is back that she beats him senseless. She also does substantial damage to the house in the process! Can Kyou survive her affections? Can Tooru Honda get on her good side? And just what sign of the zodiac is Kagura, anyway?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 5: I’ve Been Fooling Myself

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 05 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 5, “I’ve Been Fooling Myself,” Tooru Honda receives word that her grandfather has finished renovations and is ready for her to return “home.” Dutiful young woman that she is, Tooru prepares final meals and snacks for Kyou SoumaYuki Souma, and Shigure Souma. Then she quietly leaves. Tooru’s grandfather is welcoming (even if he keeps calling her by mother’s name), but the rest of her family? Not so much. Can Tooru put up with their subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) put-downs? Are Kyou and Yuki really okay with her leaving? And what’s this about a private investigator? 

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 6: Perhaps We should Invite Ourselves Over

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 06 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 6, “Perhaps We Should Invite Ourselves Over,” the school festival is underway, and both Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima are suspicious: Tooru Honda is far too familiar with Yuki Souma and Kyou Souma. Tooru hasn’t told them anything, so what’s going on? After the antics of Momiji Souma, Arisa and Saki find out the truth: Tooru is living with the Souma family! They’re taken aback. Is that arrangement healthy for Tooru? Can the Souma family be trusted? And worst of all, why didn’t Tooru confide in them? 

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 7: Spring Comes

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 07 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 7, “Spring Comes,” Tooru Honda arrives at the Souma estates per Hatori Souma’s request, though it was more like an order. As she’s nervously waiting for him to join her, she notices a picture of a young woman on his desk. Who is she? Is she another Souma? Why is Momiji Souma trying so hard to cheer her up? What’s all this talk about a curse? And for what purpose did Hatori demand Tooru visit?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 8: See You When You Get Back

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 08 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 8, “See You When You Get Back,” the time for New Years’ parties are upon them. Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima both ask Tooru Honda to spend the time with them, but Tooru begs off, saying she wouldn’t want to get in the way of their family time. The Souma family is planning their own party at their compound, and Yuki SoumaKyou Souma, and Shigure Souma have to attend. That will leave Tooru alone on New Years! But she cheerfully encourages them to go fulfill their family obligations. As they trudge towards the gala, Yuki and Kyou are filled with misgivings. Will Tooru be alright? Will she fall down the stairs again? Choke on food? Or are they completely missing the point?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 9: Yuki Was My First Love

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 09 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 9, “Yuki Was My First Love,” Yuki Souma is coming down with a cold. Tooru Honda is beside herself with worry and she begs him to stay home, but Kyou Souma won’t hear of it: There’s a long-distance run tomorrow, and he’s bound and determined to beat Yuki. Will Yuki’s cold flare up during the run? Will Saki Hanajima run more than a single step? And who’s the white-haired Souma that Tooru mistook for a collapsed old man?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 10: It’s Valentine’s, After All

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 10 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 10, “It’s Valentine’s, After All,” the day opens with Kyou Souma acting subdued. Saki Hanajima’s wave analysis confirmed it. Tooru Honda, being Tooru, wants to get to the bottom of the mystery, but she doesn’t have to sleuth long before she sees Kagura Souma waiting for Kyou after school. One mystery solved! Can Kagura convince Kyou to go on a date with her? Will Shigure Souma’s idea of the two going on a double date with Tooru and Yuki Souma (along with Tooru’s enthusiastic endorsement) help? And just why is Shigure so interested in them going out, anyway?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 11: This is a Wonderful Inn

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 11 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 11, “This is a Wonderful Inn,” Momiji Souma gives Tooru Honda a wonderful White Day present: a ticket to a posh Souma family-run hot spring inn! It took some work, but they were able to convince Kyou Souma and Yuki Souma to go, too. Once there, they met the proprietor, who had a decidedly odd way of greeting her guests — and that was just for starters. Will the bickering between Kyou and Momiji subside so Tooru can enjoy herself? What is in the package that Yuki keeps trying to find the right time to give to Tooru? And Momiji is how old?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious. 

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Episode 12: You Look like You’re Having Fun

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 12 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 12, “You Look Like You’re Having Fun,” the new school year has started, and both Momiji Shouma and Hatsuharu Shouma have started at Tooru Honda’s high school. Tooru’s friends Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima are anxious to meet them, so Tooru takes Kyou Shouma and Yuki Shouma to round them up. Unfortunately, they find the really energetic student council president has taken issue with Momiji wearing women’s clothing and Hatsuharu having white hair. Can Tooru do anything to defuse the situation? Will the two women accompanying the student council president be able to maintain their composure when Hatsuharu turns on the charm? And what other Shouma visited the school on that same day?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 13: How Have You Been, My Brother

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 13 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 13, “How Have You Been, My Brother,” Tooru Honda was on her way home after helping Yuki Shouma with his garden when she came across a heap of clothes. Suddenly, a snake climbed under her dress and up her back! Fortunately, Tooru is used to such antics and realizes she just met another Shouma. Yuki is less than pleased with how his older brother Ayame Shouma introduced himself to Tooru — to the point where Yuki demanded Shigure Shouma skin and fry the snake for lunch! Can Ayame bridge the emotional gap between himself and his brother? Shouldn’t Tooru be more freaked out? Worst of all, can Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima explain to Tooru why Ayame’s shop sells nurse uniforms and maid outfits?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 14: That’s a Secret

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 14 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 14, “That’s a Secret,” it’s the first anniversary of her mother’s death, and Tooru Honda wants to take her friends Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima with her to visit her mom’s grave. Yuki Shouma asks if he could go, too, to pay his respects. Kyou Shouma remained silent. Why didn’t he ask to come along, too? Will Arisa let him get away with it? The night before the visit to the grave site, Momiji Shouma helps Tooru finish her work. He tells her about his mom, who shows up unexpectedly to pick up his sister and visit his father. Why does she behave so strangely toward Momiji? Will Tooru be able to withstand learning the truth?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 15: I Wouldn’t Say That

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 15 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 15, “I Wouldn’t Say That,” Shigure Shouma and Hatori Shouma arranged for Tooru HondaYuki Shouma, and Kyou Shouma to go on a retreat to one of the Shouma family vacation houses. Its view of the lake was beautiful, and Tooru was excited to explore. But she’s also terribly worried. Yuki and Kyou acted very distant and aloof to the point where she began to wonder what she’d done to upset them. Before she could sort it out, Kyou tripped and fell. What tripped him? An enormous bear footprint. That was when they remembered Shigure warning them about bears…

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 16: She Said Don’t Step on Them!

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 16 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 16, “She Said Don’t Step on Them!,” it’s summer. Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima are wearing stylish swim suits, and they are lounging in and around the pool when Tooru Honda arrives. She’s wearing a middle school, one-piece blue swim suit, and it almost breaks Arisa’s heart. So, Arisa rounds up Yuki Shouma and Kyou Shouma, and they head off to the mall. They don’t know it, but some of Arisa’s old gang members see them. Will Yuki and Kyou overcome their embarrassment enough to encourage Tooru? Will the old gang members make trouble? And can you believe who Arisa used to idolize?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 17: This is for Uo-chan!

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 17 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 17, “This Is for Uo-chan!,” Arisa Uotani continues to tell the story of how she met Tooru Honda and her mother. As we saw in the previous episode, their first meeting wasn’t exactly happiness and light, and that trend continued in this episode. However, as the irresistible force that is Tooru’s goodness came into contact with Arisa’s life, the rebellious teen feels that she understands her own life better — as well as herself. Can she convince herself to accept kindness from both Tooru and her mom? If she can, will her gang just let her walk away?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 18: What’s Important Is…

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 18 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 18, “What’s Important Is…“, Yuki Shouma and Tooru Honda were waiting for the rain to stop when they saw Hatsuharu Shouma, sopping wet, carrying a small bundle. The small bundle was a baby tiger, more specifically the Shouma Tiger sign of the Zodiac, otherwise known as Kisa Shouma. As Tooru quickly found out, the baby tiger loved to bite hands. But she couldn’t speak, and she hadn’t spoken for a while now. What trauma had caused her silence? Why does Yuki seem to empathetic to her? Why does her mother seem so exhausted? And just how many people can Tooru’s goodness and light heal at the same time?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 19: I’m So Sorry

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 19 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 19, “I’m So Sorry,” Ritsu Shouma decided to visit Shigure Shouma’s house just as Mitsuru was leaving — at a furious run. Apparently, she had come to collect Shigure’s manuscript, and you can guess how willing he was to just give it to the beleaguered woman. She almost crashed into Ritsu, who apologized profusely — almost as profusely as Mitsuru. Why does Ritsu apologize so much? Will Mitsuru ever get Shigure’s manuscript? And why didn’t we get to see Tooru Honda until almost a minute and a half into the episode?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 20: I Can’t Believe You Picked It Up

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 20 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 20, “I Can’t Believe You Picked It Up,” Tooru Honda faces her greatest challenge yet: Hiro Shouma, a young man who is Kisa Shouma’s close friend. After Kisa stays overnight at Shigure Shouma’s house to watch DVDs with Tooru, Hiro barges into Tooru’s life and steals her pocketbook — with her mom’s picture in it. Kyou Shouma finds Hiro and figures out what’s going on, but Hiro used Kyou’s own temper against him. It took the calm and playful manipulation of Momiji Shouma to bring Kisa into the picture so she could ask why Hiro was acting so hatefully towards Tooru. Why is Hiro acting like that? Can Kyou master his temper long enough to help? And what can Tooru do about the situation, especially since Kisa seems to be counting on her?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 21: I Never Back Down from a Wave Fight

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 21 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 21, “I Never Back Down from a Wave Fight,” the three girls in Yuki Shouma’s fan club decide that they just must get rid of Tooru Honda because she is getting too close to Yuki. Of course, they can’t just assault Tooru — her friends Arisa Uotani and Saki Hanajima would do something unspeakable to them! So, they hatch a plan that starts with them interviewing Saki about her waves — in her own home. What are the girls planning to do? What will Saki do when she figures out what they’re doing (or does she already know)? And while Saki’s making tea, who’s hiding in the room with the girls?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 22: Because I was Happy

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 22 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 22, “Because I was Happy,” we meet Saki Hanajima before she knew either Tooru Honda or Arisa Uotani. Those were hard times for our hero. She was trying to come to grips with her powers, and since she had talents that others lacked, her classmates bullied her. Sometimes, mercilessly. When one incident went way too far, Saki lashed out angrily — and the bully dropped in his tracks. Saki was horrified. What would her parents think? Will the police take her away? Is there anything she can to do go to school in peace? Or will her reputation as a supernatural menace get even worse?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 23: You Look Well

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 23 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 23, “You Look Well,” it’s final exam time, and Tooru Honda is devastated to learn that she failed one of her exams — in a subject that Yuki Shouma tutored her in! She’s wracked by guilt, and it doesn’t help that Saki Hanajima confides that she failed all of her exams. Worst of all, Tooru is terrified that she won’t be able to keep the promise to her mom to graduate from high school. As Kyou Shouma is walking her home, Tooru collapses. It seems she has contracted the dreaded anime cold! Will she survive? If she does, will she recover in time to take the make up exam? And will Saki rebound and advance to the next grade?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 24: Let’s Go Home

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 24 – Best In Show

In Fruits Basket episode 24, “Let’s Go Home,” we learn that Kyou Shouma’s mother committed suicide, and that almost everyone blamed Kyou. Why? Because he had inherited the spirit of the Cat. Well, almost everyone blamed Kyou. One man didn’t. Kazuma Shouma took an interest in your Kyou and became not only his martial arts teacher, but his replacement father. Why, then, he is talking with Shigure Shouma about putting Kyou in a situation that could cost him everything — including his life? Even after hearing Kazuma’s plan, why did even Kagura Shouma take no action? And what are they all looking at Tooru Honda to do? 

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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Episode 25: Summer Will Be Here Soon

Review: Fruits Basket Episode 25 – Best In Show

Fruits Basket episode 25, “Summer Will Be Here Soon,” those involved with the heart-wrenching events of the previous episode try to pull their lives back together. Kagura Shouma left without saying goodbye to Kyou ShoumaKazuma Shouma tried to do the same thing, with Tooru Honda walking him part way home. Kyou realizes Kazuma has left and races after him. How will he treat Kazuma if he catches him? How will Tooru react? And why is Yuki Shouma acting so angry?  

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

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