Anime Review Archive

In/Spectre Episode Guide


Episode 1: One Eye, One Leg

Review: In/Spectre Episode 1 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 1, “One Eye, One Leg,” Kotoko Iwanaga took one look at Kurou Sakuragawa and fell in love. She even saved his life, which you’d think would give her an advantage on the battlefield of romance. Unfortunately, Kurou was already engaged to a woman older than Kotoko. So not only no advantage, but no dating, either. However, later something happened — and Kurou was available. What happened? How did it connect to Kotoko? Why does she walk with a cane? And just what does she have to do with the goddess of wisdom?

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

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Episode 2: What the Guardian Serpent Heard

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In In/Spectre episode 2, “What the Guardian Serpent Heard,” Kotoko Iwanaga received a request to help a mountain serpent spirit resolve a complex problem, and she asked Kurou Sakuragawa if he’d like to go with her. He declined, saying he had some pork miso soup that he’d been looking forward to eating. Understandably miffed, Kotoko decided to go to the mountain on her own. Was that a great idea? Should Kurou really let a high school girl visit a spirit — a huge serpent spirit — all alone at night? And just how good was that batch of soup?

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

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Episode 3: The Rumors of the Steel Lady

Review: In/Spectre Episode 3 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 3, “The Rumors of the Steel Lady,” Kotoko Iwanaga, with Kurou Sakuragawa by her side, concluded her business with the mountain serpent spirit. The biggest remaining question: whether Kurou will admit to being her boyfriend! Several years later, Saki Yumihara, Kurou’s old girlfriend, joined the police force. She was becoming increasingly concerned about the reports of an idol who had tragically lost her life, but who was still terrorizing the living. Veteran police officers were loathe to talk about the case, but there was increasing alarm within the force. Will Saki be able to strike the right balance at work — or will the more conservative officers retaliate against her for speaking nonsense? And if she’s right, if the ghost idol actually exists, what can she do to bring the necromantic rampage to an end?

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

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Episode 4: Idol Dies by Steel Beam

Review: In/Spectre Episode 4 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 4, “Idol Dies by Steel Beam,” after their close encounter with Steel Lady Nanase, Saki Yumihara took Kotoko Iwanaga back to her apartment to treat her wounds. Though grateful, Kotoko couldn’t resist bragging that Kurou Sakuragawa was her boyfriend now and not Saki’s. However, the goddess of wisdom may have overplayed her hand: Saki, a police officer used to interpreting evidence, saw right away that Kurou’s expression in their date photos was less than ecstatic. They agreed to put their rivalry aside (mostly) as they combined resources to track down Steel Lady Nanase, whose appearances seemed to be increasing in number. Can they stop the ghostly idol before she actually hurts someone? Can they stop bickering long enough to help each other? And where did Kurou suddenly disappear to?

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

At Least Kotoko Is Having Fun!

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Episode 5: A Monster of the Imagination

Review: In/Spectre Episode 5 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 5, “A Monster of the Imagination,” Saki Yumihara and Kotoko Iwanaga watched as Kurou Sakuragawa fought Steel Lady Nanase. Saki was beside herself: all of the fears and anxieties that forced her to leave Kurou seemed to come at her all at once. It didn’t help that the monster kept almost striking Kurou with her steel beam. Nor did it help that Kotoko seemed so calm because she was absolutely confident that Kurou knew what he was doing. But with each swing of her beam, Nanase came closer and closer to striking Kurou. Finally, as he retreated from her, his heel came down on an aluminum can. He crashed backwards into a sign. The steel beam came up for the killing blow. Can Kurou survive the impact? If he can’t, will he come back to life as Kotoko seems to think he can? And even with her police training, can Saki just stand there and watch her ex-boyfriend get murdered?

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

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Episode 6: Logical Fiction

Review: In/Spectre Episode 6 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 6, “Logical Fiction,” Kotoko Iwanaga put her prodigious experience as goddess of wisdom to work on the problem: Coming up with a more satisfying yet less dangerous interpretation of the Steel Lady Nanase. Kotoko needed data, and a great source of data would be the original police reports. It just so happened that Kotoko was sitting in the living room of the police officer Saki Yumihara. Not only that, Kotoko’s current boyfriend, Kurou Sakuragawa, was Saki’s ex-boyfriend. Can the two of them convince Saki to give them access to the files? Will asking some of Kotoko’s ghost friends help their cause? And will the Steel Lady Nanase be so good as to give them time to come up with a plan — before killing any innocent people?

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

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Episode 7: Preparing the Conquer the Steel Lady

Review: In/Spectre Episode 7 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 7, “Preparing to Conquer the Steel Lady,” Kotoko Iwanaga felt exhausted. On the heels of Steel Lady Nanase’s first confirmed murder, Kotoko’s mission to craft a plausible falsehood about Nanase got significantly more difficult. Fortunately, Kurou Sakuragawa soon arrived with the perfect provisions: chocolate! It wasn’t long before Saki Yumihara joined them — but exactly what were they to do? Could they find a path to success now that internet rumors were getting stronger by the minute? And why does it seem like someone is manipulating those rumors — expertly?

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

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Episode 8: She Who Spins Fiction

Review: In/Spectre Episode 8 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 7, “She Who Spins Fiction,” Kotoko Iwanaga felt terrified. Not of an attack by the Steel Lady Nanase. Not because she was afraid she wouldn’t come up with a way to counter the wiki page helping make the urban legend come to life. No, she was terrified because she had fallen asleep — and had left Kurou Sakuragawa alone with his beautiful, talented, and generally courageous ex fiancée, Saki Yumihara. It didn’t help at all when she rejoined them that they seemed to feel awkward around each other — as if something had happened! Can Kotoko overcome her insecurities long enough to get her attack on Steel Lady Nanase’s legend? Or does she really have something to worry about?

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

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Episode 9: The Committee to Conquer the Steel Lady Nanase

Review: In/Spectre Episode 9 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 9, “The Committee to Conquer Steel Lady Nanase,” Kotoko Iwanaga, from her seat in the back of the car, began her attack on the urban myth giving the Steel Lady Nanase powerful form. In the front seat, Saki Yumihara kept watch over Kurou Sakuragawa as he battled the Steel Lady Nanase herself. Kotoko’s attacks took the form of internet forum posts, and for a time she made progress. But it became clear that another force as potent as hers was countering. It seemed that Rikka Sakuragawa, who had powers to rival Kurou’s, was also present. Can Kotoko craft a fiction as powerful as Rikka’s? And without making it look like Saki was the culprit? Or was that kind of the point?

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

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Episode 10: Dueling Factions

Review: In/Spectre Episode 10 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 10, “Dueling Factions,” Kotoko Iwanaga launched the second phase of her attack. While Kurou Sakuragawa fought Steel Lady Nanase to keep her occupied — literally risking both life and limb — Saki Yumihara monitored both the physical and virtual fights. Every time Kotoko would make a move, Steel Lady Nanase would seem to get momentarily weaker. Then their opponent, Rikka Sakuragawa, looked into the future (with everything that entailed) and renewed her assault. Can Kotoko sway enough of the audience to her side — at least one of her sides? Or does Rikka have better control over her ability than Kurou does — meaning she can out maneuver them both? And just what is Rikka after, anyway?

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

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Episode 11: The Ultimate Fiction

Review: In/Spectre Episode 11 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 11, “The Ultimate Fiction,” Kurou Sakuragawa had tried to grasp a future thread, but he found that by himself, he couldn’t reach it. In that state, was there anything Kotoko Iwanaga could do to help? And speaking of Kotoko, she realized that Rikka Sakuragawa had joined the internet forum battle. Does Rikka’s greater skill give her an advantage over our heroes? Or does Kotoko have some more tricks up her sleeve? In fact, have we correctly interpreted her strategy so far? Is it possible she’s doing better than we, or Saki Yumihara, thinks?

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

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Episode 12: She Who Defends Order

Review: In/Spectre Episode 12 Best In Show

In In/Spectre episode 12, “She Who Defends Order,” Kurou Sakuragawa redoubled his efforts against Steel Lady Nanase, who made an incredible attempt to fight back. Ultimately, though, Kotoko Iwanaga’s story prevailed against Rikka Sakuragawa’s, and Nanase dissolved into nothingness. But an even greater threat loomed over Kotoko. Exhausted, she fell asleep for over a day — leaving Kurou alone with Saki! Will they use the time to rekindle lost love? How will Kotoko react when she awakens? And what was all that talk about a banana?

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

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https://www.crowsworldofanime.com

4 thoughts on “In/Spectre Episode Guide

    1. I can see that. For me, it didn’t, because I really liked the ideas. But I did miss the verbal interaction between the three main characters. That detracted a bit from my much I enjoyed the last episodes — until the actual last one. I really liked it.

    1. I’ll probably wait a while to make sure it doesn’t get a second season. I really like to watch the anime first!

      Though I made an exception for Monster Musume. I blame Miia.

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