Anime Best in Show

Review: In/Spectre Episode 3 Best in Show

Quick Summary

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.

Best Moment in the Show

Sometimes the results aren’t as important as the decision to try. Saki gets full points for bravery in my Best in Show moment! Her expression here is awesome! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

“I wonder how long this life of gloom and doom is going to continue?” Saki asked herself as she walked up the hill after her shift at work (16:40). The supernatural rumors and events scared the police officer, despite her training and despite living in a modern, civilized country. With good reason. She had seen Kurou, her boyfriend at the time, mysteriously heal from wounds that should have sent him to a hospital. She’d also seen a kappa rise out of the water, which caused her to recoil in terror. Who wouldn’t? But then she saw something even more terrifying.

The monster recoiled in fright from Kurou.

So the supernatural had played too great a role in Saki’s life. Even now, rumors of the undead idol who had returned from death to attack the with — of all things! — a steel girder were spreading fast and wide. She’d even taken a statement from a witness who’d swerved his car into a river to avoid hitting the idol. It was completely why she was feeling a bit down.

Kotoko just says whatever comes to mind! I know people who would say that’s “socially inappropriate.” Or even unrealistic. But I’ve met people like her, and I’d say they’re a breath of fresh air. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

As she paused, dreading the walk up the hill, she saw a small figured staggering backwards. It was Kotoko, and she crashed right into Saki. The resulting conversation was enough to quality for a Best in Show moment, but what came next made me set that aside. Kotoko told Saki to run for it, but the police officer stood her ground, unwilling to let Kotoko face some unknown danger alone. She heard the sound of something heavy and metallic before she saw the red glow. A tall, buxom young woman materialized out of the red light. She was dragging a steel girder, and her face was simply void. Saki recognized her immediately. It was the Steel Lady Nanase.

Saki’s hands were shaking. Kotoko had given her an excuse to run. It would have been easy — no one would have blamed her.

You know, this is just not something you see every day! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

This is my favorite part.

Saki said, “Enough! I’m done with this” (18:21) and stepped forward. Throwing her handbag aside, she sprinted at the yokai! And she did better than that! Thinking that she was sick of running — from the kappa, from her relationship with Kurou — she dodged the thing’s first attack with the I-beam. Planting her foot, she threw what would have been a rehabilitating punch, except for one thing: her fist passed right through the yokai.

As far as I was concerned, Saki had won the instant she moved forward in spite of her fear. That’s real bravery, and I can’t not honor it. She gets bonus points for how she reacted to her fist passing through her target. Yes, she was freaked out, but she kept enough of her wits about her that she was able to dodge Steel Lady Nanase’s next attack.

So it looks like In/Spectre had not one but two strong women characters. This season is really shaping up to be a winner!

What did you think of Saki and Kotoko’s conversation? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

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5 thoughts on “Review: In/Spectre Episode 3 Best in Show

  1. Omg, this episode is purely beautiful, insane and hilarious. I want Kotoko and Saki together, I think they made a pretty good pair giving us absurd comedic moments. Plus, Kotoko pulling those action stunts looks so beautiful and her sharp tongue is one think I like the most about her.

  2. You know, I really liked that kitty expression and sound Kotoko made just before Saki punched her in the face. Poor girl; better at handling youkai than humans. Heh. Well, she can take it.

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