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SPY x FAMILY Episode 1 Review – Best In Show

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SPY x FAMILY Episode 1 Review – Quick Summary

In SPY x FAMILY Episode 1, “OPERATION STRIX,” Loid Forger (if that’s his real name!) was a faithful and successful spy for his country. He prided himself on his mission success rate. After a particularly difficult mission, he had no illusions about getting any time to rest. His skills were in high demand! But when he learned his next mission’s cover required he have a family, and that he had a week to prepare, he realized this mission was not going to be like the others. Things only went downhill from there!

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

Favorite Quote from SPY x FAMILY Episode 1

SPY x FAMILY Episode 1: Loid "Twilight" Forger prepared for child care by studying

Loid approached his new role as a parent the same way he approached a new spy mission. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

There’s a lot going on in this first episode. More than I expected, and in a good way! For example, Forger seems like a thorough, conscientious young man. After “adopting” Anya, he took her shopping with him. He experienced the same thing many parents do once their children become mobile.

They go everywhere, all the time, until they just stop. Which meant he had to carry her back to their apartment. But first, being the data-driven spy that he is, he stopped by a bookstore and bought a lot of books about child-rearing.

As Anya slept in her room, he came across a passage that seemed to speak to him. He read that children often cannot put their feelings into words. Thinking about it, he realized that made perfect sense. Their minds have not yet developed critical thinking. 

What I found hilarious, though, was the conclusion he drew from this insight.

“So, no interrogating them, then?” he said (10:18).

It’s easy to see why he’s a top spy!

Best in Show Moment for SPY x FAMILY Episode 1

SPY x FAMILY Episode 1: Anya reminded Loid Forger of his "why"

Do you know what added another cool level of emotional impact in this scene? Loid didn’t know that Anya knew! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Expectations, Meet Reality

I went into this episode with very high expectations. I don’t like doing that, because it can be a problem for my mission to celebrate anime. See, I’ve learned that if I go in with high expectations, there’s a much higher probability that the show will disappoint me. If it disappoints me, it’s really hard to celebrate.

And guess what? This show defied probability. In a good way!

My favorite moment from this episode is a perfect example of how this show impressed me. No, that’s not right. It’s a perfect example of how this show delighted me. 

SPY x FAMILY Episode 1: Anya knew she had to hide from danger

It was at about this point that I realized the show was way ahead of my expectations. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Over the course of the episode, we slowly learned some of Loid’s back story. He had been orphaned. The shot we saw was of him weeping, clothes dirty and ripped, standing in the middle of a wrecked street in a war-ravaged city. It was almost too topical, but then, we’re humans. We do this to ourselves a lot, don’t we?

In the “present,” Loud is a spy. A really, really good spy. He’s clinical, he’s precise, and he’s resourceful. But he’s a tad, let’s say, harsh. He had been pretending to date the daughter of a major crime/political figure (seems those two things are pretty well meshed in that world – so, realism confirmed). After he completed the mission, he needed to sever ties with her. So, sever he did! 

“I’m afraid I can’t sense any intelligence in your conversations,” he said after a nearby couple in the same restaurant proposed (01:54). “Farewell. May you find happiness.”

Well, at least he wished her happiness!

Delivery: Loid Had Forgotten His Why

We get the picture of a spy at the top of his game – a game that had hollowed out his soul. He’s driven and he’s focused. He will let absolutely nothing stop him from succeeding. And he’s completely forgotten why.

Enter Anya.

When the baddies kidnapped her, something in Loid changed. He infiltrated the baddies’ headquarters, where they kept the terrified Anya, and he got her out of there. She had reminded him of himself, back when he was the little boy in the street. Most importantly, she reminded him of something critical to who he was. 

Still wearing his disguise, he gave her a piece of paper and told her that they were playing a game. If she could get to the police station nearby, she would win the prize. The prize was placement in a better orphanage. He didn’t say that last part out loud, but she read his mind to see it.

SPY x FAMILY Episode 1: Loid Forger tried to do what he saw as the right thing

He did what he thought he had to do, because she had reminded him of who he was. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

“My mistake,” he thought, not knowing Anya could read his thoughts (17:56), “was putting that little girl in danger to begin with. How could I forget? To create a world where children won’t have to cry… That’s why I became a spy.”

He’s a good man. He’s trying to do the right things. Anya just reminded him of why all of that is important. And that’s just one of the emotionally impactful moments in this episode! My expectations are even higher now. Let’s see what this series will do!

What did you think of Anya’s dislike of carrots? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

SPY x FAMILY Episode 1: Other Posts

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7 thoughts on “SPY x FAMILY Episode 1 Review – Best In Show

  1. Definitely a top tier first episode for sure. The music and animation were great and really amped up the content that was already so good. I can see why this has been hitting it off as the next big title out there. There’s just a whole lot to enjoy and I look forward to the next episodes

  2. I was watching this on Hulu and enjoyed it. The show played fine but the commercials kept buffering and crashing.

    I don’t have the commercial-free package. Ad supported Hulu already costs as much as Crunchyroll. Seems a bit much to pay if all I ever watch is occasional anime. Very sad!

    1. Man, I heard that. It feels like an insult to pay for a service that forces you to watch commercials. And you can’t skip them at all!

      Just on principle, though, I’m not paying more to remove commercials.

    1. I’m not going to lie — that thought crossed my mind, too!

      Then I watched the preview and realized we’ll get to meet Yor Forger. I have high hopes for Yor Forger!

      The chemistry between Loid and Anya was just so spot on this episode! I’m interested into seeing how Yor changes their relationship.

Please let me know what you think!

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