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SPY x FAMILY Episode 11 Review – Best In Show

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SPY x FAMILY Episode 11 Review – Quick Summary

In SPY x FAMILY Episode 11, “STELLA,” Anya’s test scores made something utterly clear: her route to Stellas were elsewhere. Loid and Yor helped Anya try her hand at sports, but missing 100% of the tennis balls and face-planting on the pommel horse proved that route, also, was closed to her. What’s left? And even if there is another route left, will Anya be any more successful at that? Is it time for Loid to ask for a new plan?

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

Favorite Quote from SPY x FAMILY Episode 11

SPY x FAMILY Episode 11: Anya let her Stella to go her head

I can’t blame Anya for over-reacting. It’s one of her first major successes! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Anya felt proud of herself for helping save the drowning boy. Rightly so – she put a lot of initiative and effort into the operation! I’ll talk about that more in my favorite moment, below.

Her efforts earned her a Stella, and she was exceedingly happy with it. It wasn’t only that she accomplished something, but that she felt like she was helping Loid achieve world peace. 

But Anya hasn’t had many major successes in her life. That meant she was really unused to dealing with it. Also, it’s apparent that the idea of being humble didn’t even occur to her. So when Becky said good morning to Anya by name, Anya actually wagged her finger at her friend.

“Call me Starlight Anya,” she said (15:37). 

Like I said, Anya’s new at this. She clearly needs a little more practice.

Best in Show Moment for SPY x FAMILY Episode 11

SPY x FAMILY Episode 11: Anya was terrified that the boy would drown

It’s rare that a single shot elicits so much emotion. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Anya, Faced with an Impossible Choice

You never know someone’s character until you observe their decisions under stress. Anya showed her true colors this episode, and you know what? She earned her self-proclaimed name “Starlight Anya.”

Loid had just taken her to the hospital to try earning a Stella through volunteer work, since both the academic and athletic paths seemed unlikely to do much for her. She failed basic volunteer work, too, for a wide variety of reasons. Loid had to lead her out, all the while trying to figure out what to do next.

Suddenly, Anya’s clairvoyance caught the thoughts of a boy who had fallen into the pool.The boy was about to drown! Immediately, Anya did what most kids would do if they had seen something terrible: she ran to her Papa and told him what she had seen.

SPY x FAMILY Episode 11: Loid didn't understand how Anya could know someone was drowning

Loid didn’t disbelieve her; he just seemed at a loss to explain how she knew! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

To his credit, Loid didn’t scold her. He just asked how she knew. He basically asked how the heck she would know something like that.

This is where Anya had to make her decision. Should she reveal her secret ability to her dad, and therefore jeopardize the home life she had come to love? Would she choose to keep herself safe and let the boy drown?

The boy’s weakening thoughts echoed in her mind.

Anya’s what, five? Yet in this moment, she showed remarkable poise and creativity. She told Loid that volunteering wasn’t working out, so she was going to earn her stars by becoming a professional swimmer. She said this as she sprinted towards the pool.

Delivery: Anya Improvised

That alone would have earned her my favorite moment. But Anya wasn’t done yet. She arrived at the pool, the boy’s physical therapist right behind her, and pretended to be excited to begin swimming. What she was really doing was scanning for the boy. Her clairvoyance gave her the general direction, and then she saw the bubbles.

I tell you what. The expression on her face brought the hair up on the back of my neck. That little girl was absolutely terrified. But her terror was no match for her determination. I don’t know if she knew how to swim or not, but she knew she had the attention of every adult in the room. So she ran straight for the boy and dived in after him.

She could see the boy floating wide-eyed near the bottom of the pool. She swam as hard as she could with her little arms, but she didn’t have enough strength to reach him. She kept going until she couldn’t – right up to the point where Loid’s gloved hands grabbed her and the boy.

SPY x FAMILY Episode 11: Anya was too little to swim down to the boy

Her little arms just weren’t up to the task. But that didn’t stop her from trying. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Anya, as she tried to catch her breath, completed her cover story: she had tried to go swimming and saw the boy drowning. At the same time, the boy looked up at his physical therapist and just started balling. Despite almost drowning herself, Anya remained calm and poised. 

When faced with two impossible choices, Anya decided to make a third option. She might not have the academic smarts or athletic prowess, but she has skills that are every bit as important: a desire to do the right thing and the creativity to make it happen. I’m not even her dad, but I certainly felt Loid’s pride for her. She had absolutely earned it!

What did you think of Damian defending the integrity of the Stella system – and by extension, Anya earning one? What were your favorite moments in this episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

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One thought on “SPY x FAMILY Episode 11 Review – Best In Show

  1. From all these reviews I think I’ll like reviewing this Series. Especially Loid here. Proof positive that one man can indeed… Motivate fast development of space travel. Because everyone needs to leave the planet before Loid blows it up with massive incompetance! Yay. Also great family. At this point I think I’m rooting for the nukes and World War III. Because at this rate that’ll occur before Loid accomplishes his job… Sigh.

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