Spy x Family MAL Review

I am in love with Loid Forger, and this review was written for straight women like myself, but anyone is welcome to read it. (I noticed others writing reviews early, so I will write mine and update it if needed).

My first thought: Ohmygod. No one told me the main character [Loid] was hot!

I'm stunned that friends had mentioned the series to me, but no one said he was this handsome. They should've, because I'm thirsty for hot anime boys and would've dropped everything to watch this WAY sooner. The Animaxplay synopsis is actually accurate for this one and the vibe I would describe is a combination of the following media titles - the higher number of titles you like below, the more likely you'll love Spy x Family:

[ ] Fugou Keiji: Balance:Unlimited 

[ ] Gakuen Babysitters

[ ] Usagi Drop

[ ] Hinamatsuri

[ ] Who made me a princess (manhua)

[ ] Any media dealing with 'adopted daughter' premise e.g. Alice & Zoroku

This anime is like if Daisuke Kambe married Suzue and had a kid, and this series captured their family life 500%.

Why I love the series:

Ironically, I'm not the biggest fan of Bond movies, but rather fictional characters that find themselves in hero type situations and are skilled at what they do, even if they're not your traditional, archetypal "hero on a white horse". The more morally grey they are ethics wise, the better!! 

That being said, I've always loved reading spy, adventure, and assassin stories, and my favorite book series is Artemis Fowl. The world of secret missions, crime, and high level physical combat training has always fascinated me... it's just so cool. So seeing Loid Forger come to life on screen was like a dream come true, there's just not a lot of spy animes out there (that I know of). Humans who work in this field, after all, are probably the closest we'll ever get to superheroes with superpowers.

But it's not just Loid that I'm in love with. I really do love Anya and Yor, as well. Anya is a reason for this anime's existence at all. She's a brilliant character, full of creativity and humor, but highly perceptive, the way many children are. Her being telepathic is just icing on the cake, and I can't wait to see it in action / blending well with the ultimate family. 

Yor - I want to write an essay on how much I love Yor, but I think the top reason for the adoration is: She's relatable. As an unmarried female, well past the age of 27 years old, living alone, who grew up with dysfunctional parents and without relatives, the concept of 'family' is a personal struggle for me, and sometimes, an insecurity. While I can't relate to being an assassin (only dream of it!), Yor's deep empathy, intuitiveness, and thoughtfulness really strikes a chord with me. Her instinctive actions to protect those she cares about in the face of danger... She is always in action before she can even think about it, and I love that about her. Our fashion styles are also very similar, so I felt represented and happy at seeing another character who was strong and yet feminine. It doesn't have to be if/or, but a 'and.'

I think it takes assault/combat experiences to fully appreciate and respect the violence in Yor's and Loid's work, and I have nothing but admiration. The fact that the anime hasn't objectified or fetishized her, and show that both Loid and Yor are respectful towards each other... is so wholesome that I almost can't take it. I would die for a relationship like this in real life.

Related to this, the series frequently challenges the watcher: What's your definition of 'family'? I think it deals with difficult topics of single parenthood and grief, in such a beautiful way... it's no easy feat to do that while still maintaining the humor level. Every episode is so well written, and well timed (perfect comedic timing). There's a lot of sentences that are simultaneous lies and jokes. Paired with Anya's precious expressions, watching it will leave your heart feeling warm and amused. 

I highly recommend this series to others, and if you're on the fence because of the shounen tag - don't worry, it's not like most of them. I think it actually deserves the seinen and josei tags, becvause there's an amazing storyline, more plot than action, no fanservice on females, and the art style is casual, gentle, and pretty. You won't regret it!

The original review on MAL: View here

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