Invincible Fight Girl Eps. 9-10 Review
It’s all come down to this moment, folks. Right when it looks like Andy would never get the chance to show her skill as a wrestler, fate (and Craig) handed her a second chance. Unfortunately, that second chance came in the form of the Perm Gang, who were not happy that she beat them back on Accountant Island. More importantly, though, this is Andy’s last chance to master the Perfect Strike. Yet nothing she does has worked up to now! However, Andy is the kind of person who learns best under pressure, as she unlocks the final piece she needs to become an Invincible Fight Girl.
The Perm Gang’s Dark Past
He's afraid of the Perfect Strike?! #InvincibleFightGirl #Toonami pic.twitter.com/oazytt1yOE
— Toonami Faithful (@ToonamiNews) December 22, 2024
At the end of the last episode, Craig managed to bring the Perm gang right to Andy, and they are eager for revenge for beating Immaculate on Accountant Island. However, two things become apparent as the rematch between the two gets underway. The first is that Andy has gotten much stronger and faster since she first fought Immaculate. Given how this is based on Shonen anime, that should come as no surprise. Shonen series like Naruto and One Piece tend to have a power scale that the protagonist has to keep climbing to reach their goals. Even Aunt P admits to herself that Andy can wrestle.
The second most notable thing, though, is the fact that Immaculate has PTSD. While losing to Andy humiliated him, it was Quesa Poblana’s use of Haki that terrified him. He even shaved off his perm in a fit of panic. It gets to the point where Immaculate becomes too scared to even fight back, leaving Andy looking like the bad guy.
The first episode is that it focuses a lot on Immaculate and the Perm Gang, potentially to the detriment of Invincible Fight Girl. However, there is a reason why it’s doing so. Seeing how they started as bullied street rats before becoming bullies themselves highlights some of the core themes of Invincible Fight Girl. Those being how the determination to be the best at any cost can ruin one’s lives if one is not too careful. Still, as bad as the Perm Gang is, there’s still something heartwarming seeing them stand up for Immaculate.
Too bad that gets tossed out the window when they all decide to team up on Andy. And none of the Wrestlers can stop the fight. But what follows next is what defines Andy’s journey to becoming an Invincible Fight Girl.
The Real Fight Begins!
As the four-on-one begins in earnest, Andy’s skills and Mikey’s knowledge allow her to hold her own for a time. However, Andy’s obsession with mastering the Perfect Strike causes her to waste whatever advantage she has and drive her into a corner. And she is at a loss! She’s copied Quesa P’s stance and movement to a tee, but she can’t do it! That’s when Craig, of all people, figures out what Andy’s problem is.
The problem that Andy’s been having is that she’s been chasing after Quesa Poblana’s shadow all this time. She’s trying to be just like her idol, just like Deku tried to be just like All Might in MHA. Craig helps her realize that this kind of thinking doesn’t work, because she’s not Quesa Poblana. She’s her own person and needs to find her own path as a wrestler. That’s what people like Bertie, Ruff, and Tumble never understood. They were trying too hard to be like the great Quesa P rather than finding their own path. Once that realization clicks with Andy, all the pieces fall into place.
THE PERFECT STRIKE!!!#InvincibleFightGirl #Toonami pic.twitter.com/bcmGplbBQb
— Badgerclops (@beeclops) December 22, 2024
And with that, Andy performs a true Perfect Strike. She adapts the move to suit her own physique and pulls off the Perfect Strike, sending the Perm Gang blasting off again. It dislocates her arm, but it wins Andy the match. More importantly, it wins the respect of all the wrestlers present.
It also manages to attract some unsavory attention.
Quesa Poblana Takes Andy as Her Student For Real
Throughout the fight, Quesa Poblana has been talking to someone the show only refers to as “The Scouter” from the GWC. The two of them have history, and from what she’s implied about her past, something bad happened to Quesa that made her leave. When the Scouter sees Andy’s talent, he immediately tries to recruit her, only for Quesa to claim her as her student. It’s not out of any obligation to keeping her promise, though. She’s doing it because she knows that if she doesn’t, someone with ill intent will. And that’s where the season of Invincible Fight Girl ends.
HOLY FUCKING SHIT THE SEASON 1 FINALE…#InvincibleFightGirl #Toonami pic.twitter.com/vTLLQC2E8c
— Badgerclops (@beeclops) December 22, 2024
It’s unclear whether Invincible Fight Girl will be renewed, but if it is, then it needs to start explaining more about what happened to Quesa. There’s a very dark side to the world of wrestling, and Andy has only seen a small portion of it. If she wants to be the best, she needs to know what she’s getting into. And we need to have more epic fights. I’m hoping that it is released, because this show, while a little derivative at times, is still a fun watch.