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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.

I Give “Formation! The Perm Gang Strikes Back” & “The Missing Piece” a 4.5/5 Each

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Invincible Fight Girl Ep 8 Review

It’s a painful feeling, having a dream you want to fulfill only for no one to believe in it. Andy has been trying so hard to make her dream of becoming a wrestler a reality, but not enough people are taking notice of her. Now that she’s desperate to master the Perfect Strike like Quesa Poblana wants her to, Andy resorts to finding a new enemy to face off against. The only problem is that no one will take her seriously!

No One Takes Andy Seriously

Andy has done all she can to master the Perfect Strike. She’s copied Quesa P’s moves, she took everything she learned in Rumblewood to heart, but it’s still not enough. She can’t get it to work by training normally. So, at the suggestion of Craig and Mikey, she joins the Busters as part for their monthly wrestling tournament. The plan is that by fighting a tough opponent, Andy will be able to figure out the Perfect Strike under the pressure. In other words, it’s like how a Saiyan gets stronger the more they fight.

The people who made this show must have had a field day with designing the wrestlers at the Rusty Rumble, because they are so unique. There are fighters of all shapes, sizes, and even species at this tournament. I could spend a day or two trying to pick apart the most unique looking fighters, but two that wind up standing out the most are this wrestler called Opening Act…and Mbrandon.

And this is why we stan Mbrandon. #InvincibleFightGirl pic.twitter.com/6gibzuVKVY

— David DePasquale 🐯 (@wolfinsheeps) December 15, 2024

Appearing for the first time since his fight with Andy, Mbrandon is nothing but cordial towards her and his little brother. Furthermore, this episode confirms what I already knew: that Mikey ran away. What I didn’t expect was that MBrandon decided to help him run away, recognizing that having him stay with them was no longer safe. Even more surprising, the other brothers all came around to thinking the same thing! Fighting Andy changed them all for the better. However, it’s doubtful that Mr. Beefpuncha will see sense anytime soon. It’s worth it, though, knowing that Mbrandon no longer sees Andy as a joke.

What Kind of Joke Fighter is This?

Too bad the same can’t be said for the rest of the wrestlers. Seeing them reject Andy’s requests to fight them was beyond frustrating. Andy knew that she could hold her own in a match, but none of them were willing to give her the time of day! To add insult to injury, the only opponent she can get is a living joke: a man dressed in a shoe who’s never even fought in a match before!

This shoe is old and stinky. #InvincibleFightGirl #Toonami pic.twitter.com/LqxaPB10Fj

— Toonami Faithful (@ToonamiNews) December 15, 2024

Andy doesn’t even need to fight this guy to win; the Show is so clumsy that he knocks himself out! After that, Andy has to watch as everyone laughs at her!

But then, just when all hope is lost, Craig seems to come in clutch, finding some actual wrestlers for her to fight. The bad news? It’s the Perm Gang, the bullies that she beat all the way back in the first episode. They’re left without their precious perms, and they’re out for revenge as the episode comes to an end.

Check out the promo for #InvincibleFightGirl Season 1 Episode 9!

Premieres next Saturday at midnight on Toonami. pic.twitter.com/G2eTHNjBcX

— CNArchives (@CNArchivesYT) December 15, 2024

Big Finale in Store

With that, we are prepped for the two-part season finale, and the season is coming full circle. Andy’s first opponents return for a rematch, only this time, people who can make things happen will be watching. Case in point, the mysterious man who narrated the opening to the first episode, an agent for the GWC, will be watching her. While that seems like a good thing, the fact that Quesa Poblana’s unnerved by his appearance adds fuel to my belief that something bad happened to her to force her into retirement. Even if Andy wins, she may end up getting roped into some shady things.

Then again, plenty of Shonen protags have fought against the darkness of their world to fulfill their dreams. It’s par for the course, and I have faith in Andy!

I Give “The Rusty Rumble” a 4/5

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Invincible Fight Girl Ep 7 Review

In my review for the last episode of Invincible Fight Girl, I compared what was happening to the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud. I didnt find it that interesting, though, since the whole Ruff and Tumble feud felt so stupid. However, after the latest episode, I must revise my opinion. Not only was their feud stupid…but it becomes a tragic example of letting obsession destroy everything one can hold dear. And why deadbeat parents are the worst.

Deadbeat Parents are the Worst

With the Fingers and Toes fighting an all-out war, Andy, Mikey, and Craig are left with the unenviable task of setting things right. Unfortunately, thanks to Craig, they discover the real culprit behind the escalation. It was all Bertie, the lone resident of Tumbleweed that refused to leave. She did all of this as part of some desperate attempt to get her parents to stop fighting so they could be a family again.

I was…honestly caught off-guard by the fact that Bertie was Ruff and Tumble’s daughter. But with her deception revealed, Andy has no choice but to fight Bertie while the boys try and tell everyone the truth. Andy hoped that this will be what finally brings peace back to Tumbleweed. However, the show chooses to subvert our expectations at this point.

SHE HAS BECOME UNBOUND#InvincibleFightGirl #Toonami pic.twitter.com/I6WxUx6I80

— Toonami Faithful (@ToonamiNews) December 8, 2024

When Ruff and Tumble hear this was all Bertie’s doing, they don’t stop fighting. They don’t even care that their daughter did this because she was desperate to fix their broken family. All they care about is that she interfered with their obsession with beating Quesa Poblana. The big irony, though, is that by combining both their fighting styles, Bertie got closer to figuring out the Perfect Strike than they ever did. Andy herself says so as she fights her in a wrestling match!

There Was No Saving those Deadbeats

Deadbeat parents are something I’ve seen many times in fiction by this point, but it still hurts to watch. And when Bertie sees how her efforts backfired, she snaps and starts hulking out like she’s Kale from DB Super! She manages to become this absolutely incredible wrestler that comes close to seriously hurting Andy. Andy only wins by once again using finesse over force.

And what happens next almost had me in tears. Watching Bertie’s own parents drive her out of town like she’s a monster is heartbreaking to watch. All she wanted was to have her family back, but now, they’re gone forever. It’s a sad part of life, but not everything that gets broken can get put back together. Even Andy writes the town off as a lost cause, and the trio bails.

This was an absolutely heartbreaking episode of the series, and as Andy calls her parents back home, you can tell how the experience got to her. For the first time ever, she’s been exposed to the dark side of wrestling. The drive to win and be the best is normally a good thing, but if you let it consume you, it can end up destroying you. Andy needed to learn about this dark side, though, as I get the feeling that this darkness is why Quesa P had to leave wrestling behind.

https://twitter.com/ShroomMeister/status/1865629712854200364

What Will Andy Do Now?

Andy only has one day left to learn the Perfect Strike, and this experience has likely left her with more doubts than ever. But with only three episodes remaining (as far as I know), we’re coming down to the wire. That being said, I did appreciate the number of anime references there were to be found in Andy and Bertie’s fight. Everything from the Gum-Gum Gatling Gun to Bertie going full Kale; even the name of the episode is a reference to a Dragon Ball Z film! Say what you want about this series, but the people behind it clearly know about Shonen!

I Give “Bertie Unbound” a 4/5

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Invincible Fight Girl Ep 5 Review

Have you ever heard of the Hatfields and McCoy? Two 19th century Appalachian families whose blood feud became the stuff of legends. To this day, Hatfields and McCoys are by-words for revenge for blood feuds. I consider it an example of a fight that was relatively pointless and utterly stupid in the grand scheme of things. More importantly, though, it’s the only comparison I can make when it comes to the plot of the new episode of Invincible Fight Girl. When Andy’s efforts to master the Perfect Strike bear no fruit, she and her friends seek out two retired wrestlers who each claim they figured it out. Except neither of them did, and they tore apart an entire town because of their stupid feud.

The Hatfield-McCoy of Wrestling

So, there are now two days remaining in Quesa Poblana’s deadline for Andy to master the Perfect Strike. Despite managing to get some reference material thanks to Craig and Mikey, she’s still no closer to mastering it. Then they find some footage of two of her earliest rivals, a husband/wife duo called Rough and Tumble. After they lost, they said they would try to unlock the secret of the Perfect Strike to beat Quesa P. Thus, the trio head for the town where their Dojo should be…only to find it’s turned into a Hatfield-McCoy scenario.

As it turns out, Rough and Tumble came up with different conclusions for the Perfect Strike. One thought the secret was in the toes, while the other thought it was the fingers. They didn’t agree, things escalated as their followers split, and soon the whole thing spiraled out of control. Everyone not affiliated with them left, save for a lone girl named Bertie.

If I’m being perfectly honest, though, this episode did little to hold my attention. Why? Because this whole Hatfield-McCoy situation just seems so stupid! As soon as they arrive, Andy and the boys find themselves in the crossfire of this stupid feud. Mikey tries to learn what caused it through investigative journalism, but it becomes clear that neither Rough and Tumble know what they’re doing. As Andy puts it, they’re just stewing over the fact that they lost to Quesa P and not moving on with their lives. In addition, Andy points out that focusing on a single body part is stupid, as wrestling involves the entire body! The whole feud is pointless, dumb, and just wasting her time!

I Could’ve Done Without this Episode

I think that the point behind Rough and Tumble is to show Andy what would happen if she let her obsession with becoming a wrestler reach unhealthy levels or something. However, like I said, I don’t really care because this Hatfield-McCoy thing is pointless and stupid. Worse, Andy, Mikey, and Craig’s attempts to extend an olive branch only escalate things. But to be fair, it’s not entirely their doing. Someone (*cough* Bertie *cough*) blew up their dojos while everyone was out, prompting a full-scale battle in the heart of the old town.

While this episode does get points for continued use of silly anime faces, it loses them with what I think is a pointless side quest. I’d rather that Andy just learns the Perfect Strike through the videos so we can skip to seeing her actually train. Considering how this series might only have ten episodes, time is not something it can afford to waste. Get better, Fight Girl. Get better.

I Give “Behind the Wall: The Finger & the Toe” a 2/5

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Invincible Fight Girl Ep 5 Review

Now that Andy’s got a team, it’s time for the hard part: convincing Quesa Poblana to train her. Sadly, the former wrestler is adamant about being the mentor who initially refuses to take on a student. And to prove that she has what it takes, she’s got to pull off a seemingly impossible task of making the perfect strike. However, that’s not the problem; Andy has determination for days! The problem is that she has to learn when to ask for help. And Mikey and Craig have to learn how to work together for the sake of Andy.

The entire episode is about knowing when to ask for help. Even the best Shonen heroes need help.

Andy’s Determination to Do an Impossible Task…

After repeatedly bothering her (and sending her to the hospital), Quesa P is officially fed up with dealing with Andy. Thus, she issues an ultimatum to get her to leave her alone: pull off ten perfect strikes in a week. What is a perfect strike?

Basically, it’s Armament Haki. And Andy has no idea how to pull it off!

This is the part of the story where we deconstruct Andy’s determinator status. On the one hand, her drive to be a wrestler has allowed Andy to become a decent fighter. Like many Shonen protagonists, when she hits a wall, she hits it until it breaks. However, her determination becomes detrimental here as she insists on figuring this out alone, despite threatening to permanently damage her hands. They’re blistered and bleeding by the time Craig and Mikey find her!

…Might Not be Enough

As for her two friends, they both have different opinions on how to help Andy. Craig, rightfully guessing that his aunt set Andy up, wants to cheat. Mikey, though, wants to help by researching Quesa Poblana. Both end up failing rather miserably.

Craig goes to an over-the-top alley full of scammers for something to hack the machine being used…only to get scammed himself.

As for Mikey, he finds that every video of Quesa Poblana is suspiciously unavailable to the public. This makes me question if there’s no deeper reason why she retired…

It’s all pretty standard for a story like this, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And once the two realize the error of their ways and team up, they scare the daylights out of the scammers

They Found a Way to Learn the Perfect Strike

Having gotten their hands on Quesa’s wrestling arc, the trio are able to analyze her techniques, and by the fourth day, Andy looks to be on the road to mastering the perfect strike. She lacks the explosive power of her would-be mentor, but the fact that she still does this in such a short time is impressive. Andy might have some hidden talent after all!

This wasn’t my favorite episode of the series thus far. I could see how the formula was written and would play out from a mile away. That being said, I do love seeing a young person proving a bitter and cynical elder wrong about them. Plus, based on the preview for next week’s episode…actually I don’t know where it’s going. All I know is that it’s going to be chaotic.

I Give “Perfect Strike” a 3.5/5

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Invincible Fight Girl Ep 4 Review

In many of the Shonen series I’ve read over the years, there comes a point where the protagonist faces some pushback from the world around them. Someone or something out there often considers their goals to be foolish and something they should give up. On the surface, this is done so that they prove their detractors wrong when they eventually win. However, there’s another reason why this is a recurring plot point. As a demographic, Shonen is aimed at young boys and teens who are starting to learn more about the world around them. More often than not, they’ll learn how unfair the world can be and that people will want to see them fail. Invincible Fight Girl has already shown this, but the fourth episode has Andy fight her most brutal battle against this unfairness yet. Not just for her, but for the sake of her new friend, Mikey.

The result? An absolute feast for the eyes that would make Dragon Ball proud.

Shonen Formulas in Action

After seeing how her new friend, Mikey, was miserable under his overbearing dad, Andy challenged his family to a wrestling match. Her goal is two-fold: prove the other Beefpunchas wrong about her being a wrestler and show Mikey he can follow his dream of being a wrestling journalist. However, her opponent is Papa Beefpuncha’s oldest and strongest son, MBrandon.

Whoever came up with that name, you get a pat on the back for how funny that is.

As expected, Andy finds herself fighting an uphill battle right from the start. Her opening move sees her trying to use the same technique she used to win against Immaculate, which doesn’t work. From there, the fight turns into a David vs. Goliath scenario, with Andy serving as David to MBrandon’s Goliath. Though unlike many cases of this scenario, the fight doesn’t turn out how you’d expect. More on that in a minute.

Continuing to show off it’s love of Shonen anime with pride, the fight between Andy and MBrandon is animated much like one would be in a Shonen Series. The two trade blows at high-speeds like they’re in Dragon Ball. There are a ton of exaggerated facial expressions. We even get to hear Andy and MBrandon’s inner monologues as they think about what’s happening in the fight. And despite being kept on the defensive for most of the fight, Andy demonstrates her smarts and determination. First, she uses her size and speed to gain an advantage at several points in the fight. Second, she proves she can take a punch by letting MBrandon hit her several times so she can get a feeling for his fighting style. More importantly, though, her willingness to stand her ground manages to get through to Mikey.

Mikey Steps Up!

Papa Beefpuncha is a horrible dad for his constant belittlement of his youngest son. Despite being talented enough to become a wrestling journalist, his Dad belittles him to the point where he has low self-esteem, and it shows. However, not everyone in his family is like that, as a flashback about his (likely) deceased mother shows. Seeing Andy stand up for him manages to convince Mikey to openly support Andy against his family. And with his knowledge of wrestling, the two come close to winning the fight!

This, though, is when Fight Girl subverts the expectations of David vs. Goliath by having Goliath win.

Yes, despite coming close to losing, once MBrandon starts taking Andy seriously, he ultimately wins the fight. The look on Mikey’s face as Andy lies defeated is heartbreaking. He actually started to believe what she told him, only for his father to cruelly state that that’s the way of the world. Without strength, you can’t amount to anything in life, according to Papa Beefpuncha.

This Show Gets the Shonen Formula so Well

Ironically, this is another instance of the Shonen formula coming into play. Sometimes, the protagonist is met with defeat despite how hard they try, and that leaves them with a choice. They can either give up, or they use that loss to fuel them to do better. Having the resolve to keep going is an important trait to have in life, and Shonen series can be a good way of teaching kids this lesson. In Andy’s case, not only does she refuse to let the loss get to her, but she gets through to Andy…and Craig. The former says his Dad let him go with Andy to follow his dream, but it’s implied he just ran away. The latter also offers to get his aunt to train Andy in exchange for being her manager.

It may seem premature of me, but as it stands, I think Invincible Fight Girl is a love letter to the Shonen genre. The protagonist with the lofty dream with the world trying to drag her down. The exciting animation and exaggerated fights. Not to mention the themes present found in Shonen series. If they keep this up, I’m going to be recommending this series to many people I know who like anime!

I Give “The Way of the World” a 4/5

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Invincible Fight Girl Eps. 1-3 Review

Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the world. Since dawn, men and women have grappled, pinned, and sparred in the arena for fame, glory, and bragging rights. In the modern day, professional wrestling is more theater than actual wrestling, but no one seems to care. Not when we see people in colorful costumes and cool names fighting each other! I’ve never been that tuned into the world of wrestling, but I am tuned into the world of animation, especially when it takes cues from anime. And that’s what led me to the newest show out of Cartoon Network on Toonami, Invincible Fight Girl.

The show’s only three episodes in, but it’s already got a good feel to it. Rendy Jones from the Den of Geek describes it as My Hero Academia meets the WWE. Other people have pointed out that it follows the traditional formula to many hit Shonen series. And the animation has been compared to Kill La Kill, which is a massive compliment! After seeing the first three episodes, I can confirm all these are true. Invincible Fight Girl is a western-made Shonen series, and after I’m done talking about it, you might think so, too.

In a World of Wrestlers…

In Fight Girl, there are two kinds of people: wrestlers and accountants. The masses worship the wrestlers as celebrities and demigods, with the greatest known worldwide! And ever since her parents took her to see a wrestling match, Andy Smith has wanted to become a wrestler. There’s just one problem: she’s from a family of accountants. Who live on an island of accountants.

Fight Girl is wearing its Shonen inspiration on its sleeve from the start. Like Luffy, Naruto, Deku and Asta, she wants to become something great and is willing to work hard to achieve it. Unfortunately, circumstances leave her in a position that makes it hard at best, and gets her laughed at at worst. She’s essentially a female version of Deku. It’s not like she can fall back on being an accountant, though, as she proves to have no talent for it. The way she types is so slow, it reminds me of how I was before I took a keyboarding class in high school.

The conflict on the first episode has her screwing up the taxes of a group of angry wrestlers when they show up for tax day. As a result, the gang proceeds to terrorize her hometown until she steps up and challenges them to a match to get them to back off. In keep with the comparisons to Deku, she is outmatched and out of her depth despite her determination. But just when she’s on the ropes, she shows the fruits of her secret training and pins the man to the floor. It’s a moment that would make Naruto proud.

Too bad for her, her parents saw the whole thing, ending the first episode on an awkward note!

…One Girl Seeks to Become the Very Best

Picking up right where the pilot ended, Andy has to deal with a new problem: her rightfully concerned parents. Her opponent tries to continue the fight despite losing, but this old woman who gave Andy advice unleashes Conquerer’s Haki that makes him back down/pass out.

Afterwards, Andy decides to come clean to her parents about everything, and the episode does a great job of handling this moment. Being a teenager, Andy is understandably frightened to tell her folks that she doesn’t want to be like them. And her parents initially think she’s confused because they don’t realize she’s lied to them about liking accounting for years. It’s not until she shows them her secret, homemade gym that they realize how serious she is about this. At this point, the show could have them try to stomp down on her dreams, but since they’re good parents, they understand how important this is to her and fully support her choices. So, with their blessing and the support of the entire island, Andy boards a ship to the mainland to follow her dreams!

Easier said than done, though. Once Andy arrives in the big city, she’s conned out of her phone by a guy named Craig and loses all her money and belongings. It’s only thanks to a group of nice wrestling washouts who run a dive bar that she finds a place to stay for the night. Considering the alternatives that could happen to a teen on her own in the big city, she’s very lucky!

Take a Shot for Every Shonen Jump Trope

So far this is the best scene in Invincible Fight Girl but I honestly don't see this happening to Andy. Even though Hajime No Ippo serves as an influence, which can go dreary, I just don't see that occurring as a season finale for this 10 ep show. I wouldn't mind being wrong. pic.twitter.com/L4gepThpPB

— THE AnimeHERO (@THEAnimeHERO) November 5, 2024

This is another moment where Fight Girl shows off its Shonen influences. Series like Naruto, One Piece, My Hero Academia and more often have moments where the protagonist is given a seemingly insurmountable obstacle they have to face. It’s the story’s way of testing them to see if they have the resolve to keep going, no matter how hard things may get. And while Andy does consider throwing in the towel, her determination wins out. And as fate would have it, the wrestlers at Buster’s (the name of the place) know where to find Quesa Poblana, the famed former wrestler that is Andy’s idol. With stars in her eyes, Andy becomes convinced this is destiny at work and jumps at the chance to meet and train under her hero.

Two things happen. Firstly, she discovers that Quesa Poblana is the old woman who advised about not letting anyone decide her future for her. Secondly, she refuses to train Andy.

Dark Underbelly of Wrestling

The third episode starts with Andy trying, and failing, to get Quesa P to train her. She doesn’t directly explain why she refuses to train Andy, but it’s what she doesn’t say that should be concerning.

Andy’s already seen firsthand that not everyone who’s a wrestler is going to be good people. And judging by the bitter look on Quesa P’s face, something happened that forced her to retire. Andy may not realize it yet, but the world she idolizes is likely one rife with corruption and cutthroat practices. That is further corroborated by what Craig, revealed to be Quesa P’s nephew, says about wrestlers. Most people are doing it for the money and fame, and he considers anyone who isn’t to be a sucker. In other words, Andy is going to be in for an uphill battle.

The Buffest 8-Year-Old Ever

While Andy may not have gotten a mentor in Quesa P, she does manage to find another way to train. After befriending Mikey, an eight year-old whose already built like a full-grown adult, Andy discovers how wrestlers use tenderizing as a training method. Here, we really get to see Andy show what she’s capable of, and she proves to have some latent potential in her. More importantly, she bonds with Mikey over their shared desire to buck their elders expectations of them. In Mikey’s case, despite being built like a tank, he wants to become a wrestling journalist. As a writer myself, I give props to him!

Unlike Andy’s supportive parents, though, Mikey’s dad is determined to make all his boys become wrestlers and regularly demeans Mikey for being soft. Outraged, Andy challenges his family to a match to get them back off, forcing her to face the oldest and strongest of Mikey’s brothers, Mbrandon.

No, really. That’s his name. The dad wanted all his kids names to start with “M” and ran out of ideas.

And that’s where the third episode ends.

Invincible Fight Girl is Worth a Watch

So, what’s the verdict? Is Invincible Fight Girl going to me worth my time? Let’s review:

It’s animation style evokes that of surreal anime like Kill La Kill, Gurren Lagann, and anything made by Studio Trigger.

The plot, characters, and world all seem to run on the rules of Shonen series.

The show seems to draw from all aspects of wrestling, from its humble roots as an actual sport to the majestic nature of the professional wrestling ring. That includes both the good and the bad aspects of the latter.

It may follow the typical Shonen formula a little too closely for some people, but as far as I’m concerned, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If anything, the series feels like a love letter to the genre of anime that inspired a generation. I don’t know how long this series can last since it’s under Warner Bros control, and Zaslav dislikes cartoons. However, I’m willing to enjoy the ride for as long as I can. With its animation style and Shonen leanings, Invincible Fight Girl looks to be a fun new series. I look forward to reviewing it on here.

I Give “I am”, “Dreamers and Busters,” and “Friends” a 4/5, 3.5/5, and 4.5/5 Each

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Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Ep 9 and 10 Review

Once again, we bid goodbye to Adventure Time. After over a month, Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake wrapped up its story. This series has seen Simon, Fionna, and Cake travel the Adventure Time multiverse. They did it for the adventure and to find meaning in lives that none considered meaningful. In doing so, they learned more about themselves and realized that what they wanted might not be worth it. As Fionna and Cake return to their world and Simon confronts his past, the Scarab catches up to them, forcing them to make the most significant choice: do they want to return to their old lives?

Buckle up because this is going to be an extra-long review.

One minor detail is that unlike the previous episodes, the final two have actual title cards. It doesn’t affect the plot, but it’s a great callback to the original series, showing how it’s come full circle.

What do Fionna and Cake Want Now?

After a nightmare in which magic has donked up their world, Fionna and Cake wake up in their world, which is still normal. While waiting for the magic to kick in, they catch up with Gary and Marshall Lee and explain everything. The issue is that neither of them is excited by this prospect, which could mean losing their memories. Thanks to their relationship, they’ve found meaning in their lives and don’t want to lose that. Given how long it took Bubbiline to work out, neither do I, especially after seeing what happened to them in the Vampire World.

This moment helps emphasize one of the overarching themes of the miniseries: finding meaning in one’s life. Fionna and Cake learned that their lives were once more magical and adventurous but also dangerous and likely full of drama. Even if they had a problem with how mundane their lives were, does that give them the right to change the lives of everyone around them? However, the issue becomes a moot point as the Scarab gets into their world and starts erasing it. He’s willing to commit genocide and mass murder just to prove that he’s in the right about following the rules. 

Simon Stands on the Brink…

In another part of the multiverse, Simon awakens in a black void, home to the chaotic entity known as GOLB. Or rather, GOLBetty, as they fused with Betty years ago. After watching the Lich vent at his god for not giving his life new meaning, Simon watches as Golbetty transforms him into one of the cubes floating around them. At least his reality’s people were avenged. After that, Simon laments how he squandered the second chance Betty gave him and is prepared to use the Ice King’s Crown to give their world magic again.

For a series filled with dark moments in a franchise with dark moments, this is a very dark moment. The show pulls no punches here: what Simon’s about to do is the equivalent of committing suicide. It is a frighteningly realistic portrayal of how depression can consume a person. They get to the point where they feel like nothing they do matters and that the world would be better off without them. 

Thankfully for everyone watching, GOLBetty steps in and teaches him a lesson. One involves sending his mind a thousand years into the future into the mind of Shermy, who may or may not be Finn’s future reincarnation. There, Simon reads a “choose your own adventure” book about two friends named Casper and Nva that plays out like an RPG, with the end goal being the Crown. However, Simon proceeds to ignore all the choices that Nova offers in favor of Casper’s choices, which ends in a no-win scenario where he’ll either get the Crown or lose Nova.

The Ice King is Gone and Never Coming Back

This moment serves as a callback to a realization Betty herself had shortly before the series finale. She devoted so much of herself to doing what Simon wanted that she neglected her own needs. As Simon comes to realize for himself, while he did love Betty, it wasn’t the healthiest of relationships. It’s a bittersweet moment that shows that had Simon made another choice, he could’ve avoided becoming the Ice King. In addition, it also leads to Simon having one final conversation with Betty inside his mind.

While it plays out like an illusion, it’s heavily implied that this is GOLBetty’s doing. Her way of giving Simon the closure he needs. More importantly, though, knowing that despite everything, Betty still loves him makes him realize something: his life has value. He matters to people like Fionna and Cake as Simon, not the Ice King. Thus, he finally rejects his past as the Ice King, choosing to be himself. 

This was a moment that had been a decade in the making. From the moment we learned about his past, Simon Petrikov has been one of the most tragic figures in animation history. He never asked to become the Ice King, and while the Ice King was a fun guy, he was also a lonely and miserable man. I cheered when Simon was finally freed of the Crown without dying, and I hated the idea of him becoming the Ice King again. He can still fit into his new world as Simon, and even though he finally accepts that Betty’s now gone, it doesn’t mean their love doesn’t mean anything. It had value, he has value, and this inspires him to return to Ooo, though not before doing something extraordinary. 

They Canonized Themselves

It’s unclear how it happens, but I think it was because of GOLBetty’s powers. Fionna and Cake’s world leaves Simon’s head and transforms into a dandelion. This is a powerfully symbolic moment and a callback to the show’s first episode, where Hunter (Huntress Wizard’s counterpart) told Fionna that, despite being called a weed, every plant can be called such. In other words, a dandelion can still be beautiful and have value despite being looked down on by others, like how the Scarab looks down on Fionna and Cake’s world for existing when it shouldn’t. But it still matters, and the powers that be seem to agree.

After giving Fionna and Cake the dandelion, representing their reality, Fionna makes a wish on it. And somehow, that wish connects their world to the rest of the multiverse. In other words, the powers that be have decided to make them legit.

Scarab is a Hater, and Hater’s Gonna Hate

This is an important moment in both the story and in a meta-sense. Fionna and Cake started out as fanfiction, considered non-canon. Yet despite this, they persevered, won people over, and got the support that they needed. And if enough people come to appreciate a fan-made story, it can end up being canonized. Score one for fanfic writers everywhere.

Piggybacking off of that logic would make Scarab an avatar for a specific kind of fan. He’s the guy who looks down on and hates fanfiction for existing when he thinks it shouldn’t. I used to be like him and didn’t see the value in fanfics, either. But then I realized that they can be a great outlet for the creativity of budding writers and can keep a story going even after it’s officially come to an end. That, and if you’ve read my reviews of Star vs. fanfics, then you know that they’re good for coping when a show you love ends. The point is they have value, and that’s Scarab’s being a toxic hater.

The hater aspect comes full circle when Scarab, enraged that Prismo’s creation is canonized and thus letting him off the hook, decides to work Fionna and Cake’s world anyway. Thankfully, Prismo summons people they’ve met across the multiverse, and together, they give the wad the beating he deserves.

After that, life continues for Fionna and Cake in their now-canon universe. The city’s rebuilt, and things return to normal for everyone, but with a few twists.

Magic From the Mundane

Firstly, Cake retains her sentience and stretchy powers, which is awesome. Secondly, the people Prismo summoned, like Jay Mertens, Little Destiny, Baby Finn, the Pep-But tank, and the Squirrel, all decide to stay in this reality. In addition, all of Scarab’s prisoners decide to stick around as well. The result is that Fionna and Cake’s world becomes more magical than they wanted.

More importantly, though, Fionna and Cake have changed people thanks to their trek across the multiverse. Before they set out, they saw their world as dull. However, their grand adventure taught them that there’s magic and beauty to be found anywhere they go, no matter how mundane. They just have to know where to look. In this case, Fionna appreciates how things are with her life and understands that she doesn’t need the life of a grand adventurer to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

The Secret to Being Happy

Here in lies one of the two messages behind Fionna and Cake. Those who watched Adventure Time are now all grown up and facing adult problems they likely hate. They may think their world should be more like what they remember when they were kids. However, just because their lives may seem mundane as adults doesn’t mean it’s not magical and wondrous. Everyone has it in them to find reasons to keep on living and things that make life worth living. That can be their job, their loved ones, the places they go; the sky’s the limit! So, they shouldn’t dismiss their lives as meaningless. They’re only meaningless if we decide they are for ourselves.

Continuing this, Simon also learned his lesson: he’s made peace with the fact that he’s no longer the Ice King and has to move on from Betty. He misses her, but the memories he had with her still hold value, even if they’re bittersweet now. While he does fear backsliding into his depression one day, he’s reassured by Dr. Minerva Finn’s mom) that he has it in him to overcome that. 

As for Scarab, he gets punished by becoming Prismo’s assistant, which is fitting. However, Prismo opens up the idea of letting him create his world one day so that he can see the joy of doing so. That’s basically like converting the anti-fanfic guy over to your side, and I love it.

An Amazing Return for Adventure Time

So, what is the final verdict on Fionna and Cake? I loved it. I wish I could’ve been longer, but questions remain unanswered. Like, is Farmworld Finn still alive? Are the PB and Marceline of the Vampire World still alive? And will they ever return Baby Finn to Baby World? These are all loose ends that a sequel series or spin-off could resolve, though, and if not them, then a fanfic writer will do so. 

Beyond that, though, I think Fionna and Cake was an amazing show. It helped me fall in love with Adventure Time again, reminding me why it was such a huge hit. Without Adventure Time, I might have walked away from cartoons once I became an adult. Now I know better: cartoons are for everyone and can grow as their fans grow older. So, if this is the final chapter in Adventure Time, then cheers. Thanks for the memories, you guys!

I Give “Casper and Nova” and “Cheers” a 4.5/5 Each

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Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Eps 7 & 8 Review

If anyone was expecting a simple, straightforward adventure for Fionna and Cake, then last week dispelled any notions of that. Fionna finally realized how over her head she and Cake might be and that nothing was as simple as she thought. She’s traumatized by the realization that the Winter King was a selfish wad who cursed his world’s Bubblegum and Candy People, whom she helped slaughter and then killed the Winter King. Now, she’s realizing that she might not want this magical, adventurous life anymore. Things got dark, and that gets cranked up to eleven here. From a world filled with Vampires to an image of what would happen if the Lich won, the multiverse is terrifying for Fionna now.

Man, I had no idea how much I missed this show. 

A Marcilene Without Simon is Terrifying.

After escaping once more from Scarab, Fionna, Cake, and Simon end up in a babyworld version of Ooo before coming across one that is, simply put, a nightmare. In this world, Simon died before he ever had a chance to meet Marcilene. As a result, she wound up being raised by the VAMPIRE KING. Now, vampires run free with humanity almost extinct, with the only ones left being Bubblegum and a resistance movement consisting of Huntress and Martin Mertens.

Also, Baby Finn now, since he snuck into Fionna’s backpack. While that gives this world’s Martin a chance to be a decent father figure to Finn, it doesn’t last. In this world, anyone can die.

Fionna, Cake, and Simon agree to collaborate with Bubblegum to defeat Marcilene and the Vampire King and retrieve the Ice King’s Crown. However, everything that can go wrong does, and Bonnie and the trio are the last ones left standing against the King and a psychotic Marcilene.

If the last world showed Simon what he could’ve been if he could control the Crown (even if it was a lie), then this world shows how bad things would’ve been if he hadn’t been Marcy’s father figure. This world’s Marcilene is terrifying: her mischievous nature is twisted into a sadistic predator that lives to see Bubblegum suffer. The famed love between Marcy and Bonnie is twisted into a toxic, Batman-Joker-esque relationship. To put it bluntly, this world’s Marcy and Bonnie are the worst versions of themselves.

Fionna Donks Up Again

Meanwhile, Fionna grapples with the trauma of the Winter King’s death and the fact that she killed all those Candy People, even if she didn’t realize they were victims. That experience broke her desire to be an adventuring hero and filled her with self-doubt. When her actions in the Vampire world only lead to more loss, that doubt grows even further. So much so that when Cake thinks she’s got the chance to steal the Crown from the Vampire King, Fionna holds her back, too afraid to lose her best friend. 

Things only get worse from there. Before that, though, there’s unfinished business in Fionna and Cake’s reality.

Marshall Lee+Gary=Win for Shippers

In their world, Marshall Lee feels bad for blowing Gumball’s best chance at building his bakery. Thus, he takes him to a charity event run by his wealthy mother, Hana Abadeer, and makes a deal with his Mom. By giving Gary a chance to pitch his ideas to the upper crust, Marshall Lee has to return to living under his abusive Mother’s thumb.

A recurring theme throughout Adventure Time is that many of the main character’s parents were deadbeats. FP’s dad locked her up, Finn’s dad abandoned him several times, and Marcilene’s dad was a soul-sucking Demon. They’re everything one shouldn’t want in a parental figure, and they inspire their kids to be better. Seeing how miserable Marshall Lee will be under his Mom, Gary throws his chance away to stand up to her, and the two run off together, kissing. Another big win for the shippers, it seems!

None of that will matter, though, if their world gets destroyed.

The Darkest World Yet

The next world that the group ends up in makes the Vampire world look like a paradise. In the Season Five two-part Premiere, Finn and Jake thought they stopped the Lich from wishing for the end to all life. As it turns out, though, the Lich’s original wish to Prismo still created an alternate reality where he got what he wanted. In other words, save for BMO and the Lich, a world devoid of life. The latter is too depressed to even care about them showing up.

Of all the worlds we’ve seen thus far in this romp across the multiverse, this one is the most existentially terrifying. There’s no life anywhere; not even the grass is alive. And with Prismo’s remote broken beyond repair, this is the world that the trio gets stranded in. From here, everything starts to fall apart. Cake gets furious at Fionna for holding her back and stranding them in this dead universe, and it only grows when Fionna reveals she found the Crown of this world and doesn’t say anything. 

Fionna Ready to Call it Quits

For her part, though, Fionna is officially ready to give up on her dreams of a magical life. She’s seen the damage that she’s caused, and it’s made her already low self-esteem take an even bigger hit. She’s starting to realize that, while her life wasn’t magical like Finn’s is, it still had things worth living for. In addition to all this, though, Fionna found the Ice King’s old tapes and watched them on BMO (who doesn’t survive the episode. Sorry, fans). She sees how insane and miserable the Ice King is and can’t bring herself to subject Simon to that fate again. It’s a stark contrast to the immature girl that she was at the beginning of the miniseries, caring more about her problems than those around her. 

However, things are soon out of her and Cake’s hands, thanks to the arrival of the Scarab and Simon’s actions.

Simon Really Did Love Betty 

The second episode was also a major milestone for Simon fans as it revealed the origin of his and Betty’s relationship, and what is shown is heartwarming. As a scholar of ancient, mystical artifacts, Simon was mocked and ridiculed by almost everyone he met. Betty was the first person to believe in him, even when he started to doubt himself. Without her, he never would’ve found the Enchiridion, the quest that led the two to fall in love with each other.

Seeing these flashbacks, it’s apparent why Simon’s so obsessed with getting Betty back. She was the biggest pillar of support in his life, helping him feel confident in his abilities. He needs her in his life to feel whole again.

And, despite many people thinking that Betty was a lost cause, that might not be the case. As Simon sends Fionna and Cake back home, his memory of Betty provides the connection he needs to open a portal to her. As a result, the episode ends with Simon and the Scarab falling into a portal, presumably to where Betty-GOLB is. 

This is Why we Love Adventure Time.

What. An. Ending. This takes everything good about Adventure Time and cranks it up to eleven. It gets darker than the show ever could in its heyday, and I love it for that. The toxic love of Bubblegum and evil Marcilene; the tender love of Gary and Marshall. The frayed relationship of Fionna and Cake. Everything is just so amazing!

I have no idea how the series will end next week. Will Fionna and Cake be able to save their world? Will they find a way to restore magic without sacrificing Simon? Will Simon overcome his inner demons? These are the kinds of questions I remember asking myself in the show’s initial run, and it shows just how amazing Fionna and Cake are. I want to know what happens next, but at the same time, I’m scared to see how it might end. That’s how you know a story is good. You don’t want it to end, but you also want to see everyone get the ending they deserve.

Whatever happens next week, though, I want to be ready for it. 

I Give “The Star” and “Jerry” a 5/5 Each

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Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Eps 5 & 6 Review

If the last four episodes of the Fionna and Cake miniseries have been the prologue, then the rest are the story proper. And just like the original show, the story is phenomenal. At the surface level, this trip across the multiverse seems like a fun, Isekai-style adventure. However, underneath the fantastical world lies boatloads of trauma and issues needing to be worked out. By the end of this week, Fionna’s gone through levels of trauma that took Finn several seasons to experience. It’s painful to watch, but also entertaining.

Farmworld Fallout

Having decided to find another version of the Ice King’s Crown, the trio of interdimensional fugitives set out into this new universe. What they don’t know is that they’ve landed in the Farmworld Universe, something that fans of the show should remember. Created by Prismo when Finn wished for the Lich to have never existed, this world’s Finn wielded the Crown for a long time. However, viewers will also remember that, out of pity, Prismo destroyed the Crown in that universe to free Finn. This basically makes their mission a dud from the start.

The quest for the Crown isn’t the big draw of the episode, though, but the Farmworld itself. It’s gone full-blown Mad Max meets Fallout by this point, ruled by gangs and warlords. What’s more, Farmworld Finn is a guarded hermit, living alone with Jake and his three kids and wanting nothing to do with magic. Too bad for him, his oldest son, Jay, is dating the son of his old enemy Big Destiny, Little Destiny.

Getting to see how this world has progressed in the years since it’s creation is a delight. One of Adventure Time’s greatest strengths is the depth and complexity it gives its world, and the Farmworld is one of the most interesting versions. It’s also nice to see that, despite his trauma as the Snowman(that’s what they call him), Finn remains a good person, standing up for Fionna and Cake against Scarab. Too bad it’s all for naught, as they have to run again.

The Winter King is Bunk!

If the Farmworld wasn’t interesting enough, it’s the next destination that takes everyone’s breath away. Fionna, Cake, and Simon end up in a universe where Simon and Bubblegum’s roles are swapped. This world’s Simon is the Winter King and managed to find a way to use the Crown without the madness, while Bonnie is the crazy one kidnapping him. 

Role-swapping is a common concept in fan fiction, but to see it on this level is mind-blowing. The level of love and detail put into this world is inspiring. And the Winter King and Candy Queen both get entertaining musical numbers. 

On the surface, this seems like Fionna and Cake’s dream world, with Fionna even experiencing chemistry with the Winter King. However, cracks start appearing when Simon notices a few things off with his counterpart. The indifference to Betty should’ve been a major red flag, but it’s not until this happens that the full extent of the Winter King’s crimes is revealed.

This world’s Simon transferred his madness onto this world’s Bubblegum against her will. As a result, she and her beloved citizens went crazy. What a wad!

Fionna Gets a Major Wake-up Call

As disturbing as this was for viewers, though, it’s nothing compared to what Fionna experiences. She thought she’d be getting the adventure she wanted, but all she did was maim innocent candy people that weren’t in their right mind. This revelation shakes Fionna to her core. 

Beyond that, though, these two episodes highlight another big difference between Fionna and Cake and Finn and Jake. Finn and Jake had years of experience being heroes, whereas Fionna and Cake and wannabes who don’t know what they’re doing. At this point, Fionna even questions if this is what she wants with her life.

Marshal Lee + Gary Gumball Forever

As all this is happening, the show picks back up in Fionna and Cake’s world with Gary Gumball and Marshall Lee. When Gumball shows up at Fionna’s apartment looking for her, he meets Marshall Lee for the first time. Shippers go wild as the two go on a mission to help Gumball perfect his baking craft. 

Besides serving as several more nods to how their world once was, and giving shippers plenty of fuel (and the genderbent Lemongrabs:)), there’s a good reason for this side plot. Even though their world’s no longer magical, it’s not boring. Gumball and Marshall Lee manage to bond over their shared love of his baking, and even have fun out and about. The point is, there’s still things that make their lives worth living. Things that Fionna never noticed for herself. Sooner or later, she’s going to have to figure that out.

I stand by what I said last week, guys. Fionna, Cake, and Simon all have a choice to make soon. Do they want to go back to the magical world they once knew, or are they willing to try something new? Something that, while not as overtly magical, still has value. 

Either way, I’m looking forward to next week.

I Give “Destiny” and “The Winter King” a 4/5 and a 5/5 Each

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