Michelle Explains Anime, Poorly

Michelle Explains Anime, Poorly

Hang out with us— or just me, I mean, as I recap seasonal anime episodes in painstaking detail. We’re going to go in order, so you don’t even need to know anything about whichever anime I’m following to enjoy it. Not that I think you’ll enjoy this. You better not. Or else. Seriously though, I hope I can add just a little bit of weirdness to your day.

Episodes

August 7, 2025 49 mins
Everyone's probably dead and Shin is having a mental breakdown in a field of red spider lilies.  

Maybe there's someone out there who can still save him or, at least, get him to want to save himself.  

Nobody left you behind, Shin: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
Comrades are whittled down dramatically as the final battle with Kiri looms.  

Then they also fight the battle, hooray. Someone's helping out, but we're not sure who.  

Kiri has a lot to say, but no one can hear anything other than a scream.  

Pierce me with a hail of bullets, rip my body apart, and I can still fight: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
It's finally time for the gang to confront Shin about his reckless behavior. They don't quite understand his reasons, so he's forced to explain.   

It's worse than they'd feared.  

Also, a Morpho butterfly is consumed by ants, except for its head.  

You didn't survive all that just to kill your brother, did you Shin?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
The gang battles The Morpho... well, sort of? Kiri has a conversation with a fellow Legion, and we learn about their plans. Shin's breakdown intensifies, and Frederica does something really stupid.  

I get annoyed because I can't tell what's going on, but don't worry, it's probably my fault somehow, not the production falling apart.  

You carry them all, Shin: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
July 10, 2025 46 mins
Ernst is not pleased that Spearhead has been chosen for the suicide mission, and neither is Frederica.

I forget that prejudice is real for a few minutes, and also can't pronounce Nachzehrer.

Do you want to end up the same way, Shin?!: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
We finally find out what was in that letter, and it's not good.  

Spearhead becomes Spearhead again : (  

It's ok though, cos they have no family, so no one will be sad when they die : )  

You killed him, right Shin?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
Shin gets a note that destroys him for some reason, and everyone in the Federacy attempts to fight off a large-scale Legion offensive.  

We finally see what's been going on in San Magnolia, and I say I'm proud of Lena at least three times (possibly more, I wasn't actually counting).  

It's time for you to be crushed, Lena: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
June 19, 2025 44 mins
We have a relatively calm episode, which is an ok change after the straight-up carnage of the last one. However, Shin's emotional state may be deteriorating, and the Federacy is vastly underestimating how dangerous the upcoming attack will be. That's fine though, cos Shin and Raiden don't think it's a good idea to tell them the reason why Shin knows they're wrong. 
 
Also, I mispronouce Grethe's name so many times that I couldn't eve...
Mark as Played
The Federacy seems pretty nice, they even made them a monument and everything. However, there's still all this weird racism going on, and they suck at fighting the Legion a lot.

Someone probably dies, and it's so gory that I was impressed.  

Shin doesn't seem like he's in the best place mentally.  

Why didn't you save him, Shin: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
June 5, 2025 46 mins
The Spearhead gang adjusts to their new life without fighting and a lot less racism. Nobody's really happy about it, though.  

Frederica is 10 and generally annoying.  

Shin has a nightmare at the library (not a nice dream).    

I'm dead. I still want to go home, Shin: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
May 29, 2025 55 mins
We start over from zero with Lena and a new group of processors. Nothing and everything has changed.
  
What happens to Spearhead, though? Nothing? Where is Shin's head? Still with his body or no?  
We mee
t some fun new characters (if you're into annoying kids, that is).  

Is it yours, Shin?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
May 22, 2025 53 mins
Spearhead is low on food, fuel, and ammo. They spend the night at an abandoned school.  
Kurena eats her last after dinner dessert.  

Lena visits the barracks.  

If, one day, you make it to our final destination, would you please leave flowers?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
May 15, 2025 60 mins
Spearhead Squadron has some quiet time in the wilderness, but Shin is acting very weird, and Raiden's noticed.

The gang visits the most depressing zoo imaginable.  

We see the world from Fido's perspective.  

Are you going to the other side of the water alone, Shin?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
May 8, 2025 51 mins
Shin and Rei fight! Lena guilts Annette into helping Spearhead! Everyone cries! Yay!  

But what happens when the battle's over but you can't go home?  

We're going on ahead, Major: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
May 1, 2025 62 mins
Listen to me be super stressed as I try to record this right before an inspection!  
Lena's getting yelled at by just about everybody.  

We know why Shin wants to find his brother, but now we get to find out why Rei wants to find him. It's probably going to be horrifying, yay!  

I complain about Shin's scar.   

Please don't contact us again, Major: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
Hooray! It's finally time for the gang to tell Lena the really bad thing! It's probably going to really destroy her, but sometimes you gotta tell people the truth, right?  

Also, how's Spearhead going to do with the siege of the Legion base that everyone knows is a trap? Remember last season when Ash went somewhere knowing it was a trap? I hope it's not going to be like that.  

Will you remember us as well, Major?: michelle.a.eem@gma...
Mark as Played
I talk a little about the shows I'm watching during the spring season.  

We learn a little more about Shin and Rei's relationship and all of it is terrible. Lena remembers Rei fondly in a way that probably hurts Shin more than she can imagine.  

Some people probably die this episode, sorry.  

I slowly start to talk about my love for Shin while pretending I don't think you can notice.  

Was he smiling, Major?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
April 10, 2025 51 mins
My computer's on the way out (no more keyboard, mouse, bluetooth, wifi...) so this might be a little more rambly than usual cos it's hard to edit without the appropriate tools. Sorry!  

We find out exactly how Shin's been "breaking" all these Handlers and it probably isn't what you're expecting.  

You're going to lose this war, Major: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com  
Mark as Played
April 3, 2025 40 mins
How does Lena come back from being told she's been treating Spearhead Squadron like subhuman pigs?  

We see Shin break his calm demeanor for the first time and it's not when he's talking about how many comrades he's watched die.  

I try some things with the audio that you'll either love or hate (or have no real opinion about).

As long as you're inside the walls, you're not our equal, Handler One: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played
Lena asks Spearhead Squadron about their pets. What's their cat's name (spoiler: I still don't know what to call it)?  

Daiya, Theo, and Haruto spy on the girls and Daiya asks about yobai.  

Theo finally says something and it's super mean (and accurate).  

"Sorry"? Sorry about what, Handler One?: michelle.a.eem@gmail.com
Mark as Played

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