Persona 5 The Animation Episode 4 & 5 [Review]

 By: ThunderheavyarmNot at all surprising, the episode focuses somewhat heavily on the boss fight with Kamoshida from the game. There isn’t much to say about it, they represent the optional mechanic from the fight and give it the importance of it succeeding to win the fight easier. It’s not as exciting as I assumed it would be though like the other Persona predecessor series.There were only two issues that I had with the episode is that there were some things done out of order. The part where Ren collapses in the boss fight so that Igor could show him fusion. It comes off as less a reward for clearing the palace and more of a deus ex mechanic as though the fight was unwinnable without the new persona. The second was that the pacing for this episode felt a little off. With the need for them to get in and steal the treasure taking a back seat to their prep work. I actually would have like it if the fight was delayed by another episode.Overall I would give this episode a solid... okay for the series so far. The luster that the series has had for me so far has decidedly worn off. I remember that the story really got going after this part of the game however. So I’m reserving my judgement to see what path the director decides to take for this one. The stinger for the end of this episode, has at least kept my attention for this week.For Episode 5, this episode focuses on the celebration segment following the Kamoshida palace clear as well as the introduction to mementos. And the forming of The Phantom Thieves, the introduction of more characters...there’s a lot that happens in the episode. While normally having a lot of things going on at the same time, the episode is only able to give them lip service instead of a fair amount of time. Unfortunately, this seems to be a continuing trend for the series at this point. It will build up very well into the palace and have difficulty with the time in between. Choosing to rush through it in a desperate attempt to the get to next week.The mementos fight, one that’s meant to lead into the next palace arc, is so ridiculously short it may as well have not been there. In Daybreakers, the promo episode that was made to hype up the game, it showed how a side mission could be done. So it’s really awkward that this is here when there’s a good example of what to do. Hopefully, this is a one time thing since the series has gone past the “tutorial” section and into the freeplay section. We’ll need to see next week when we start the Aradama palace.GG, everyone!