I honestly can’t believe how much Friday’s anime lineup has thinned out, seven shows became three in the blink of an eye! That said, I’m not complaining; it’s been a chilly Easter weekend on my side of the world, and there’s something oddly comforting about keeping cosy under a pile of blankets with a warm jacket on, just vibing with these Friday episodes. I even caught up on both Thursday’s and Friday’s anime today (praise the hot Milo gods), and I’ll be tackling the beast that is Saturday’s lineup next.

As for this week’s shows? Drama, mystery, and fantasy still reign supreme. Sumikko Gurashi: Tokage no Yume may not have made it into the review roundup, but it’s still going strong in the background, adorable as ever, and the battle for the corner is far from over. I talked more about that last week in Friday’s Anime Catch-Up #1 if you missed it!

The three Friday seasonal anime I am watching:

Here are three of the seasonal anime shows that air on Fridays, and I watch and review them on Saturdays. Each title below is linked to its respective section, so feel free to jump straight to the one you’re following or most curious about:

1. Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive (4/5)
2. Teogonia (3/5)
3. The Dinner Table Detective (4/5)

This lineup will shift as the season progresses, as we have seen between last week’s catch up and this week’s. Some shows might drop off, and others could be added as more anime is released in the coming weeks. Each week will be a little different, and to me, that is part of the fun!

The scores you see above reflect my overall impressions of the latest episode I watched for each anime. In the sections that follow, I’ll break down what stood out (for better or worse), from story progression and animation quality to character development and emotional impact.

Let’s break down this week’s trio of titles and see where the chaos, confusion, and cleverness led us.

Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?

• Episode 3: Tulips and the Face of Love
• Release date: 18 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • Friendship teeters on the edge of love in this emotionally messy and painfully relatable episode

This episode really leaned into the emotional chaos, and I both loved it and winced through it. Himari is all over the place, flirty one minute, emotionally volatile the next, and it’s clear she’s not being honest with her own feelings, let alone with Yuu. Yuu, for his part, seems completely lost, not fully grasping how he feels toward either girl, though the romantic tension between him and Enomoto is definitely growing. Enomoto’s gained a bit more confidence since the first episode, and while she’s still shy, she’s not holding back as much, which only makes things harder for Himari. And honestly, she did not help herself this week, forcing a ‘kiss’ and then calling it a joke, recording it just to tease, then full-on snapping and dumping water on Yuu’s head? Himari’s spiralling, and yeah, she’s a teenager, but the passive-aggressive games and emotional outbursts are starting to backfire big time. Her reaction felt rooted in panic and jealousy, watching Yuu bond with someone else in a space she thought was hers alone, clearly pushed her over the edge. The symbolism of the choker, their old promise, the whole “just friends” label, it’s crushing her, but instead of opening up, she’s lashing out. Yuu, meanwhile, might actually fall for her if she stopped dodging and deflecting every time something real slips through. He has admitted his feelings to himself and how they could change. Right now, Enomoto seems like the only one playing it straight, and honestly, that might give her the edge. It’s messy, dramatic, and hard to watch at times, but the show captures the awkward, painful transition from friendship to love so well, and I can’t lie, I’m obsessed.

Verdict: Himari’s emotional meltdown was hard to watch and harder to look away from; her push-pull antics with Yuu are spiralling into something explosive. With Enomoto growing bolder and Yuu starting to question his feelings, this love triangle is veering into dangerous yet fascinating territory, all while the show continues to capture the chaos of teenage emotions.

Teogonia

• Episode 2: Lady Jose
• Release date: 18 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
  • A promising world steeped in magic and politics, but the pacing and power-ups still need refinement.

When I watch weekly, I actually appreciate having recaps. It helps keep the details fresh, especially when a series is trying to establish a layered magic system, like this one. I wasn’t completely sold on Kai’s sudden power-up, though; it felt too abrupt and unearned, almost like the story skipped a step in his progression. That said, I’m still intrigued, especially with the new mystery surrounding his spirit energy. Why was it red this time after drinking the godstone, when it was white before? Was it dosage, or something deeper tied to his connection with his god? Speaking of gods, I’m loving the lore expansion so far. The whole guardian bearer system and land gods concept is a clever way to reflect power disparity and control in this world. Kai and Jose’s face-off was a long time coming, and now that Jose knows Kai bears the mark, things are getting good. Jose’s got noble goals and is one of those rare protagonists who actually thinks things through. Also, Kai’s dual-wielding skills? Smooth. One thing I didn’t need, though, was the awkward zoom-in on the princess’ cleavage; it was subtle but unnecessary for this anime, like they wanted the fanservice without fully committing to it. Still, the intrigue outweighs the hiccups right now.

Verdict: Episode 2 deepens Teogonia’s intriguing lore with more on the guardian bearer system and spirit energy mechanics. Despite the bumpy pacing and unnecessary fan service, the face-off between Kai and Jose added much-needed tension, and the series shows real potential if it can tighten its character development.

The Dinner Table Detective

• Episode 3: Here’s a message from the dead File 2
• Release date: 18 April 2025
• Prime Video
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • Kageyama’s savage intellect carries another fun, emotionally grounded case.

This week’s case had a surprisingly solid emotional payoff, even if the detective team didn’t exactly shine intellectually. The culprit held a grudge towards the dead lady due to actions she took during his childhood. He knew who she was from the start, and when his original revenge plan fell through, he killed her. I appreciated how the story subtly tied her personal failure and deep connection to her family into the motive and results of the case. Still, I wish Reiko and Kyouichirou showed a bit more spark. Kageyama, as always, carried the entire investigation on his snarky shoulders. His deduction was sharp, and his insults were even sharper, never missing. The dynamic between the main cast still feels underexplored, which is a shame, because there’s so much potential there. Reiko retelling Kazamatsuri’s ridiculous pitching tangent was a highlight, especially since it actually helped crack the case. This series continues to charm with a blend of wit, heart, and stylish reveals. I’m really enjoying the ride. It does remind me of Ace Attorney. Just like in Ace Attorney, The Dinner Table Detective thrives on exaggerated personalities, dramatic pauses, and gasp-worthy reveals, even if at that point are obvious, right in the middle of otherwise calm settings.

Verdict: This week’s episode delivered a quietly emotional mystery, blending childhood wounds and failed revenge into a poignant case elevated by strong symbolism and visual flair. Kageyama once again stole the show with sharp deductions and cutting remarks, while the rest of the cast mostly played supporting roles.

Final Thoughts on this week Friday’s anime releases

This week’s Friday anime gave me a little bit of everything: emotional spiral, magical lore, and murder mystery, all wrapped in wildly different vibes. Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? served up peak teen drama with Himari fully combusting by the end; it was messy, frustrating, and completely addicting. Watching her spiral while still clearly caring deeply about Yuu was tough, and her emotional tug-of-war with Enomoto has now officially reached unhinged territory.

Meanwhile, Teogonia continues to layer its worldbuilding with intriguing concepts like spirit energy, land gods, and the whole guardian system. I still think Kai’s power-up was rushed, but the lore and Jose’s character have me engaged enough to stay curious.

Then we had The Dinner Table Detective, which gave us another clever case wrapped in stylish sass. Kageyama continues to steal the spotlight every time, and this one reminded me more than ever of Ace Attorney, dramatic turns, flashy logic, and all. Reiko and Kyouichirou still need to step it up, but the balance of humour and heart kept things sharp.

Overall, it was a strong week with a lot of personality, just the kind of mix I look forward to sitting down with every Saturday morning.

Friday’s Anime I Am Most Looking Forward to Next Week:

Right now, I’ve got my eye on Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? more than anything. The tension between Himari, Yuu, and Enomoto is absolutely peaking, and after that explosive ending, I have no idea how Himari plans to recover from the mess she just made. She’s backed herself into a corner emotionally, and unless she makes a big move, I honestly think Enomoto’s quiet confidence might take the lead. I’m totally invested in watching this emotional wreckage unfold and seeing whether Yuu finally figures out what he really wants.

Any I’m considering binging instead of watching weekly or dropping outright?

None of the Friday titles are on the chopping block just yet, but Teogonia is the one I’m most likely to binge later if it doesn’t tighten up its pacing. I’m enjoying the lore and larger ideas, but if it keeps speeding through big character moments like Kai’s power boost without building proper tension, I might step back and watch it in bigger chunks. As for The Dinner Table Detective, it’s firmly safe, it’s too stylish and fun to miss weekly, and I honestly just want to hear what outrageous thing Kageyama says next.

Sunlit Shorelines, Tangled Hearts: Spotlight on This Week Friday’s Anime Header Image

This week’s Friday header comes from episode 3 of Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?, and I couldn’t have asked for a better visual anchor. The calm, sparkling shoreline and soft blue sky evoke a sense of peace, but that tranquillity is exactly what makes it such a poignant contrast to the emotional storm brewing beneath the surface of the episode. Himari’s internal struggle, Yuu’s uncertainty, and the delicate unravelling of a friendship-turned-something-more play out in a way that’s deeply personal and quietly dramatic.

I chose this scene not just for its beauty, but for how it reflects the themes of restraint, hesitation, and change. There’s a longing in the stillness of that beach, as if the sea itself is waiting for someone to say the words they’re holding back, throughout Friday’s anime. That tension, between serenity and emotional chaos, mirrors the tone of this week’s lineup perfectly. It’s a soft scene, but it holds so much weight.

What have been your thoughts on Friday’s anime releases? Are you following along with the season?

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