Thursdays have become the heartbeat of my anime week, and this Spring 2025 season is no exception. Every Friday, I sit down with a cup of Milo in this chilly weather and catch up on the latest episodes that aired the day before—Thursday’s anime has become a ritual full of laughter, chaos, heartbreak, and hype.

This week’s batch brought emotional gut-punches, chaotic musical duels, stylish assassinations, and even a bit of social commentary wrapped in comedy. Here’s my breakdown of the Thursday shows I’m following, complete with my thoughts, impressions, and maybe a few rants along the way.

Thursday’s Anime Lineup This Week:

These are the four Thursday seasonal anime I’m currently watching and reviewing every Friday (and Saturday). Each title below links directly to its full impressions, so you can jump straight to the one you’re most curious about:

1. A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof (4/5)
2. Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty (4/5)
3. The Brilliant Healer’s New Life in the Shadows (3/5)
4. WIND BREAKER Season 2 (4/5)

This lineup could change as the season goes on. I’m always open to dropping or picking up new titles depending on how things unfold. That’s part of the fun!

Let’s dive right in!

A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof

• Episode 2: Daily Life of a Ninja and an Assassin
• Release date: 17 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • Stylish chaos with surprisingly heartfelt moments

Konoha really said “fashion is pain” and made Satoko wear that unicorn outfit, honestly, criminal behaviour that got me laughing hard. At least we got a cute little dress-up montage before that disaster. I’m glad Kuro’s been added to the cast, though; her vibe is cool, and she balances out the chaos nicely. That post-credit scene? Brutal but I adored the girl talk between the ninja pursuers. It was so normal and sweet, just gals being gals. Sad that we get this after they are already dead. No more girls’ nights. The show keeps hitting that perfect sweet spot where hyper-stylised visuals, those head tilts, surreal camera work, stark backgrounds, and crash into wild action and snappy comedy. It’s bizarrely adorable while people are literally being assassinated. And the detail in the character designs? Superb, but also so tragic because half of them are already dead by the time you start learning their names. Poor Midori. Poor toilet girl. Konoha is ruthless, and Satoko is just vibing through all this, which is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Still, if it’s to protect our chaotic cinnamon roll Satoko, then maybe it’s worth it. Two episodes in, and this series is completely unhinged in the best way.

Verdict: Episode 2 builds on the quirky tone established in the premiere, delivering sharp comedy and sudden emotional gut punches. Satoko’s wide-eyed innocence makes the carnage feel even more surreal. The addition of Kuro adds a nice contrast. The direction remains top-notch. It’s a wild ride, but one that’s strangely heartwarming.

Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty

• Episode 3: Let’s Do It! Let’s Do What Feels Good!
• Release date: 17 April 2025
• HIDIVE
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • The musical chaos intensifies with sizzling chemistry, biting insults, and surprisingly elegant symbolism.

Otoha and Lilisa are absolute chaos together, and I love it. There’s so much tension and chemistry bubbling under the surface that it’s honestly carrying the whole show at this point. Their jam sessions are basically emotional showdowns, and the way the series visualises their inner states, especially during those drum vs. guitar battles, is wild. Lilisa’s tsundere energy is off the charts; she’s clearly catching feelings but still throwing shade at school like it’s her job. Watching her slowly realise that she doesn’t need to keep pretending to be the perfect, composed lady is really hitting hard. The flashbacks to her childhood and how she’s suppressed her passion for music make her performances feel all the more raw. And then there’s Otoha, just barging into her life with all this unapologetic affection, throwing Lilisa totally off balance, and yeah, let’s not ignore the sudden BDSM-coded “collaboration” scene that came outta nowhere – again. Comedy, rivalry, emotion, and just a dash of Yuri? Yes please. The symbolism in this show is also becoming sharper, like the flowers this week—the broken vase was a clean metaphor for their crumbling façades. Even their insults are next level (“you incombustible trash” is going in my vocabulary immediately). With the band officially formed and the road to Fuji Rock laid out, the energy is only ramping up. I am also curious to see how Lilisa’s stepsister will cause trouble.

Verdict: Otoha and Lilisa are pure chaos and crackling chemistry, turning every jam session into a full-blown emotional showdown. The visuals hit hard, especially during those drum vs. guitar scenes, with no words needed to feel the storm between them. Lilisa’s mask of perfection is slipping. With the band formed, Fuji Rock in sight, and Lilisa’s stepsister ready to stir up trouble, the messy mix of comedy, rivalry and emotion is only getting better.

The Brilliant Healer’s New Life in the Shadows

• Episode 3: Turf War
• Release date: 17 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
  • Fun, chaotic, and still dumb in the best way

At this point, most of the cast completely outshines Lily; she just feels kind of out of place next to characters like Loewe and Zophia, who have way more presence. Even Krishna’s debut felt a little flat, more like another checkbox in Zenos’ chaotic harem than a standout addition. But Zenos? He’s quickly building a reputation, and not just for collecting demi-human girls. Somehow, he’s already a better healer than the licensed professionals after a single training session, which just makes you wonder what kind of absurd backstory he’s hiding. The gang war sequence was a highlight, even though it was completely predictable and as dumb as it was, it was still fun. Zenos ended the race-fueled infighting in the slums as if it were nothing. Naturally, that caught the attention of the people in power, who are terrified of peace among the poor because it threatens their grip. Enter Iron Rose, the vice-commander who just shows up and fires on Zenos without hesitation. It’s hilarious and also kind of chilling how casually she accepts the twisted logic of the ruling class. Meanwhile, Carmilla continues to edge dangerously close to full-on breaking the fourth wall with how often she calls out obvious plot beats.

Verdict: Zenos continues to unintentionally flex his overpowered healer skills while the rest of the cast, especially Loewe, Zophia, and now Iron Rose, steal the spotlight, leaving Lily feeling underwhelming by comparison. The gang war was a ridiculous but fun highlight; the show fully embraces its fast-paced, chaotic charm.

WIND BREAKER Season 2

• Episode 3: Re:Start
• Release date: 17 April 2025
• Crunchyroll
• Episode Score:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
  • Emotional gut-punches, earned growth, and a quiet storm brewing on the horizon

Taiga insisting Akihiko was “helping him train” by staying on his back was such a tactful way to protect his pride while still being there for him. It’s those little moments that show how much these boys care about each other. This episode hit hard emotionally, and Sakura, sweet, empathetic Sakura, just carries so much of that weight. He’s not built for cruelty; he’s built for connection, and that came through so clearly when he felt responsible for what happened to everyone. But instead of blaming him, the others finally opened up and told him how much they respected him, and that kind of vulnerability in a series like this is just so good. Sakura’s guilt, his pain seeing his classmates hurt, it’s what makes him stronger. You feel like you’re watching these kids grow up in real time. Even Nagato, whom we barely know, had me rooting for him to get out of that mess, and when you see what he’s been through, stealing makes awful sense. Shingo and his whole sorry crew getting laid out was satisfying as hell, but the real win was the reunion at the restaurant, Nagato breaking down when kindness was shown to him. Sakura and Umemiya both have this way of seeing people, and it really feels like they’re mirrors of each other, foreshadowing, maybe? And let’s be real, Sakura’s already way more tied to Furin than he realises. That guilt he carried was real, and you could see it affected him in the fight, but it also made the group stronger. They’ve been through it together now, and those bonds feel earned. Umemiya nailed it: you can’t undo the past, but you can carry the weight and move forward. The KEEL arc is wrapped, but that post-credits scene? Yeah, things are far from over. Some shadowy figure has their eyes on Furin now, and whatever’s coming next… It’s gonna be big.

Verdict: Taiga helping Akihiko without bruising his pride showed the quiet strength behind the fists, while Sakura’s overwhelming guilt became a powerful moment of growth as his vulnerability brought the group closer together. With Nagato’s emotional backstory, heartfelt reunions, and a shadowy new threat teased post-credits, the KEEL arc closes on a high note, setting the stage for even bigger battles ahead.

Final Thoughts on this weeks Thursday’s anime releases

This week’s Thursday’s anime lineup offered a satisfying mix of emotional highs, unpredictable chaos, and some truly standout character work. WIND BREAKER continues to be the emotional core of my week, Sakura’s quiet growth and the team’s loyalty hit hard, and it’s clear this series knows exactly when to pull back the fists and show the heart.

Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty is balancing messy musical chemistry with some sharp visual storytelling, and honestly, it’s wild and weird in all the right ways. Meanwhile, A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof keeps swinging between comedy and carnage with a flair that’s almost too cute for how violent it actually is. I love the contrast. The Brilliant Healer’s New Life may not be the strongest of the bunch, but it still delivered some fun world-building and unexpected political undertones this week, even if some characters continue to fall flat.

All in all, this was a strong week for Thursday’s anime, with three out of four titles landing solid emotional or comedic punches, and even the one on shakier ground still giving me enough to stay interested.

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

Next week, the Thursday’s anime I’m most looking forward to is without a doubt A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof. This series has been balancing its absurdity with surprising emotional depth, and Episode 2 really sealed it for me, Konoha’s stone-cold assassin energy clashing with Satoko’s innocent chaos is such a fun dynamic. The addition of Kuro has shifted the group chemistry in an interesting way, and I’m dying to see how the trio functions going forward. With so many stylish kills, deadpan humour, and unexpectedly tender moments, I have no idea what tone the next episode will take—and that unpredictability is exactly why I’m hooked. If we get more backstory or even another post-credit heartbreak moment? I’m ready to cry, laugh, and cheer all at once.

Any, I’m considering binge-watching instead of watching weekly or dropping outright?

If I had to pick one show that’s on thin ice, it’d be The Brilliant Healer’s New Life in the Shadows. It’s still fun in a dumb, popcorn-y kind of way, but Lily’s continued underdevelopment and Krishna’s weak introduction didn’t help. I’m not going to drop it. I want to see how the political plotline with Iron Rose plays out, but if the next two episodes don’t step things up, I might bench it and binge later. Everything else is firmly staying on my weekly watchlist for now. Too much emotional investment in Thursday’s anime at this point to back out!

Golden Hour & New Beginnings: Spotlight on This Week’s Header Image

This week Thursday’s anime catch-up header features a warm, golden-toned view of the town from The Brilliant Healer’s New Life, episode 3. The tiled rooftops and surrounding greenery speak to a slower pace of living, and that matches where our healer protagonist finds herself this week: not fighting to survive, but learning how to live. Visually, I also loved how the sunlight washes over everything in amber tones, it makes the whole town feel like it’s exhaling, which matches the emotional tone of the episode beautifully. I like to use scenery like this as a thematic anchor for each round-up post, not just because it’s pretty (though it is), but because it helps ground us in the emotional rhythm of the stories being told. This town feels like a place where change is quietly taking root.

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