English Dub Review: Magical Sempai “Biased Sempai; Beach Sempai”

 

 

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Sempai starts the day by trying to read the minds of her club mates. She has them each put a deep secret inside a “marked” envelope and then tries to “guess.” Of course, she marks the envelopes wrong and winds up reading super incest-y things from Saki including a full-fledged love letter to her brother. When the tables are turned, and Sempai is meant to write down a secret, she chickens out, causing the club to abandon her.

Next, Saki and Sempai have to make up a test for Sensei. While they wait for the proctor, they play a game, which is really a magic trick, which is really a math problem. Sempai has it all figured out beforehand but keeps messing up the results. After many games, she finally wins one but amid the celebration, she accidentally punches the proctor in the face. Oops.

After Sempai pisses off the gang by messing with their ice cream, Saki practically begs her to go to the beach. From Saki’s perspective, magic is okay, but enjoying the wonders of summer is even better—and spending time with her swimsuit-clad brother tops even that. Did I mention the brother she yearns for is related to her by blood?

Sempai invites everyone to help her pick out a new swimsuit. Masa and Assistant, who are gradually becoming friends, work together to put Sempai in the skimpiest swimsuit possible. While Masa’s psychological trickery is sound, in theory, the dolts mistakenly give the tiniest bathing costume to Saki who Masa does not desire. Assistant, content in ogling Saki, is tricked into walking in on a nearly-nude Sempai who is so dumb she accidentally puts on her swimsuit backward.

In the next episode, as promised, they go to the beach. After some shenanigans with big waves, sculpting clay, and full-body balloon costumes that cause the girls to inadvertently flash their breasts to the boys, Assistant feels the need to take a walk. On his outing, he runs into Chemistry girl. While in the secluded country to visit her grandmother, she takes some time to show Assistant a beautiful sunset and how the curvature of the Earth gives them a second chance to gaze at the romantic light show.

Even though she’s wary over spending time with Sempai, Assistant invites Chemistry girl to hang with the club. Her hesitation is immediately justified when Sempai plays a “blindfolded watermelon smash contest” but instead of hitting the fruit, smashes and injures everybody in the group.

To end the day, Saki wants to set off some fireworks which Sempai ruins after a bad magic trick that results in the many, many explosives being set off all at once. Luckily, the Chemistry girl brought some sparklers from her grandmother’s house. The gang shares a near-perfect moment as they light their sparklers, and Assistant even gives a speech about the true meaning of summer vacation.

 

Our Take

Prior to the swimsuit buying scene, it feels like the first episode was, for the most part, filler. We’ve already seen Sempai put on her mentalist cap—a couple of times, actually. Oh, and if you haven’t realized that Saki is uncomfortably interested in her brother, you’re the least observant person on this planet—except maybe, [insert political figure to fit your ideology].

I enjoy the budding bromance developing between Assistant and Masa. Since the girls in the group are so loud and opinionated, it’s nice to see two calm guys discussing the ways of the world. However, when they start using their powers of psychology and persuasion to harass women, it becomes incel-level creepy. Sure, that’s kind of the point of the show, but I wish it wasn’t.

Weeks ago, I stopped blaming Sempai for her shortcomings, because everyone around her is horrible. Aye, Assistant comes through in a clutch, but for the most part, he’s nothing more than a skirt-chasing dud. Even though Sempai is trash when it comes to magic, her optimistic outlook is so refreshing it makes me want to root for her in every endeavor. That being said, now that Chemistry girl has been given an episode to shine, it’s clear that she is a far superior person.

Even though Assistant is kind to Chemistry girl, the man’s constantly looking for any excuse to invite himself into a cup of her panties. One minute they’re on the beach, enjoying the beauty of both nature and science, and the next he’s getting all bug-eyed and looking down her top. What is wrong with you, boy? The young woman wants to culture you and give insight into some of life’s most perfect miracles. If all you want is something frivolous, you might as well make Saki fall in love with you. She’s down to clown.

The ending scene of episode two was kind of nice. Assistant broke free from his perverted ways long enough to give a heartfelt speech. Sempai and Chemistry girl got along well enough to find common ground over their friendship with Assistant. And even Saki calmed her brother-lust for the evening to enjoy time with good friends.

Unfortunately, it’s all going to go to shit next episode, that’s for sure.