English Dub Review: Witch Watch “Dogs and Raindrops, Part 1”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Nemu formally introduces herself and warns Nico and Morihito about a plan by a warlock to capture Nico, involving stimulant candies laced with mind control magic.

OUR TAKE

We begin the much hyped and built up two parter, following up from the last episode that established the warlock threat against Nico. Seems this particular Warlock is after Nico because of the same ancient prophecy her mom found, that Nico is destined to become the “Witch of Thousand”, a witch that, fittingly, only appears only every thousand years and grants a thousand wishes. What that means for the rest of this series is still unclear, but the main thing to focus on is that the warlock is looking for her through the method that local news says drug dealers use every halloween: Putting drugs in the candy. Specifically, getting local dealers to give out candies that are meant to be strength stimulants, but are actually ways of mind controlling people to look for Nico. Keeping in mind that we are not even halfway through the twenty six episodes planned for this first season, I think it is safe to say that, even if she is caught, this isn’t going to have any major effects. Still, it’s not like there’s no tension, as we still need to find out exactly what they want to find her FOR, which could have bigger ramifications.

The more significant detail in this episode in particular is the reveal that a seemingly minor character was actually a bigger deal than he first appeared. Remember Keigo, the shaggy haired kid who helped Nico and Kaneshi (who also gets a beating this episode) out with their short lived Youtube channel a few episodes ago? Well, turns out he is a werewolf. Okay, this is a magical setting, so that’s no big deal in the grand scheme. BUT WAIT! He’s not just ANY werewolf, he’s a werewolf nicknamed WOLF! But also he’s a familiar working with the warlock in the hopes of fighting Morihito, and he also can change into his “Wolf” persona just by seeing something with a crescent shaped moon on it, in this case a wristband. That is certainly an…interesting take on the werewolf trope, though it’s a little bit undercut by be not really giving much of a crap about Keigo prior to this point. I have some other questions about it, like if they are two personalities or just two very similar forms of the same guy, but I have a feeling some of these are going to be answered next episode, when we conclude the story of Dogs and Raindrops.