English Dub Review: Dekin no Mogura: The Earthbound Mole “Brothers and Sisters”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Shio learns that Kyoshiro’s mother, Kyoko, has her own unique supernatural ability.

Our Take:
Siblings always strive to keep their young ones safe from harm, even when they’re benevolent spirits.  This is the case for Mia’s older sister, as she’s about to take her revenge on her uncle for making Mia’s life horrible.  Fortunately, Mogura and the others stepped in just in time to prevent this horrific occurrence.  Given how the previous episode introduced us to the concept of siblings, “Brothers and Sisters” should’ve provided something to invigorate the emotional weight of a sibling bond overcoming rage and vengeance.  Sadly, that doesn’t appear to be the case.  Though the brief reunion between the two Mias was subtly sweet, the execution of the sibling mission’s conclusion felt very unfulfilling.  It’s not just because of the lack of emotional weight and humor to accompany its plot, but also because the music was off-putting for this type of vibe, notably when Mogura attempted to subdue Mya with his speech.
Understandably, it’s intended for comedic purposes given the show’s tone, but the problem is how it is utilized amid the danger of its confrontation.  Given how the previous episodes turned out, it’s unsurprising that “Brothers and Sisters” continued to fumble with its humor, probably more so than others.  I was also disappointed that the episode’s second half didn’t fare any better, considering that the show is expanding on Kyoshiro’s family with the introduction of his happy-go-lucky mother, Kyoko.  Dysfunctional families usually inject some laughs through their distinct chemistry. However, for some reason, the Nekozukus hadn’t quite nailed that comedic element yet, even with Kyoko’s peculiar ability to see unusual visions.  It also didn’t help that the show continued to be pretty convoluted with the world-building through the characters’ conversations, which is still another reason for my disinterest in the anime.