With the success of the S.W.A.T. reviews last season we’re trying it again with the autumn line up. The premise of these reviews is simple: watch the first episode of a series and then immediately sit down to record a review mini-podcast. The reviews are five- to ten-minutes long and entirely off the cuff. As always we only review new shows (so no sequels or continuations) and try to avoid anything that just looks outright awful. These are the first four of the new season:
Listen – Episode 1 of Phi Brain – Puzzle of God is from Sunrise with the opening “Brain Diver” by May’n.
Listen – Episode 1 of Chihayafuru from Madhouse with the opening “YOUTHFUL” by 99RadioService and is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Listen – Episode 1 of Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere from Sunrise with the opening “TERMINATED” by Minori Chihara and is streaming on Anime Network.
Listen – Episode 1 of You and Me from J. C. Staff with the opening “ByeBye (バイバイ)” by 7!! and is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Reverse Thieves 
Great piece! Such short-length podcasts are really nice to give us an impression of what the show is about.
However… It looks like not a single show among these is worth the effort. Phi Brain is just a puzzle show where you can’t wrap your brain among puzzles, Chihayafuru is a show about a theme so alien to the West that it stops short of being enjoyable, You and Me is “pointless” and drowzy, and I really never want to watch Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere.
Is this season doomed?
As long as I have my Fate/Zero I am happy but that is just me.
There is still Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing, Mirai Nikki, Gundam Age, Guilty Crown, and Un-Go that have potential. I have heard good things about Persona 4 and like the the new episodes of Squid Girl I have seen. I thought Psi Brain was mega cheesy but a fun kids show and Chihayafuru was more about the people than the game. But I watch Mahjong anime so who knows.
Still sometimes a season be not for you. That means it is time to hit that back catalog of goodness.
– Hisui
How come I feel the fall is not as strong as the summer…even though there are still a few animes that have not aired yet?
I think the problem with this season is there is some distinct sequelitis as well as too many shows based on weak sauce light novel.
That said as long as I have Fate/Zero everything is just extra materials. ;)
I think Narutaki would disagree.
– Hisui