Tougen Anki [Season 1 Episode 19]

Tougen Anki Episode 19: The “Friendship” That Never Was

If you’re a fan of Tougen Anki, you probably went into Episode 19 hyped for that Shiki vs. Mikado showdown we’ve been teased with for weeks. Spoiler: We didn’t get it. Instead, we got a 24-minute episode that felt like it was treading water—except the water was full of forced drama and characters making decisions that made zero sense. Let’s break it down.

First, let’s recap what should have been the emotional core of the episode: Shiki and Mikado’s “friendship.” Remember when they met like, three days ago? Yeah, the show acts like they’ve been best buds since kindergarten. When Mikado finds Shiki standing over a burning building (thanks to Shinya’s obvious-as-hell framing), he doesn’t even let Shiki explain. He just goes, “I thought we were friends!” with this devastated look, and honestly? It’s hard to care. As one fan put it, “They’ve known each other for a day—this whole thing feels forced and stupid.” Preach.

Shinya, the show’s resident mustache-twirling villain, is the real star here—for all the wrong reasons. He’s been manipulating Mikado since Episode 17, and this episode just cranks that up to 11. He plants fake evidence, whispers in Mikado’s ear, and somehow makes everyone believe Shiki (the guy who’s saved people left and right) is a murderer. And Mikado falls for it hook, line, and sinker. Dude, have you met Shiki? He’s the one who cried over a stray cat in Episode 12! But no—because Shiki has Oni blood, everyone turns on him faster than you can say “racist plot device.”

The worst part? The writing is lazy. Shiki’s whole arc this season is about mastering his Oni powers, but in this episode, he’s just… there. He doesn’t fight, he doesn’t outsmart anyone—he just stands there looking sad while everyone yells at him. Masumi, the only character with a brain, tries to help, but even he can’t fix how rushed this all feels. As another fan ranted, “The confrontation between Shiki and Mikado is strangely staged. Mikado screams for survivors, Shiki arrives, and suddenly he’s a criminal? It makes no sense.”

And don’t get me started on the pacing. This arc has dragged on for six episodes now, and we’re still waiting for the big fight. Every time we think something’s gonna happen, the show hits the brakes. One viewer summed it up perfectly: “Another nothing-burger episode. I’m usually patient, but this is just boring.”

But here’s the thing: There are glimmers of potential. The scene where Shiki has to master his Oni powers to save a kid? That was cool! It reminded us why we liked Shiki in the first place—he’s not just a revenge-seeker; he’s a kid trying to do the right thing. And the animation? Studio Hibari still knows how to make fire look epic. The burning building scene was visually stunning, even if the story around it was garbage.

So, who’s this episode for? If you’re a die-hard fan who’s invested in every tiny detail, you might find something to like. But if you’re here for action or coherent storytelling? You’re gonna leave disappointed. Most fans are just counting down the days until the next episode, begging for “something actually epic.”

In the end, Episode 19 is a perfect example of Tougen Anki’s biggest flaw: It has great ideas, but it can’t execute them. The friendship between Shiki and Mikado could have been heartfelt, but it’s rushed. The conflict between Oni and Momotaro could have been nuanced, but it’s just “Oni bad, Momotaro good.” And Shinya? He’s a fun villain, but he’s so over-the-top that it’s hard to take him seriously.

Will next episode deliver the fight we’ve been waiting for? Let’s hope so. Because if it doesn’t, I might just join the fans who are screaming, “Hate this arc so much—please make it stop!”

Final Verdict: 5/10. Forced drama and slow pacing drag this episode down, but the animation and Shiki’s character keep it from being a total wash. Here’s to hoping Episode 20 finally gives us the epic showdown we deserve.

— A tired Tougen Anki fan