Oh wow. This is sure one series whereby I never anticipated it would have another season. Each time it does, it always seems to surprise me. Like, why do I even think this should not even have another season?! Ever since its yearly release, I thought it was done for seeing it had none back in 2021. And what a surprise because Ani Ni Tsukeru Kusuri Wa Nai S5 dropped a surprise back in the second half of 2022. Yeah, from the looks of it, this series is still going strong and popular enough to have another season. The kind of format this series has, I’m sure it will reach 100 seasons!
Episode 1
After watching a TV show, Shi Mao wants to have BBQ. Shi Fen has a brilliant idea as he calls the gang to each bring their stuff. Crowdfunding BBQ? They gather and have all the stuffs ready. All they need to do is to start the fire. So, got any other better ideas than Shi Mao using small paper to burn? Shi Fen looks up on how to start a fire in the wild. Uhm grab the grill with pliers and swing it? Not sure how it will work but the whole thing fell into the river. With Kai Xin helping, it looks like it is starting to work but then the whole thing fell into the river again. I guess the hangry people can’t wait and push them both into the water!
Episode 2
The gang enjoy their BBQ. Shi Fen being a dick of course as he quickly tries to steal everyone’s meat. You snooze, you lose. Of course Shi Mao won’t allow this further and isolates him on a mini rock? Because Shi Mao thinks some extra ingredients would be nice, Banzai calls Wan Xing to get them. At first the little brother won’t want to accommodate his whims until he learns Shi Mao and Miao Miao are here. Instantly this kid arrives with a lot of goodies for the BBQ. They continue to have a great BBQ. In the end after everyone leaves, Shi Fen thought everyone has brought so much and they ate a lot, maybe they should nabe next time…
Episode 3
Kai Xin heard a couple of girls talking about Shi Mao having a boyfriend. Telling his buddies about it, you bet Banzai is super shocked to hear. Shi Fen? Didn’t hear anything about it and don’t care. He thinks it would be good for her to get one too to mellow down. But then we see Shi Fen and Kai Xin tailing Shi Mao and her friends. Yeah, look who is getting all anxious about her having a boyfriend. It seems every guy she meets, they thought it is her boyfriend but they’re just trolling. Yeah, just random dudes asking for direction or signing a petition. In the end, no boyfriend whatsoever. Meanwhile Banzai interrogates those girls and shows them all the photos of the potential boyfriends. Which one is the boyfriend? They point out to this guy. It’s Shi Fen… Duh!
Episode 4
The siblings are scared because… A COCKROACH! What now?! They throw a slipper and although it hit the roach, it didn’t kill it. Well, the roach is mad now and attacks them! Yeah, it’s bad enough that it can fly! Now it’s getting its revenge!!! HORROR SCREAM FEST!!! Few attempts to fight back but I guess there is nothing they can do and nothing is scarier when a vengeful cockroach flies at you. Anything it touches, Shi Mao wants that stuff thrown away! Eventually Shi Fen becomes the decoy for Shi Mao to trap it in a dustbin. After emptying the bug spray and thinking they have won, suddenly they realize the roach isn’t inside. Oh sh*t! On the ceiling! The attack continues! Shi Fen panics as he trips on the spray and accidentally squashes the bug. Victory? Well, Shi Mao wants to throw him away since he is ‘contaminated’.
Episode 5
Looks like an English test is coming up and you bet Kai Xin didn’t study at all. Banzai seeks Wan Xing’s help so he lets Kai Xin play some mobile game? So this measures his aptitude? Wan Xing deduces he doesn’t have bad IQ but lacks some fundamental academic skills. So to help him build his English vocab, Kai Xin writes the items he sees on post it notes and sticks it on them. Banzai so happy when Kai Xin writes him as a friend. Going to frame this note up? What about Shi Fen and Shi Mao. Shi Mao absolutely over the moon when he writes girlfriend. Not so for Shi Fen because, boyfriend?! Not into this gay sh*t!
Episode 6
Shi Mao admires Kai Xin playing basketball. Banzai sees this and imagines himself in this position. Hence he takes drastic action by calling professional basketball players to train him. Yeah, are these guys from NBA?! So with a practice match this Sunday, Banzai works extra hard. On that day, Shi Mao makes lunch for her brother and Kai Xin. Oh dear. Either way, we know he is dead, right? And so he chose… Kai Xin and Shi Fen being wheeled away in an ambulance for food poisoning. With Kai Xin no longer in his team, Banzai steps in as replacement. The teammates don’t think highly of him until he shows how good he is with the shots. The game begins with Banzai playing like a pro. But then he realizes Shi Mao has left and didn’t even watch. His shots still go in so his teammates rejoice with his brilliance. Poor Banzai. Shi Mao noting she’s not interested in basketball unless Kai Xin is in it.
Episode 7
Shi Fen thought You Le confessed to him but it turns out she is noting how nice it would be to go watch the fireworks. Meanwhile Banzai also notices the fireworks event and texts Shi Mao to go with him. Thinking that Kai Xin will be going, she agrees. Subsequently Kai Xin sees a poster of it and texts everyone to go as he has bought the tickets. However this doesn’t sit well with Shi Fen and Banzai because it’s like interrupting their date. Hence Shi Fen lashes back how he is behind in his studies and must not waste time having fun. Go do your homework! A demoralized Kai Xin then texts he isn’t going. This makes Shi Mao sad and since he won’t be turning up, she too changes her mind and tells Banzai she isn’t coming and to give her ticket to Miao Miao. Shi Fen now texts back to You Le, thinking no one will interrupt them. But then she texts back she could see it from her home anyway. I guess he won’t be going too. Banzai gives his tickets to Wan Xing and in the end, only Miao Miao and Wan Xing turn up for it.
Episode 8
Shi Mao agrees to take care of Miao Miao’s cat while she is away. Of course Shi Fen vehemently objects to this as he complains about the mess they leave behind, the hair, the noise, the food, EVERYTHING! NO CATS, PLEASE! However annoyed Shi Mao claims she will look after it herself and use her own money. Definitely won’t bother him. This strains their relationship. Shi Fen trying to look for the slightest excuse to prove she is wrong but Shi Mao carefully cleans up after the kitty. But one day, Shi Fen finally catches it destroying the entire toilet! This is it! Feline is going to pay! However it puts up the cutest face ever so now Shi Fen totally fawns over it. When Miao Miao is here to get her cat back, looks like it is going to be tough because Shi Fen barricades himself with the cat in his room. Nobody is going to separate us! EVER! We’re going to be together forever!
Episode 9
Kai Xin thinks any girl who cooks yummy food for him, he’ll like her. Of course this means Shi Mao is going to try cook some good stuff. Don’t get your hopes up… As we already know, she isn’t good at it as we see her butcher everything with brute force. Worse, she forces her brother to eat everything. Yeah, worse than gorilla feed. That definitely earns him another beating. If you think hell isn’t over yet, Shi Mao will practice all day and this means he must eat them all! Oh God. Hence he calls Kai Xin over. Oh dear. Will Shi Mao ‘kill’ him? Before Kai Xin digs in, Shi Fen sees his sister’s worried face so he decides to do a bit of improvement on the dish. Shi Mao then tries to cover up by saying the food is from her neighbour. When Shi Fen returns, it definitely tastes better. Kai Xin is now in love with whoever this neighbour is!
Episode 10
As Shi Fen’s socks are loose, Banzai thinks he should get new ones instead of skimping and reusing the old ones. Hence Banzai takes him to a shopping centre. However this mall is the one his family owns so he has to hide from Shi Fen the fact the statues of the brothers and the staffs knowing him very well. As they enter a normal clothing shop, the sales girls start hounding them to try on various clothes. They relent and do so. However Shi Fen feels he doesn’t want to buy them and this earns their ire. Oh sh*t. He changes his mind and will do so. Now the sales girls try to sell them more stuffs! Run!
Episode 11
Shi Mao bought a few training equipment. Shi Fen tries the boxing one but finds it too hard to use. Shi Mao demonstrates and look how pro she is! Shi Fen wants one that is easy to use so Shi Mao recommends this equipment whereby a golf ball is connected to the headband? Don’t punch too hard or it’ll come straight back at you. After a bit of practising, Shi Fen gets the hang of it. Once he is a pro, he challenges Shi Mao to a duel. The sister is shocked he could dodge her punches so she gets serious. However Shi Fen soon realizes that all this means nothing because when it comes down to actual strength, Shi Mao is still a brute monster. Pain arriving in 3, 2, 1…
Episode 12
We see the gang taking their final exam. Look at all their different states. Smart kid Wan Xing has done his way ahead of time and even rechecking them. Yeah, just sitting around chilling. Banzai getting his motivation to do his best thinking Shi Mao will like him. Kai Xin is asleep. Shi Fen trying to use the pencil role to determine the answers. Yeah, all the same answers… Miao Miao using the power of her favourite boy band for inspiration going while Shi Mao is too nervous and breaking every pencil she holds! In the end, it is no surprise that Wan Xing is to of his grade while the guys all flop! Yeah, they don’t even care about it as they go hang out. Well, in some degrees I agree because exams aren’t everything in life!
Idiots Among Us…
Well people, I have got to be honest. This season feels a bit underwhelming. I’m not saying it sucks or it is bad but after 5 seasons in, you can feel the ‘strain’ of the whole series already. I know, you’re going to tell me that I said if something isn’t broken, then don’t fix it. Well yeah, maybe now that has come to this stage and the signs are there, in the event if they are going to make another season, perhaps a little shakeup in the formula?
I am not sure if this is the contributing factor that this season feels a bit weaker. Unlike its previous 4 seasons which was helmed by the same animation studio and director, this season changed bow to new ones. Though, I don’t see any obvious difference in the animation quality or style, nor there is any dip in quality. So could it be this also explains the single year hiatus? The previous company and director had no more plans to further continue this series but then the new one decided to take up this project and see how it goes. Take it with a pinch of salt as it is all purely just speculation on my side.
As we all have already seen, the short 5 minute gags play out in similar fashion in previous seasons. Mostly standalone filler episodes just for quick laughs. At this point like I have said, it has become a double edged sword. While it is great to see the same brand of comedy and quirkiness, it now starts to feel stale. Yeah, sometimes I feel the fifth season is actually just season 4.1. Oh heck. Maybe season 3.2. No, perhaps season 2.3. Ah damn, possibly season 1.4! There was nothing new brought to the table especially the romances between the characters. Oh well, I guess it will be still status quo after all. Because once that happens, the story and characters may not be as fun as before.
This means the characters stay particularly the same as in previous seasons and nothing much has developed between them. So I’m not sure if I am supposed to feel disappointed because You Le who supposed has a crush on Shi Fen only has 1 stinking appearance. Like she isn’t very important to begin with and is mostly forgotten after that (and even before as well). Even at Miao Miao has a few appearances although her character still feels insignificant. But for the rest, it’s the same ol’, same ol’. Kai Xin your happy go lucky guy whom Shi Mao still has a crush on. Banzai your rich kid who tries to blend in with our ‘normal’ people and also trying to impress Shi Mao his crush. His brother Wan Xing the little genius. And of course, who could not forget the love-hate relationship of the siblings Shi Fen and Shi Mao. Is it me or do I not notice any violent beat downs from the gorilla woman against her brother? Even if there were, it was probably shown off screen. So maybe that is the reason why this season isn’t as good? Yeah, not seeing smug Shi Fen get a taste of his sister’s punishment takes the fun out of it. Is it no surprise why we continue to love these idiots?
In the end, this fifth season did come to me as a surprise as I am busy figurine out the myriad of animes that I want to watch this season and year and hence this one flew under my radar until a bit later. Even though it is comparably a lot weaker than its previous seasons in terms of the gags and funniness, it is still enjoyable to say the least. Binge watching this in a single seating somehow made me realize that time flew by in an hour (12 episodes x 5 minutes). Yeah. Duh. So until the next season arrives, I’ll be back to scouring other animes to watch. Just like there is no cure for an idiotic brother, there is also no cure for my addiction to watching anime. Oh sorry, I meant therapeutic healing of my life.