So I'm a Spider, So What?

Episode 13

After the events of the final episode – and really, all of the first season – there's something satisfying about seeing Kumoko's first steps out into the world, treacherous as they are.

She's been working so hard to finally escape those dangerous underground caves, and now… she's free. Well, not before finding yet another literal wall standing between her actual freedom, but she thankfully escapes without a scratch, though the same can't be said of the soldiers fighting outside the caves.

Most of this episode is spent with Kumoko frolicking about, breathing in all that fresh, above-ground air as she meanders around the realm; she even considers going to a town for a snack, as a spider girl does. Of course, she quickly reconsiders this, largely because humans probably won't jive with a spider monster waltzing in for a treat.

However, her desire for food is quickly forgotten when she discovers that she has a new evolution that will grant her a partially human form. Naturally, Kumoko is all about looking a bit more human, and attempts to transform… only to get interrupted by her gnawing hunger.

Hardcut to the present with the humans, who are having struggles of their own. Things are growing tenser with the threat of further conflict on the horizon, which seems more and more imminent by the day. The solution? Send Shun to the frontlines to fight as the capital-H Hero, despite him still being a student. After all, there's no one better to send to the front than an actual Hero, especially now that Julius is dead.

The humans also seek the advice and aid of the Elves, who urge them to act with vigilance. Potimas cautions that the Demon Lord is quite formidable, and will need to be carefully dealt with. This warning also extends to the church, who Potimas clearly doesn't trust. Ultimately it's clear that whatever happens next, the humans will need to act wisely to avoid further setbacks against the Demon Lord. Things get left with no real resolution and a few tasty cliffhangers, all of which promise exciting developments for the episodes to come.

So I'm a Spider, So What? continues to be a really fun series to watch. Kumoko remains my favorite arachnid in all of anime. Coupled with Yuki Aoi's stellar voice acting, Kumoko is honestly one of the best isekai leads I've seen in a long, long time. She's genuinely funny, utterly relatable, and still offers a pretty unique P.O.V. into this fantastical world. I just hope that she retains her charming personality as the story gets more plotty and gritty going ahead.

I'd say that episode 13 is a bit less serious than the season-ender, despite Kumoko's ongoing rebellion against her Mother and the looming threat of the Demon Lord. Kumoko's a lot more light-hearted despite being in a sizable fight in the back half of the episode. That being said, it's becoming quite clear that there's fresh danger on the horizon.

Despite having grown so much since the first half of season 1, I sense that Kumoko will need to be stronger still if she's ever going to have an easier time in this world. If she's able to upgrade to a humanoid form, I imagine she'll become an even more formidable threat. Whether that's going to be for better or for worse is still kind of up in the air, though I'm leaning towards her actually being a serious problem somewhere down the line.

As an anime-only viewer, I'm really looking forward to seeing where Kumoko's story goes, as well as the reincarnated students. I'd say expect some pretty dramatic twists and turns now that she's free to roam the rest of the world, especially with our new, comedically intense, pop-rock ED. And even though the CG hasn't grown on me quite yet, I found myself looking forward to more fight scenes with Kumoko, just to hear her witticisms and see her grow. I'm definitely eager to see what her potential humanoid form might look like, if she ever gets enough food in her belly to be able to focus on transforming. Consider me invested in Kumoko's ongoing adventures!

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So I'm a Spider, So What? is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Mercedez is a pop culture critic and writer who also writes at Anime Feminist and But Why Tho?, where she gushes about idols anytime someone lets her. You can find her on her Twitter.