Wolf Girl & Black Prince

Episode 12

After Erika travels to Kobe with Kyoya and Reika to meet their mother, she finally has the chance to proclaim, "My boyfriend's family adores me!" and actually mean it to Aki and Marin. The episode starts off with the same joke it ended on last time, which proves utterly pointless and does nothing other than reinforce offensive stereotypes. ("Your mom can't be a cartoony transvestite, can she?!" Then said character plays no important role whatsoever.) Setting that joke aside, the episode is a satisfying, harmless ending to the series.

When it comes to a show revolving around an S&M or borderline emotionally abusive relationship, a satisfying conclusion involves both characters in a consensually happy state. Neither character should have unrealistic expectations of changing the other. Ideally, the sadist half of the relationship would learn about the importance of after-care and consider his partner's feelings even despite his propensity to be selfish and rude. (He can't be all tsun and no dere.) On all counts, Wolf Girl & Black Prince episode 12 delivers.

It turns out that Kyoya wasn't lying when he said he was one of the few boys of his type without a tragic past. He clearly has issues with his parents' divorce, but his closed-off heart is realistic in that light. That smashed snowman? There wasn't a big, devastating reason behind that, either. He doesn't hate his parents, and by the end of the episode, he's made important progress toward opening his heart to his mother again. He has Erika to thank for that, and he seems well aware of it.

Reika is far less grating in this week's episode, and Kyoya's mother is sweet and entertaining enough to make her late introduction feel worthwhile. Erika gets to show off her scheming wolf side, and although Kyoya is a stick-in-the-mud and overprotective as usual, he shows Erika kindness more than once. A trip to a local festival provides just enough tension and drama to suit the humble setting, and Erika even has a moment to admit that she expects and accepts Kyoya's cold attitude. It's good to go out on the note that Erika has no hope of changing him and that she's satisfied with how things are. (Still, she does perhaps laud his "kind side" too much when talking to Reika.) In the final scene, Kyoya's still domineering, but in a sexy way. Perfect!

The episode is lacking in humor, but it does tickle the funny bone a few times. Thanks to the complete lack of melodrama, Wolf Girl & Black Prince episode 12 winds up a pleasant farewell to the anime adaptation. If these types of relationships aren't your thing, there isn't a lot about the Erika and Kyoya dynamic by the end that will change your mind. Still, while the series may have never been completely original, it was fresh enough to make it a worthwhile watch for shojo romance fans of this ilk. The show had a lot of jokes that landed and the two leads were rarely irritating, which are two major points in its favor. Wolf Girl & Black Prince shines among shojo romance of the "moody boy and Plain Jane" type, thanks largely to the titular wolf girl being consistently entertaining and possessing an original personality.

Rating: B+

Wolf Girl & Black Prince is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for nearly two decades.