REVIEW: ‘So I’m a Spider, So What?’ Episode 6 – “The Hero, and the Demon Lord?”

So I’m a Spider, So What Episode 6 goes by fast but sets up a lot to look forward to in the show’s overarching plot. The anime from Millepensee adapts the light novel series by Okina Baba. It follows a heroine when her entire class is reincarnated into an RPG-style fantasy world. Some of her classmates are princes, mages, and even dragons…our protagonist not so much. She is reincarnated into a baby spider’s body but is determined to level up and make the best of things. The anime is part of the Crunchyroll Originals lineup.

Something that this reviewer appreciates is that every fight feels intense. The protagonist is smart, and she has to strategize with every single creature. She actually puts her video game knowledge to use believably. It is great to hear her talk so matter of factly about which of her skills are “broken” and calculating MP and SP levels. So I’m a Spider, So What? Episode 6 has the heroine face a dungeon eel this time around. The event itself becomes somewhat routine for the show, as she defeats the creature, levels up, and eats it. Once again, she gets to evolve. What is comical here is the dramatic irony. The protagonist is excited about her new powers, but it is clear to the audience that they are clearly more extreme than she realizes. Her new form has scythes for front legs!

Additionally, So I’m a Spider, So What? Episode 6 introduces the hero’s party. Julius, Schlain’s older brother, is journeying into the dungeon to take down a “spider problem.” While the fight itself is standard, what makes this part of the episode really compelling is the audience sees a glimpse of what could be for our protagonist. Obviously, there are many different evolution routes for her to take, but there are definite similarities between the spider monsters serving The Demon Lord and our heroine. It sets up the possibility for unintentional conflict between the former classmates, and that is the kind of dramatic tension the show lacked prior.

Julius’ party doesn’t get much screen time outside of the fight. They all seem pretty archetypical and bland. That is the weakest point of So I’m a Spider, So What? Episode 6 and the show overall, aside from the protagonist. The characters are lacking development and relatively uninteresting. The moments with the protagonist are, as always, an absolute joy. Hearing Aoi Yūki perform a literal Tarzan yell while the protagonist swings across webs was tempting this reviewer to forego everything else and give the episode a perfect score for that moment alone.

So I’m a Spider, So What? Episode 6 is going to be great for fans who are already enjoying themselves and will happily follow the protagonist’s antics. It is another stellar performance by Aoi Yūki. The other characters are still dull and uninteresting, even the new ones briefly introduced. Where this week excels is in the stoking of dramatic irony and foreshadowing multiple possible outcomes for our beloved heroine.

So I’m a Spider, So What Episode 6 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

Olive St. Sauver

Olive is an award-winning playwright with BAs in English and Theatre. At BWT she is a manga and anime critic, with an additional focus on mental health portrayals in media and true crime.