REVIEW: ‘Spy x Family,’ Episode 10 – “The Great Dodgeball Plan”

Spy x Family is an action/comedy shonen anime produced by WIT Studio and CloverWorks. With Yor’s brother off the couple’s scent, for now, the series shifts its gaze back to Anya as she prepares to face off against her biggest challenge yet, a dodgeball tournament, in Spy x Family Episode 10.

The word is out among the students of Eden College elementary school class. The MVP of the upcoming dodgeball tournament will receive a Stella Star. With every student hungry for this acknowledgment of their achievement, the competition looks to be fierce and this is doubly true for Anya. Knowing that world peace rests on her, Anya throws her all into setting herself up for success. And as luck would have it, her mom turns out to be a killer shot.

Spy x Family Episode 10 splits its time between Anya’s activities at school and an excellently crafted training sequence that sees Yor stepping in to give her daughter some help in both physical fitness and throwing technique. And after seeing Yor wind up and throw a dodgeball, I’m fairly certain she could give a Saiyan a severe concussion with one of her fastballs. The entire training sequence is easily the highlight of this episode. Yor’s constant enthusiasm is almost as adorable as Anya’s determination. But at the end of the day, she is only four. Despite some struggles and setbacks, Anya steps into the gym confident in her new dodgeball skills.

While the focus of the episode is Anya, Spy x Family Episode 10 also spends some time fleshing out Damian’s motivations. While these moments go a long way to helping humanize the often snotty brat, at the end of the episode he’s still a snotty little brat. And as one would expect, the episode culminates in the dodgeball tournament. The best element of this sequence is in how it delivers the plans of some of the students. Action anime-style “super attacks” are trotted out with hilarious visual delivery. Combine that with the perfect usage of Anya’s special gift and this sequence assures Spy x Family Episode 10 ends on a strong note. To quote Anya’s teacher, “Truly elegant.”

While the antics of Anya and her classmates deliver plenty of entertainment, these moments are only able to land as well as they do thanks to their unexpected opponent. Their opposing class’s star student is certainly an intimidating character. Seeing what they are capable of doing with one of those flying bruise factories they call dodgeballs, I almost feel like Anya’s entire class deserves stars just for surviving.

As one would expect, all of these elements land so splendidly thanks to the visuals. This episode leans completely into the over-the-top action, despite the mundane nature of the game at the story’s center. From the first time we see Yor wind up a throw until the final brutal dodgeball flies, the visuals deliver speed, power, and hilarity in every throw.

Spy x Family Episode 10 is phenomenal. It delivers plenty of laughs and action as Anya confronts her newest challenge as only she can. Combine this with strong supporting roles from other cast members and hilarious visuals and you have a masterpiece of comical entertainment.

Spy x Family Episode 10 is streaming on Crunchyroll.