REVIEW: ‘Spy x Family’ Season 2 Episode 3 – “Mission and Family/The Elegant Bondman/The Heart of a Child/Waking Up”

Just as last week’s episode focused on side characters, Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 3 continues the trend by spending the bulk of its time catching up with Yuri (Kenshô Ono, Summer Time Rendering), Yor’s (Saori Hayami) little brother, as he pursues spies and others who threaten or strive to undermine his country.

Yuri is a character that has provoked a lot of discussion. In the past, his singular fixation on his sister has left many viewers uncomfortable with his personality. Much of the slapstick humor built around him has even fallen flat a times, leaving the character with little goodwill and a lot of awkwardness. While Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 3 can’t completely avoid these elements of the character, it does manage to expand upon him, giving viewers something to remember about him other than the creepy levels of affection he has towards his sister.

The episode opens with Yuri running surveillance on a trio who appear to be selling state secrets. The character is clearly in his element as the tense moments of apprehension do little to shake his disposition as the arrests get made. After a job well done, we see Yuri being immediately given another assignment. He is to gather intel and then apprehend a citizen who is believed to be selling false stories that aim at undermining their country to the West. Yuri’s feelings about the man are clear, as he projects his disgust for someone who would hurt his country through both his words and clearly displayed body language.

However, Yuri’s assumptions about his target and his motives come to be the central focus of Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 3 core story. As Yuri listens in on the man’s musings at home, he learns of his financial struggles to support his ailing father and how the situation has worsened since losing his former job at a newspaper. A job he lost apparently because he dared to write things he thought would help his country, but were presumably disparaging to the current regime.

As these revelations play out, it is easy to see the story take Yuri in one of two directions. He could blindly ignore his query’s reasons for being what he is, or he could empathize with them, seeing the man’s love for both his family and country reflected in his own. Happily, the narrative chooses to take him down the latter path.

Despite still arresting the man, Yuri makes a point to do it in as kind a way as possible, despite this being in stark contrast to State Security’s usual methodology. He and his subordinates wait for the man outside his home, so as not to cause a scene in front of his family, and as the man is led away in handcuffs, Yuri promises to do what he can to make sure his father receives some sort of financial aid to help him make ends meet. These kinds of actions allow Yuri to have some measure of positive energy around him, which is a pleasant change from the norm.

After the serious and emotional nature of its core narrative, Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 3 follows it up with a trio of shorts that lean into the charming humor the series is known for. Poking fun at themes like how spies are portrayed in pop culture, how mystifying the minds of children are, and the difficulties of some to wake up in the morning, these sequences are all equally humorous as they explore their own themes and concepts.

While all three are good, the easy stand out is “The Heart of a Child.” Focusing on Anya (Atsumi Tanezaki), the short looks at the peculiarities of being a child, and how they can blend in with Anya’s unique awareness of her world thanks to her psychic abilities. Anya’s expressive nature is at top form during this short, as her terror and joy are given all the love and attention the series always provides them.

Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 3 manages to stick a strong landing. Despite opting to focus on one of its less loved characters, it uses the opportunity to build Yuri up into a bit more than he was prior. Combined with some closing humor, this episode delivers a strong blend of the elements fans have come to love about it.

Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 3 is available now on Crunchyroll.