REVIEW: ‘Spy x Family’ Season 3 Feels Fresh While Remaining Faithful

Spy x Family Season 3, produced by WIT Studio and CloverWorks and based on the manga written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo, follows the continuing adventures of Loid (Takuya Eguchi, Mashle: Magic and Muscles), Anya (Atsumi Tanezaki, My Dress-Up Darling), and Yor Forger (Saori Hayami, Metaphor: ReFantazio) as they overcome struggles, face dangers, and grow as the family they pretend to be. But what could be dangerous enough to challenge the world’s greatest spy, the deadliest assassin, and a child telepath? 

This season finds new ground to explore with its trio of stars, while not losing sight of what has built the series’ popularity from the start. The joy, humor, and occasional action that blend the spy-centric narrative with its found family heart are delivered in ways that feel fresh and interesting, even as it maintains the charm that has always been its strongest characteristic. 

Perhaps the most striking narrative beat for many in Spy x Family Season 3 will be the early episodes devoted to Loid’s past. The two-part flashback reveals why Loid is so determined to protect his home, and why he’ll go so far to prevent war in general. From childhood to being a young soldier, the story reveals a lot about the character. 

These episodes breathe a powerful degree of soul into the season. Pain, like what is present here, isn’t a normal element of the series, but it works beautifully for this occasion. It showcases youth, how the pains of the past can impact it, and how some can find the strength to elevate themselves beyond the cycles of violence that so many become chained to. 

Spy x Family Season 3 balances dark humor and hijinks just right.

After the emotional roller coaster of the early season, Spy x Family Season 3 begins a skillful dance as it goes between action and heart, passing between the thematic elements with incredible ease. Both within individuals’ stories and in their interplay, the direction always manages to balance the two sides of its story, so the two never undercut each other but rather enhance each other. 

Dangerous situations like the hijacking of an Eden Hall field trip are given their due drama while never becoming so dark that it feels out of place with the rest of the show. Clever writing choices use plot elements to create plausible reasons for humor to persist in these dangerous moments, allowing it to exist without ruining the scene. 

Along with memorable stories comes an expansive look at the larger cast. Side characters like Fiona (Ayane Sakura, Oshi No Ko), Handler (Yûko Kaida, The Grimm Variations), and Franky (Hiroyuki Yoshino,  New Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt) all get their share of the spotlight, bringing fresh energy to the primarily Forger-centric narrative. 

Spy x Family Season 3 doesn’t make enough progress towards Operation Stryx.

Most notable of these characters, though, is Fiona. Her presence in the final pair of episodes in Spy x Family Season 3 is legendary. Often overshadowed by Yor, Fiona is given a chance to truly step into the limelight, delivering a brutal beatdown on an enemy that highlights not only her strength, but tenacity and devotion as well. 

Bringing all of the action, drama, and hijinks to life is the series’ trademark stellar animation. Explosive expressions, tearful moments, and boncracking strikes are all given equal due as the art makes each own the moments they play out in. 

Despite an overall great string of 13 episodes, Spy x Family Season 3 does suffer from a couple of setbacks. The biggest is the minimal progress towards Operation Stryx. While a new avenue of potential progress does open up here, thanks to Yor’s incidental meeting with an important person, little actual forward progress is made. This leaves the core concept of the series as an element that is talked about far more than it is acted on. 

Spy x Family Season 3 adds just enough to keep feeling fresh.

The other noteworthy problem is another ongoing issue, although it sees some improvement in this season. That is the generally unfortunate presence of Yor’s sister-obsessed brother, Yuri (Kenshô Ono, Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective).

This insufferable stain on the show’s otherwise sterling cast does see some improvement this season. Being brought into the narrative more frequently as a State Security agent than Yor’s brother gives him chances to exist outside his disturbing fixation. However, when that familiar element does rear its head, it’s still as obnoxious as it’s always been. 

Spy x Family Season 3 delivers a generous helping of what the series has always been known for, with just enough new seasoning to make it feel fresh. New situations and a willingness to take the focus outside the Forger family allow the show to regain some of its original strength without losing sight of what it’s loved for. Even if Stryx still feels like a stalled concept, it’s hard to complain too much about the series not rushing towards an eventual ending when there is still this much fun and creativity to be had.

Spy x Family Season 3 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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