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…well, sort of.
…well, sort of.
Don’t get me wrong, I still REALLY enjoyed Spy x Family, but it’s like watching something, not quite being able to articulate what you didn’t like about it…and then watching the series that shows you what that was!
In any case, I hope this helps with the Buddy Daddies appreciation, because it deserves it! I hope you all enjoy this slightly “different” video.
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
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33 comments
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! The points you've raised are almost exactly the same I've thought of while watching Buddy Daddies. The ones about characterization are especially important to me. I think it's the testament to the writers' talent that Buddy Daddies made me feel like I was watching the struggles of a budding (get it?) family in each and every little casual conversation between the leads and the ongoing quest to build Miri a safe and loving environment.
Where Spy x family stumbled is, I think, the act of balancing the family and the spy subplots because they are fundamentally at odds with each other. The secret lives of the trio are actively hindering the family dynamic, but instead of it being the main conflict of the series, the spy side ends up overshadowing the development of the family. It doesn't help that Yor is severely underutilised in the 1st season. Aside from the few instances where Loid or Yor talk at each other (instead of WITH each other), the example being Yor telling Loid how to approach helping Anya study better, they really feel like almost strangers stuck performing a role, which is the point of the narrative, but that doesn't mean it isn't a little disappointing.
It's almost as if Loid and Yor are supposed to be the roommates who are stuck raising a kid because of a series of coincidences, and not Kazuki and Rei whose relationship started deepening the moment they shared a fraction of screentime and who took to the whole parenting thing like champs.
Interesting video! Please, do more stuff like that ♡
i agree with this a lot ^^;; i dont know what it is exactly but as buddy daddies was airing, it resonated with me a lot more. i’m only halfway through the video but i’m enjoying it! i hope you do more videos like this =)
Oh how i understand you. While I love sxf there was too little actual family bonding content unfortunately. And same, for now to see damianya progress it makes me more interested than to see twiyor progress, which is sad cause I was very interested to see spy x assassin dynamic.
And yeah buddy daddies gave me everything & more despite show never directly saying that kazui & rei are together, their bond and their equal love for miri was enough for me
Eh, well everyone has their own tastes, but I wanted to say that I appreciate what Spy x Family is doing. Making a light-hearted comedy that is, not everything needs high stakes or to be super dark. I mean nothing wrong w/preferring one over the other, just that the tone is really subjective.
But yes I do agree that the lack of plot/character progression is a problem. Like serialization isn't better than episodic shows, but based on the 1st 2 eps it seemed SxF would be going somewhere.
Watching both made me realise that Buddy Daddies got a whole lot of plot in 12 episodes and felt like it was a 24-episode season. Meanwhile, Spy x Family felt like the content that could fit into 12 episodes if they cut the anime-only filler. I just wish they would stick to the manga from here. 🤷♀️
I saw the first episode of Spy x Family when it came out and it didn't click at all, Buddy Daddies clicked immediately and had me eagerly waiting each week.
That's all, i can't compare to SxP cuz i haven't seen it and don't really want to see it anymore 😛
Nice video!
Agree 100%. I watched Spy Family first with my adult kids and then they said, hey, Buddy Daddies, what about it, and I sniffed and said SF ripoff! But I watched it, got hooked, shed tears, wrote fic…did none of that with SF and BD is now hands down my favourite of the two.
I have to say did not like either of them 😅. Both felt very surface level to me….maybe was not in the mood for anything lighthearted…would have to give them a try later
The more i watched Spy x Family the more i… got bored.
By what i've seen during 25 episodes that show is carried on solely by Anya's cuteness, cause the main plot was, sadly, almost stuck from start to end.
Loid – Yor relationship: moved just a little bit around the end of the show.
Loid's mission: same as above… no, even worse, moved just an inch in the last episode.
Yor's brother: we met him and then? Useless…
So, what's left? funny skits, cute Anya, totally unrelated episodes and nothing more, and the main problem is that you never have the feeling that everything is moving on in a cohesive manner.
Unpopular opinion:
Spy x Family is too overrated, at least for those 25 episodes.
This video was so much fun! I loved the new format, though I did miss seeing your reactions to everything you were saying XD
Since the moment that you announced this video, I've been waiting for it very impatiently because I feel the same way. To say that I agree with everything you just said would be a huge understatement.
I remember seeing the clips for Spy x Family before the show came out and being very excited about the prospect of it. A comedy that seemed to have a lot of heart and the preciousness of a found family, with all the roughness and feelings that can bring, sounded like a lot of fun. That was not what we got, though, was it? I mean, it is a comedy, that bit is true, but they never really have come to feel like a found family to me and it feels remarkably hollow at points. Though that may be unfair to say going only from the first season, as I have not read the manga either, and while I was excited to get to it initially at this point DON'T want to read the manga anymore.
Just, I'm so sad to say that the longer I think about Spy x Family the more disillusioned I become of it.
For a long time I gave it a lot of thought and couldn't quite pinpoint what, exactly, about Spy x Family was bothering me and then I stumbled into a Tumbler post that elucidated me. And it's just the idea that while it is primarily a comedy the show is trying to do SO MANY THINGS at the same time that it does none of them satisfactorily. It's trying to be a spy drama, a comedy, a slice of life, a mystery, and the wild change of genre every other episode, sometimes BETWEEN THE SAME EPISODE threw me off for a loop and lost me. Which is something that gets somewhat exemplified by how in Cour 2 we had all these vignettes and not a cohesive episode or arc.
Buddy Daddies, on the other hand, had one theme and fleshed it out impressively. It is a drama about these two hit men becoming fathers, and it stays that. Sure, there's comedy and levity because parenthood brings those moments in life to light beautifully but you never feel lost as to what the show is supposed to be.
I have to disagree that because Spy x Family is a comedy it should get a pass in weak characterization or character arcs, or because it is structured in multiple snippets by episode; because I've watched other comedies whose structure is to have a few sketches per episode that pack a punch and their skits have weight to them, between the comedy, and ultimately amount to a cohesive plot and really powerful arcs. It can be done. I've seen it. Spy x Family just didn't succeed in the landing, if you ask me.
While I've mentioned it before it bears repeating, Buddy Daddies was, to me, what I thought Spy x Family was intending to be – from the promotional content they released and trailers and, even, its first Cour.
Do I hate Spy x Family? No, it can be cute and entertaining enough. Was I, personally, let down by it? Yes. Do I prefer Buddy Daddies? Any day.
Ultimately, I'm glad a show like Buddy Daddies could come out and fill that hole I had for this exact kind of entertainment.
Of course, this is just my very PERSONAL OPINION and I don't mind if someone thinks differently, I think that would be awesome! XD
This is very manga vs anime fan discourse to me. I would get it from the anime tbh like i see that, but as a manga reader spy x family is one of my favorites. I def agree they take things too slow, is not a pace for everyone, but the manga most def makes you feel a lot in certain storylines. From Damian’s home situation, Loid’s origins, and just how the war has affected people outside of the main characters. However it is not every chapter because again, is a very slow pace. I would say I recommend the manga tho
I only could go through episode 5 of Spy Family It looked too simplistic and childish, and I wonder why someone like you were reacting to but well maybe the show was good but not for me… I feel the same with some new series you are reacting too lately haha.
There is a lot of good content you should be wasting your time with
just saying. 😬
I watched SxF when it came out. I like it, but it didn’t really scratch the itch that Buddy Daddies did.
SxF is more a slice of life comedy. It's not good for marathoning, or you'll get bored fast because it gets nowhere. It's fine to read or watch it once in a while.
Honestly, I had similar feelings about the second cour of SpyxFamily. It felt disjointed, but not in a way that lent itself to furthering the plot. Plus, I found that Yor is sorely underutilized as a character. Cour 1 introduced her as such a badass and powerful woman, one that could easily take Loid on in a fight. In cour 2, I felt Yor was an afterthought, the comic relief, the "silly woman who can't cook (cue the misogyny)" while Loid was the "can do anything well and look hot while doing it" character. And that sucked because Yor is probably my favorite character, and I feel we know more about Yuri's life than about hers. Buddy Daddies, however, had me invested in Kazuki, Rei, and Miri equally. You've hit the nail on the head that BD made sure that even if K,R,and M weren't all in the scene at the same time, that whatever they were doing made sense with the overall plot. SpyxFamily lacked that kind of narrative cohesion, and it translates to the family dynamic being slightly unbelievable. I still like SxF, and I want to see what the movie and next season bring, but I'd trade it for five more minutes, an OVA, or even another season of Buddy Daddies.
“Erm actually mid daddies Is better than spy x family” NERDDDD 🤓🤓🤓🤓
Hi again, nice video!!! I agree, I still love Spy x Family but I also feel that its popularity has the potential to make it fail harder, I hope next season there's progression, but honestly Buddy Daddies finale has really set a high standard for this kind of anime. Still Loid and Your can step on me lol
Fair enough. I never thought of comparing the 2 but for me I enjoyed SxF more. Maybe due to liking the characters there more but I still liked the characters of BD.
I think the issue is that Buddy Daddies didn't really ruin Spy x Family as much as it did expand its flaws. Spy x Family focused TOO much on comedy and not enough on the plot, which leads to comedy exhaustion and less investment in the series overall because there's only so much you can do with comedy. It's a shame they did this, because dipping into the darker aspects of the plot would've given the series so much more to play with, like character developments. There could've been a focus on Yor and her struggles as an assassin, such as her needing to say, kill a father and break apart a family. There could've been a focus on Loid and Anya and they could've done a similar Miri and Rei relationship where Anya helps Loid live the childhood he never got to because of the war. It's very disappointing that all these ideas basically got tossed out the window for the short-term benefits of comedy. Buddy Daddies isn't a 'better' Spy x Family; they're different shows and should be treated as such, but comparing the two does make Spy x Family seem lackluster because the audience sees the POTENTIAL that they missed out on that show in Buddy Daddies.
Tbh I was so on board with both shows mainly because of the dynamics between yor/Loid and the "daddies" lol. But if you take the romance aspect that keeps you on the edge of your seat away, even with the action part, it becomes kinda boring and that's exactly what happened with spy family where after few episodes there was close to none progression between the main leads. So I was exited for buddy daddies to fix that, especially given the fact a queer romance in this setting looked revolutionary almost, but then I learned it was just another case of untold gay romance. Classic anime queerbating. At that point I didn't care any more and I didn't even bother to start it because if spy family (openly leading to romance) couldn't keep its promise, how could a show that never even made a promise fulfill it? I'm just tired of this bs. Just give me queer stories in anime that are not cheap porn already
could be considered spoilers but not really:
even the manga at this point feels like filler now, last chapter things finally kinda started to move a little but as you said, yor again is barely even involved, and while there has been an arc to show yor´s abilities it was also set up like an aside from the main story, where it had no real consequences in the current plot. It almost feels like the whole point of yor in the story was to introduce her brother to have a tangible antagonist for loyd and it's incredibly dissapointing.
well said!!
Great video essay !
I’ve not completed Buddy Daddies but it makes me want to. I have a similar problem which is possibly due to the comedy genre. Not only SpyxFamily but other comedies become more intersting for me when there is a plot, when the comedy isn’t here just for the laugh, just for pure comedy but when there is balance.
One of the manga i like started as a gag manga (if that’s how we say it), but I really become invested when it has become more serious, with stakes, plot and consequences. But does comedy lack of these as a genre ? I don’t know.
Anyway, thanks for the video essay. It was fun viewing your thought in this format !
not a spoiler per se but mention of a spoiler (more like a rumor) on SpyxFamily
Also, there is this info that could explain some things if true about, we can say, the writing
When buddy daddies came out, i was rewatcing spy x family because my parents started it, and i found myself thinking the same things as you. I initially really loved sxf and i think it's because of the concept, but in my opinion buddy daddies used and imrpoved that same concept. Even the full 22 minute episode where Kazuki & Rei had to find Miri at the zoo because she forgot her lunch was more entertaining and meaningful to me than the short portion of episode where Yor brought lunch to Anya while she was at school.
And also, I liked how realistic Miri is! As a 16 year old boy who never planned on having kids and is questioning my sexuality, I found that Buddy Daddies actually sparked an intense desire for me to have children, and it was cool to see that it's still a realistic goal no matter what my future situation may be
I lost my interest in spy x family when that white haired woman came on. And that they focused on Anya more than the spy job. Buddy daddies did focus on family. But I really enjoyed it
Buddy Daddies give me all the things I expected from Spy x Family uwu
13:10 An entire video? Um yes please.
Spy family is a show I could turn on any day and enjoy. It's pretty light overall and the humor and cartoonishness of their ridiculous setup never fails to make me smile. Buddy daddies was a little too real for me at times. Sometimes I don't want to deal with a screaming child and all the negatives that come with it. The same applies to having to watch it. Usually I'm more for the more realistic and gritty series and detest filler eps but Spy Family fills that slapstick humor hole that I'd get when I watched cartoons on Saturday. For a show get me to place love on things I normally dislike, well that's a huge win in my book. The rarer moments where Spy x Family does take a moment to take itself enough seriously, you do feel those moments. Buddy Daddies didn't ruin Spy x Family for me, it just made me realize how a simple change in tone, realism, and the narrative direction of a story can drastically change a show when two plots are extremely similar. As long as Spy x Family continues to put out quality content, I'd happy watch it for the long haul.
For me personally, I do prefer Buddy Daddies over Spyxfamily mainly because you are correct, over its narrative, characterization and overall appeal.
A lot may disagree but for a 24 episode in a season, Spyxfamily has done less than Buddy Daddies, a 12 episode season which is volumes of how much plot centetered and overall satisfying Buddy Daddies is.
I do agree with you, the stakes aren't high with Spyxfamily at all. It's refreshing that the anime doesn't make us have a heartattack each episode lol but it felt really bland, with Buddy Daddies I was at the edge of my seat each episodes. To compare the finale, Spyxfamily doesn't have the best finale, it honestly doesn't feel like a finale at all. The only reason why I liked it it's because Damian is my fav character. However, Buddy Daddies finale is really good, a darker tone much more impactful and almost made me tear up ngl lol.
The characterization. I prefer Kazuki and Rei over Loid and Yor. Loid and Yor are a good couple, however they lack in a sense of their romance revolves more comical than it is climactic. Kazuki and Rei's relationship is far more endearing becaude they're fleshed out without making it seem more overwhelming. I genuinely do think that some fans are invested in Loid and Yor is because they're both very attractive and we never really got to see a more couple that are both equal (in terms of strength that is) Rei and Yor are the clear comparison since they are both assassins, however I do prefer Rei because he gives us more assassin scenes. I get that it showcases Yor is gullable and a bit naive but she never really felt like an assasin except for the comical too strong scenes.
Miri and Anya are the main comparison, and I agree, both of them are really annoying. However I do prefer Miri because her portrayal of a 4 year old is more real and it reminds me of my younger sister when she was her age. Anya maybe adorable and has a better character design, there are times where I just can't stand her. There are times where I don't feel invested in her and feel so underwhelmed because of her attitude and overall presence sometimes which they need to work on.
The overall appeal for me is like comparing a vanilla milkshake and a chocolate caramel something with peanuts, however remove the peanuts because I'm allergic. But I think that's the point, Spyxfamily feels very bland, it's good yes and I can see why it went mainstream, but it's just not good as time comes by like tasting a vanilla ice cream over and over. Buddy daddies, is that dessert that not everyone likes but much more enjoyable, atleast when you don't taste it always it still tastes as amazing. For me, it just seems that the difference between Spyxfamily is that it's episodic while Buddy Daddies is climactic. I enjoy both tho and I'm really looking forward to s2 of Spyxfamily and willing to rewatch Buddy Daddies for the gem that it is!
Also I didn't notice it was you since I saw the channel in the description lol Guess I was so used to your face every video lol. You should do more videos like this, your editing was amazing and the explanation was so on point and so nice to listen to. I'm so glad you're being honest, I really appreciate that ❤️
I don't think Kazuki and Rei have a spark or any romantic subtext in the anime, but hey anyone can fantasize and ship them.
But I like that they keep their relationship completely platonic in the series.
Rei was more like Kazuki's teenage kid experiencing his robbed childhood with Miri, which is a total squeeze in my heart. (like when she taught him how to ride see-saw)
Rei's arc in the series is more about self dicovery and basically character development while Kazuki is more than happy that Rei is starting to get responsible and toning down his shut-in lifestyle.
While SxF feels like it's trying to hit every appealing genre that anime could offer. It is comedy, shounen action and romance which I think is making the storytelling less focused on the main plot.
In the end I still agree with most of your review and indeed BD delivers more on family dynamic aspect than SxF.
Btw, Buddy Daddies will have drama CD which focuses more on Kazuki and Rei's lifestyle before they became roomates and after they meet each other.
Idk, I feel like SpyXFamily is just getting started. Like it’s making an actual series, not just being a stand-alone book.
If that makes sense?
Think of it like comparing a series like Percy Jackson or Harry Potter to more Stand-Alone books that are self-contained.
If you read the first book in, say, Percy Jackson and you don’t read the rest of the original series and then you compare it to a stand alone book, is it REALLY a fair comparison?
Buddy Daddies is like a really good book. Like…. Well, I actually can’t think of any right now because I like reading series of books for some reason-
SpyXFamily, if it keeps improving like it looks like it’s going to, is like Percy Jackson. (Sorry I keep using that series it’s my favorite, and it’s a really good comparison!)
In the solo-book, you get your characters, you get your plot, you get set up, pay off, and it ends.
In a series, you have an overarching story with smaller, self-contained stores inside of it. It wouldn’t have felt as good if Percy and Annabeth kissed after the 1st or 2nd book, right? Since, one, they would have been kids- and two, they had only known each other for a summer or two.
All of the other points? Completely valid! I don’t see any problems.
But I genuinely think that it is unfair to judge a story based on its length and its pacing when it’s not finished. And especially comparing it to one that IS finished.
You are comparing a story with set up and pay off to a story that is 95% set up and teasing. They have the same overall plot structure, but their methodology is so different that it’s almost like comparing Apples to Oranges in a way.
Anyway- great review! I need to get Buddy Daddies a watch!
While this doesn't just apply to SxF and BD, since it's what's being discussed it applies just fine and works as a good example.
First, judging/critiquing anything via comparison is just unfair. Unfair to both the show/movie/book etc and whatever you're comparing it to. It's fine if there are similarities and you want to point them out but basing your judgement on them is just rather unfair and unproductive. Rather they should be judged on their own so as to let little bias slip in as possible.
Second, when it comes to wants/expectations that you may have. Honestly it's best to go into anything with as little expectations as possible because a lot of times you're just setting yourself up for disappointment and whatever you're watching/reading is not always obligated to do what you want. For example with these two shows(SxF and BD), they're both different shows and different types of shows at that; going into SxF expecting more than just silly fun will have you feeling disappointed in certain aspects of course as it's not that type of show. Now if it was a different type of show then it may very well have delivered in the other aspects that felt lacking to a lot of people, but then it would most likely be missing a lot of what makes it what it is and would have been an entirely different show at that point. On the flip side BD would also be a different show if it focused on the things SxF did and would be missing its key elements as well.
At the end of the day whatever media you're consuming should be judged for what they are and what they offer, not what they could offer or what you want them to. Of course you can talk about those things but they shouldn't be what you base your criticisms on.