I want to briefly talk about Anya. far from being a throwaway gimmick her telepathy is a big part of what makes the series work. having a little girl who is privy to all secrets restructures the usual comedic/dramatic tension that comes from this sort of Mr. & Mrs. Smith arrangement; instead of the fear of discovery or mission failure, I’m usually more invested in Anya’s fear that she will be abandoned when her not real family is broken up. she is consciously supporting both of her parents in maintaining the ruse because she doesn’t want to be left behind. also, by this volume we can clearly see that she is getting to know Loid and Yor better. she knows how to trick them, but also how to allay their concerns and cheer them up. she wasn’t granted immediate and total knowledge into their motivations and worldviews. through telepathy and her relationship with them she has been piecing it together over time. her vocabulary and strategic thinking have also hugely improved since her introduction, which is realistic given that her brilliant parents are trying to support her in a cutthroat academic environment. in short, she’s developing and not just a cutesy cartoon. and her line delivery/faces are still the single funniest part of the series.

As expected following the big boat arc we get some goofy interludes: Becky has a crush on Loid (very funny) and a setup for a Franky/Fiona pairing (insulting drivel). these bits move the story forward in little ways, which I like to see, and are (mostly) charming. I want to kiss Bond on the lips.