Reirin is the highly esteemed “butterfly” of the inner court, loved by all who know her. Keigetsu, on the other hand, is detested by everyone and given the unsavory nickname of “court sewer right.” When talk spreads that there will be a special comet appearing, Reirin hopes everyone’s wishes come true on that special night. However, it seems not all wishes have good intent, especially a bold one from Keigetsu: Reirin not only finds that Keigetsu has switched their bodies with her magic, but she is also scheduled to be executed!

The villainess anime I have desperately been waiting for, and it did not disappoint! As a huge fan of the manga, I was downright giddy seeing Reirin and Keigetsu’s world come to life! From Reirin voicing her desire that the wishes will come true, to Keigestu’s shrill laughter after the body switch, there was not a single moment when I was not completely captivated! The music heightened every scene I knew from the manga, leaving me, I admit, bouncing a little bit in my seat from excitement! It didn’t matter if it was the on-edge music of the Lion’s Judgement and not knowing what would happen to our sweet villainess, or the song playing as the episode ended while we watch Captain of the Eagle Eyes asking questions; it enriched a story I already deeply love. Plus, just hearing the voices of Reirin and Keigetsu was so wonderful! I think the voice actors were perfect! However, I especially loved the moment with both our girls “communicating” when Reirin is in jail. Seeing Keigetsu’s power and how strong it was left me in awe—I don’t think I realized that when initially reading the manga last year! Overall, this episode was everything I was hoping it would be, and I absolutely would recommend it regardless of whether you’re a fan of villainess series or not! With deceit running rampant and Reirin on her own, I have no doubt the rest of the anime will keep everyone on the edge of their seat just like this first episode did for me!

Though I Am an Inept Villainess is streaming on Crunchyroll.