The Drops of God

That fire rescue sequence had no business being that tense. Shizuku sniffing out the cedar like some wine-flavored bloodhound had me laughing but also genuinely nervous they'd lose the whole forest. The payoff at the old vineyard made it worth it

Shizuku losing to Tomine hurt more than I expected. But that bar scene with Miyabi going back to grab the Amon-Ra for him? That's the real win of the episode. She's been carrying this whole competition for him emotionally.

Nadia's dad real quick to call all Japanese people enemies but then he's all buddy-buddy once Shizuku saves his forest. The environmental subplot was a bit much for a wine show if you ask me. Still the Angkor Wat vision when Shizuku tasted his wine was gorgeous

I was dreading another victory lap for Tomine but honestly the way Shizuku took the loss and showed up to work the next day in a crisp suit like nothing happened? That's the growth. Miyabi going back to grab that Amon-Ra bottle for him says everything about their bond

Issei taking this one felt right. Amon-Ra was sentimental but Sine Qua Non actually answered the riddle about human will over nature. Shizuku's got fight left in him though that bar scene with the Amon-Ra bottle almost got me

The imaginary wine glass while sniffing out the arsonists is peak Shizuku. This guy treats crime fighting like a tasting note and I am completely here for it.

That anti-Japan racism plot went nowhere. Also, nobody believes he's actually going to abandon the hunt for the Apostles.

I loved seeing Miyabi get her time to shine during the blind tasting at the office again. She really grounds all the wild wine science for us and it felt great having her take charge like that.

That Torbreck Shiraz scene was incredible the way they animated the silk painting visual was easily one of the coolest wine representations this show has done yet

The wedding blind tasting flex was unreal they actually served all six Apostles to the guests. But man that silk painting animation during the Torbreck Shiraz sip was so stunning Satelight is really going all out with these visual metaphors

Wait we are at episode 20 out of 24 and just starting the 7th Apostle? There is no way they cover five more wines and the Drops of God in four episodes unless a season two is coming or they rush it

I feel slightly insulted that they're not considering Pacific Northwest wines.

Interesting character drama this episode, but it's still kinda self indulgent when it comes to the wine itself, in an obnoxious way.

Issei's mother rolling up in first class and casually dropping hints about Yutaka's wine choice felt so shady, she really pushes his buttons every single time

I lost it when Issei put literal vineyard soil on his tongue just to get an edge over Shizuku That man is completely insane and desperate at this point

Shizuku deciding not to follow Issei to Kyoto and going after the waka poem in Asuka instead shows how differently their minds work

The dirt tasting was ridiculous.

Issei's childhood trauma is a bit much.

This show is so bizarrely melodramatic.

I cannot believe Issei is popping pills just to skip acclimatization. He is basically treating his own body like a tool and it is so hard to watch him push himself that far