Gabriel DropOut

Episode 7

After functioning as the perpetual straight man and voice of reason for the last six installments, Vignette April Tsukinose is finally given her own episode. As the only member of the main cast who hasn't received much individual attention, Vigne was overdue for some time in the limelight, and as this week's episode shows us, she's certainly up to taking the reins from her showier compatriots. In addition to casting Vigne in a new light, episode 6 is also Gabriel DropOut's best long-form episode to date.

The first segment, which is the stronger of the two, finds Vigne attempting to engage in more demon-like behavior after the Demon World decreases her monthly stipend. Of course, this being Vigne, her attempts at villainy are fairly lackluster. Making slight alterations to her school uniform, leaving the tip of Gabriel's pen exposed, and refusing to take notes during class (because skipping class altogether is too evil) are the only heinous acts the kind-hearted demon is able to bring herself to perpetrate. Fortunately, receiving praise from Satania in response to her uniform alterations is able to boost Vigne's spirits, although her stipend remains unchanged.

Although this segment plays out in a fairly predictable manner, most of the jokes hit their mark beautifully. Vigne demonstrating her devilish side through the most banal misbehavior possible is a clever setup that the show graciously makes the most of. I wonder how the poor girl ever developed such a strong conscience and moral compass in spite of her demonic heritage. Even though Vigne is undeniably the star of this story, Master is responsible for some of the biggest laughs. Being unfamiliar with the girls' otherworldly origins, his reactions to Vigne's desire to “do bad deeds” are comic gold.

In the second segment, which only clocks in at about five minutes, Vigne decides to stay home from school after catching a cold. Although they have the best intentions, Satania and Raphiel visiting Vigne's apartment with badminton equipment and a board game (The Game of Eternal Life) only serves to annoy the cold-stricken demon. When Gabriel drops by with Vigne's homework (and requests that she also do her homework), Vigne is quick to send her home. However, shortly after Gabriel's departure, Vigne discovers that her friend brought her udon and vitamin water despite being out of money for the month.

While not bad by any means, the second story is unable to measure up to the first in terms of comedy. Whereas the first segment featured a rapid-fire pace, this one projects a slow, sleepy vibe, due largely in part to Vigne spending most of the story drifting in and out of slumber. The “counting Gabriels” joke went on for too long despite not being particularly funny to begin with, and Raphiel is so nice that she almost seems out of character. Still, the ending does a nice job of showcasing Gabriel's seldom-seen good side and illustrating that she does indeed care about her friend.

Episode 7 is Vigne's time to shine, as the show's moral center steps out of her comfort zone without fully breaking character. Although Vigne is still best used as a straight man, she's now demonstrated that she can hold her own in the spotlight. It's strange, however, that the titular Gabriel remains the least developed member of the main cast. Granted, she is fairly one-note, but at this point, the show's alleged main character is overdue for more screentime.

Rating: B+

Gabriel DropOut is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is an author who has loved anime for over two decades.