I Expected Spy x Family, But Got Something Better

Spoilers ahead!

If you had asked me what my favorite summer anime would be at the beginning of the season, I would have said either You and I Are Polar Opposites Season 2 or The Cat and the Dragon. So imagine my surprise when another anime surpassed those to become one of my favorites this year: Victoria of Many Faces. It has a simple yet interesting premise. A woman quits being a spy for her agency in pursuit of a quiet life as a civilian. I kind of thought that it would be similar to the comedy and hijinks of Spy x Family, where Victoria is trying to hide her past at all costs, and hilarity ensues. But the show turned out to be more than that. 

The series ended up being a beautiful drama that made me think about the repercussions of being a spy. I think when most people imagine being a spy, their first thoughts are on the special skills the character learns, the gorgeous places they get to travel, and all the gadgets they get to use. But there is one thing that tends to be forgotten when becoming a spy: your previous self gets erased. 

There are some people who are happy to do this, especially if they are desperately trying to escape their previous life. Yet more people are like Victoria: not having a choice and trying to make the best of it. She missed her former life tremendously and wanted to make sure that her family was provided for by sending them constant gifts. Victoria learned many things, like fighting techniques and many different languages, but she would trade it in an instant to be with her family again. Victoria’s plight demonstrates the struggle people face of wanting connection instead of continuing a lonely existence. 

One could say that Victoria shouldn’t be lonely because she had people at the spy agency. However, feelings can change when you realize that there isn’t a sense of loyalty. At the very beginning, we learn that the reason Victoria left the agency was that her boss betrayed her, but it doesn’t say how. 

Whatever he did was enough to make Victoria fake her own death before going into civilian life. I think that sense of betrayal helped Victoria recognize that pain in the young girl, Nonna. Victoria finds Nonna abandoned by her mother. With nowhere else to go, Nonna just sits on a bench, dejected, until she meets Victoria, who decides to raise her. It is hard being lied to by your employer, but it hits different when it is your own parent. They are supposed to love and protect you. It is heartbreaking when the people that you love the most don’t feel the same way about you. I am glad that Victoria and Nonna are able to bond over that fact because they know how cruel the world can be, but at least they have each other. 

The one thing about the show that I disliked is that it was only 9 episodes. Don’t get me wrong. They were able to tell a powerful story before the season ended. It is just that I wanted more. I wanted to see more adventures with Victoria and Nonna. Despite all of that, I am happy to learn that the show did get approved for a second season. I hope it comes out sooner rather than later because I feel that there are more stories to be told with these characters. 

Overall, I am pretty happy about the series. I think it is the perfect blend of heartwarming and heartbreaking when it explores the characters of Victoria and Nonna and the aspects of loyalty. If you are looking for drama with a mix of found family, then check this series out. It is easy to binge in a weekend, and it will leave you wanting more, as I do.