ReZero 17 & 18
So after a little break I come back and I must say, I don't remember the last time I've been this invested and absorbed into an anime. It seems like so much stuff I get the chance to watch ends up faltering in dialogue, or characters, or story but here, so far, it's been incredible. From seeing the constant mindfucks in episode 17, is Rem an actual person in this world? I'd say yes but holy damn is the white whale powerful. Like how does that even work, after Rem takes it on she's removed from existence but Otto recites a tale about a specific Master Swordsman losing to it. Then perhaps the best recap/look-forward episode I've ever seen. Usually these things are total filler and yet we get a ton of character development here with Subaru finally coming to grips with his own limitations, perhaps a bit too far for a bit there, and in the end continuing to maintain his love for Emilia, signifying that while he acknowledges who he is, he's not instantly a new person able to see through the shit that used to mire him. I'm just sad it's almost over. So far at least this is my AOTY and it's not close.