"SPY×FAMILY" has maintained fervent popularity since its initial serialization, and its popularity is expected to further increase with the release of its anime adaptation and the ninth volume of the manga in April. The spy action and comedy featuring the protagonist family, the Forgers, and the unique characters surrounding them is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and laughing at times. This article will introduce the story of the first episode, which kicks off the story. If you're interested, be sure to pick up a copy.
Episode 1 Overview!! But first... A Brief Introduction to the World!
Where is SPY×FAMILY Set?
Originally a single country, it was divided into East and West due to a long war. This resulted in the creation of two nations: Westaris and Ostania. Even now, several years after the end of the war, the damage remains significant in both countries, with the East, in particular, still in the process of reconstruction. This work is set in Ostania. While Ostania is peaceful, it is far from safe and secure, with organizations plotting war again and things that could spark war, and embers continue to smolder beneath the surface.
Who is the protagonist of SPY×FAMILY?
The protagonist is a highly skilled agent who belongs to the WISE division of the Western Intelligence Bureau, an intelligence agency in the Western Kingdom (Westeris). He infiltrates the Eastern Kingdom (Ostania) as a spy, using a hundred different identities to gather various information and carry out sabotage operations. His code name as a spy is "Twilight," and his real name is not revealed. The story begins with Twilight's mission.
SPY×FAMILY Volume 1 Story
Stealing the Foreign Minister's Secret Photo
The story begins with the accidental death of a diplomat from the Western Kingdom (Westeris) in the Eastern Kingdom (Ostania). Officially, it was an accident, but behind the scenes, it was an assassination carried out by a far-right political party in the Eastern Kingdom (Ostania). Our protagonist, Twilight, sets out to uncover their plot to wage war against the Western Kingdom (Westeris). Twilight disguises himself as his business partner, Edgar, and steals photographic evidence that the Foreign Minister is wearing a wig. Thus, the mission comes to a close.
Next Mission: Operation Strix
After completing his mission, Lloyd boards the train to take on a new mission. His mission is to approach Donovan Desmond, the president of the National Unity Party, who is considered a dangerous figure threatening East-West peace, and investigate any suspicious activity. To do this, he first needs to get married and have children. Desmond is a reclusive and cautious man who rarely makes public appearances. The only time he appears is at the regular social gatherings held at Eden School, where his son attends. Therefore, he needs to enroll his son and infiltrate the gatherings. The time until then is one week.
Toward Operation Strix
However, the success of Operation Strix is crucial, as it holds the key to protecting peace between East and West, as well as world peace, and must be accomplished at all costs. No matter how well a spy performs, no one will know about it, and they won't be honored with medals. However, the everyday lives of all people depend on it. Determined to create a better world, Twilight begins Operation Owl. He disguises himself as Lloyd Forger, a psychiatrist working at a general hospital in the capital, Balint. He then rents a new home and begins preparing it.
Meeting the Orphan Anya
Having prepared his home, Lloyd's next goal is to raise a child. He visits orphanages with poor conditions to find a child who can read and write. The child he finds is a girl named Anya. Anya, a being born as a result of an experiment conducted by a certain organization, possesses the psychic ability to read people's minds. She wandered from place to place, seeking someone to care for. She met Lloyd's requirements and was successfully adopted.
The Difficult Life of Raising a Child
Lloyd took Anya in, but he struggled, unsure of the proper distance and interaction with his child. Anya, wanting to avoid being abandoned by Lloyd, struggled to read Lloyd's mind, but they didn't quite get along. Lloyd then gathered documents related to child-rearing in an attempt to better understand his child. However, everything written there involved "future" and seemed completely useless to them, as they would be leaving once the mission was over.
Anya in Peril
Lloyd sets out to meet his informant, Frankie. Anya insists on following him, so he uses a drastic tactic of barricading herself in front of the room to contain her. However, this backfires, as she enters the room and uses a spy communication device. As a result, Edgar's disguised group from the previous mission track down their location and take Anya hostage. Fearing the risk, Lloyd tries to start over, but a bat is raised from behind him.
Operation to Rescue Anya
However, Lloyd is not one to be defeated so easily. After defeating the enemy, he disguises himself as a man and infiltrates enemy territory. After rescuing Anya, he remembers what motivated him to become a spy: "To create a world where children don't cry." That was Lloyd's reason for becoming a spy. Lloyd creates a smokescreen out of flour and quickly defeats Edgar and his men, who outnumber him.
Father and Son
After defeating the enemy, Lloyd returned to find Anya waiting for him. Anya embraced him and expressed her desire to return home with him. Lloyd tried to find other ways to keep her away from danger, but after learning that she had been put up for adoption four times, he changed his mind and decided to be with her. The two, swaying on the streetcar, had grown closer since the incident.
Entrance Exam
After moving into her new home, Anya takes the entrance exam for Eden School. She tries to read the minds of the test-takers, but she panics when she can't find the answer. At times like these, she remembers the time she spent studying with Lloyd. Anya tackles the questions on her own, without relying on her abilities. As a result, she passes with flying colors. However, the exam isn't over yet. Next up is the second round of screening, a three-way interview. One requirement is that you and your parents attend together.
End
This concludes the first episode of SPY×FAMILY. What did you think? Our protagonist, Lloyd, is an excellent spy but extremely inconsistent. Anya, though possessing psychic powers, is still a child. While they may be a temporary father and daughter, the sight of the two swaying on the streetcar was unmistakably that of a father and son. Thus, with the two meeting, the story slowly begins to move forward. In the next installment, we'll look at the second episode, in which Lloyd embarks on a matchmaking mission to find a wife.
