I was surprised how meta/sentimental they took the first episode. The opening moment is a memory lane stroll concluding in a lament that it’s over (goodbye my bitch angel), that’s then followed up by a pep talk and getting into gear. The main goal of the episode is reviving both Panty and Stocking, Panty especially is portrayed as loved and lost. The fan favorite demon sisters are roped in almost as a matter of course, and the initial revival of Panty is playing on the tension of bringing something back but it not being the same, and Brief as the stand in for the fanboy is understandably conflicted. Panty’s missing piece is the spice of the old show, the “soul”. You see the whole non-PSG cast come together as one to deliver the final piece, and it’s Brief’s memory of the good old days that gives it the final push. Panty’s revival begins as a seriously angry moment where she’s gunning for murderous revenge but as the fight progresses it slowly becomes a classic sisterly spat between the two until Garter breaks them up like he used to. From two titans destroying the city like freaks of nature down to something as small as “but garter she’s pulling my hair!” and the two make up as quickly as they fought. The final group drive off feels almost “found family” as Garterbelt asserts that the demon sisters are one of them now, and Panty remembers Brief this time. Even the ED was just the cast jamming out together like a group. Garter being a mystery nigga in the post credits sequence aside, it was heartwarming and it feels like they really do love this thing that they made 15 years ago.

Interesting tone for the premiere, more sentimental than usual, and there was more hotblood as well. Pic related was so cute it felt like a dad breaking up two daughters fighting over something dumb.