Summary
Spy x Familyhas become incredibly popular in a relatively short time, which is no easy feat. The acclaimed action shonen manga has set itself apart from others by integratinglighthearted and funny plot pointsand casual scenes that celebrate simplicity andthe Forger family’s shared moments. However, although these happier instances do exist in the series, the author, Tatsuya Endo, has urged fansnot to overlook the darker, more disturbing elementsthat are definitely present in the story.
ManySpy x Familyviewers look at the main family, the Forgers, as simply a precious, harmless family who entertain and love one another. However, they are obviously not completely innocent, as each of them was gifted with incredible powers that allow them to fight violently and crush their enemies.
Yor is an assassin who has killed hundreds, Loid has certainly caused casualties during his spy career, and, as a young child, Anya has made decisions based on selfishness and her own wishes. Often, the Forgers do harm others in an effort to protect the peace of their loved ones and country.
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It is crucial to remember why the Forger family was even initially created:as a component ofa top-secret spy mission. Unbeknownst to Yor and Anya, Loid hand-selected them to be the perfect model family who would make him seem like an average family man, never blow his cover, and allow him to continue his assigned mission, Operation Strix. However, both his adoptive daughter and new wife came with secrets of their own. Yor works nights as a deadly assassin, carrying out murderous missions, and Anya can read minds. The Forgers may seem innocent and normal, but they are far from it.
The family’s unassuming appearance to outsiders is all part of Loid’s plan, but Tatsuya Endo, the creator, encourages fans not to fall for the facade. The Forgers actions often bring up questions of morality and ethics.
“I drew the cruise arc with a sense that I wanted readers to grasp Yor’s stance as a professional killer. About how, regardless of right or wrong, people kill others in times of war (although this is actually set during a cold war, but still.) It’s sad and tragic, but I don’t want to shy away from depicting that. I’m definitely not trying to portray the Forger family as virtuous and righteous, so if their ‘nice family’ side is the only one people perceive, it leaves me with a ‘Hmm…’ kind of feeling.” - Tatsuya Endo (tranlsated byNemshi on Reddit)
Although it may not seem like it from a surface level perspective, sinceSpy x Familyis an easygoing series at times,Endoexplores deeper topics like war and deathapart from the lighter moments, giving the show an interesting and realistic balance. He says he did this, so viewers would not see the Forgers as perfect or blameless, portraying their more questionable moments too.
Spy X Family’sDarker Moments Reveal “A Harsh Reality” According to Endo
The Forgers Are Not Completely Innocent Either and Make Questionable Decisions at Times
Spy x Familyis admittedly not quite as gory as other dark shonen series, such asAttack on TitanandJujutsu Kaisen,but itcontains its fair share of grim incidents. Some of these events occur later in the manga, but a few have shown up already in the anime series andSpy × Family Code: Whitefilm. For example, Anya had to help defuse a bomb when she became ensnared in one of Loid’s missions, Yor had to save Anya from a kidnapping attempt, and Anya was almost killed by having her stomach cut open to obtain a stolen object.
Spy x Familydoes not avoid the less pleasant parts of life. Later in the same interview, Endo reveals that he intended on portraying “the existence of a harsh reality” along with the series' more optimistic themes, to build a fairly realistic world. In the same vein, hedoes not paint the Forgers as blameless heroes. One of the biggest conflicts in the series that is constantly reiterated and ties directly into Loid’s mission, is the tension between the East and the West. This strain between the two nations seems to be the “times of war,” Endo was speaking about.
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Many Decisions the Forgers Make Spark Questions About Morality
Their Flaws Are Highlighted in the Series as Much as Their Positive Moments, and Endo Intended It This Way
Many viewers may forget thatSpy x Familyisoccurring during a stressful cold war, but that is a crucial undercurrent running throughout the story and influencing characters' actions. The Forgers have no problem fighting enemies or causing injury to those who stand in their way or threaten other members of the family. Furthermore, Loid would do almost anything to achieve his mission, and realizes that he may have to abandon the family he orchestrated so carefully at any time. His willingness to use other people as pawns in his scheme proves he is certainly not a perfect person.
Loid also adopted a child and agreed to marry someone solely for his spy endeavors. Although he is a pretty great fake father and husband, he is still essentiallyusing others for his own personal gain.Similarly, Yor is using Loid too. She let him take on the role of her husband to get her overbearing family off her back, so they would stop asking when she was going to get married. This is not to say that the Forgers are absolutely reprehensible or cruel human beings, but it is undeniable that many of their choices are self-serving and contentious.
Endo Reminds Fans That the “Perfect Family” Dynamic Is Only One Side of the Forgers
The Forger Family Is Not Evil, but Still Flawed
The Forgers do have their good moments too. They grow to care for each another, celebrate one other’s achievements, and fight to keep the family together. Furthermore, Yor and Loid are providing a happy childhood for Anya. She did not enjoy the conditions in her orphanage and seems truly overjoyed to have a family, so they are making a positive difference in her life, no matter what their initial intentions for joining the family were. Overall, the morality issues inSpy x Familyare complex and Endo reminds fans thattheir favorite anime family is not totally flawless, but not evil either.
Spy x Family
Cast
Created by Tatsuya Endo, Spy X Family is an action-adventure comedy anime that follows the misadventures of a found family with unique quirks. The story follows spy Twilight (known as Loid Forger), who, while on assignment, builds a fake family to get closer to his target. Unbeknownst to him, his new family carries their quirks. His wife, Yor, is a kind but deadly assassin, while his daughter, Anya, has telepathic powers - and is the only one who knows their secrets.
