THE MOMMY-FRIENDS SCHEME (ママ友作戦, Mama Tomo Sakusen?) is the forty-second episode of the SPY x FAMILY TV anime series and the fifth episode of the third season.
Synopsis[]
Yor visits a department store to do some shopping and ends up helping a woman named Melinda from falling down the stairs, and they become friends. Impressed by Yor's amazing physical abilities, Melinda invites her to play volleyball. Later, during a tea party where they're chatting like typical mothers, it's revealed that Melinda is Damian's mother...[1]
Summary[]
When Yor heads out to go shopping, she agrees to find tea cakes for Anya, as well as an "amazing cake" that Damian promised her. Thinking about Anya's friendship with Damian, Yor feels guilty that her training led to Anya punching him, but decides to make up for it by looking for the cakes. Outside, she tries asking the neighborhood ladies about good bakeries in the city. However, she retreats out of fear that her ignorance could get her reported to the SSS. Becoming discouraged at being unable to act normally, Yor motivates herself to keep trying for the sake of her job and heads to the bakery at the department store.
Yor saves Melinda and her cakes
There, Yor helps a woman from falling down the stairs while carrying boxes. Impressed by Yor's reflexes and skills, the woman, named Melinda, invites her to fill in for her volleyball team with the Lady Patriots Society, an all-mothers' group that organizes community activities. Hearing that volleyball is a normal activity, Yor agrees to help Melinda's team win their match. Although Melinda explains the rules, Yor's inexperience shows as she tries to win single-handedly. Melinda advises her to relax and enjoy the game, and Yor eventually manages to hold back her strength while still having fun.
Although the ladies lose the match, they find it fun and later go out for tea. Yor bonds with Melinda and the other women while sharing her insecurities as a wife and mother, which they reassure are normal. Melinda invites Yor to join them for future activities, and Yor gladly accepts, saying there is so much she wants to learn from them. When one of the women mentions that her child attends Eden Academy, Yor reveals that her daughter does too, prompting Melinda to realize who she is and introduce herself as Melinda Desmond.
Melinda's tense face as she hopes for Damian and Anya to get along
Later that evening, Yor returns home and tells her family about meeting Melinda, whom Loid reveals to be the wife of Donovan Desmond, Ostania's former prime minister. Shocked by Melinda's status, Yor recounts the rest of their encounter. Once Yor apologized for the incident between Anya and Damian, Melinda brushed it off, first jokingly and then more coldly, and the mothers described the Desmond family's "hands-off" parenting style. They also told Yor how lucky she was to be invited by Melinda, since most of Melinda's friends were from before she became the First Lady. Hoping to form a genuine friendship without preconceptions of her political position, Melinda invited Yor to another gathering. Afterward, Melinda escorted Yor home, during which she mentioned hearing Damian having fun at school and suggested that Anya might be the reason. Yor happily agreed, but Melinda's sudden, tense expression left her unsettled.
The estranged Desmond Family
After hearing Yor's story, Loid notes that Melinda has been classified by WISE as a high-risk, low-reward target because she is currently estranged from the rest of the Desmond family and lacks valuable information. He briefly suspects that Yor's meeting with Melinda was arranged, but dismisses the thought when Anya confirms her alibi. Loid then theorizes that the Desmonds might have orchestrated the meeting, though he finds no clear motive. When Yor asks if she can continue attending the Lady Patriots Society's events and befriend Melinda, Loid agrees, saying it could help her make friends and maintain her cover.
Anya imagines fighting Yor in a battle between Friendship Schemes
Secretly, however, he plans to monitor Melinda through Yor and use their friendship as another route to get closer to Donovan. Thus, he creates "Plan C: The Mommy-Friends Scheme." Reading his mind, Anya panics at the idea of a battle of friendship schemes between her and Yor, fearing she will be abandoned if she loses. Determined to deepen her bond with Damian, Anya rushes off to study and brainstorm ways to become better friends with him, but falls asleep before coming up with any ideas.
The next day, Yor approaches the Shopkeeper to ask for permission to befriend Melinda. To her surprise, he approves but warns her to stay cautious, making an ominous warning about Melinda's position as a conservative and advising Yor not to let Loid think she shares those beliefs. Yor replies that it should not be a problem, mentioning Loid's interest in Donovan and the National Unity Party, which catches the Shopkeeper's attention.
The yakisoba burger spat onto Damian's hair
Meanwhile, Anya seeks Becky's help to befriend Damian. Becky suggests using a romance trope in which a girl holds bread in her mouth and bumps into a boy while turning a corner. Anya attempts this "Friendship Crash" on Damian, which he expertly dodges, causing her to fall to the floor. When Damian, Emile, and Ewen mock Anya, she angrily shouts at them, accidentally spitting the burger onto Damian's head and making his hair resemble hers. After being teased by his friends, Damian becomes enraged, worsening his relationship with Anya.
Characters[]
Anime Notes[]
- After Yor saves Melinda from falling, there is an additional scene of Melinda's headscarf and sunglasses landing on one of the box stacks.
- In the manga, when Loid thinks about Melinda's past, a picture of her with guards is shown. In the anime, the guard on her right is replaced by Donovan.
- When Anya declares the beginning of her and Yor's battle of Friendship Schemes, her imaginary scenario heavily resembles the Poop God sequence from SPY x FAMILY CODE: White.
- After Anya spits the yakisoba burger on Damian's head, there is an additional scene where Becky sees and laughs at his appearance.
Gallery[]
Episode Previews[]
Keyframes[]
Illustrations[]
References[]
- ↑ Episode 42 on the official website