Reviews from viewers and anime critics are polarized, highlighting both the episode's narrative impact and its pacing issues:
Mixed – Impactful for invested fans, but "cardboard" for critics. Brave 10 Episode 9
: In a major twist, Anastasia is revealed as a mole working for Hattori Hanzo. She attacks and cripples Sasuke and Rokuro , the latter of whom is forced to destroy his own eye to prevent the secrets within it from falling into enemy hands. Reviews from viewers and anime critics are polarized,
Episode 9 of Brave 10 , titled is widely considered a major turning point in the series. Critics and viewers often cite it as a "Wham Episode" that shifts the narrative from a standard "character-gathering" action series into a darker, more consequence-driven story. Plot Summary & Key Events Episode 9 of Brave 10 , titled is
: Conversely, critics at METANORN and Tokyo Gazette praised the episode for finally introducing "scary/dark elements" into what had previously been a lighter action series. The betrayal was described as a "refreshing change" that added much-needed inner turmoil to the group.
Good – Continued praise for bishounen character designs and seiyuu (voice actor) performances. Winter 2012 – Week 9 Anime Review
: Some reviewers from platforms like Anime News Network felt the reveal came too late in a short series. They argued that because the show spent so much time gathering characters ("Bishounen Pokémon"), viewers hadn't built enough emotional connection to care about the sudden betrayals.