Summary
Spy x Familyhas been exercising worldbuilding and pushing the plot nicely, with recent chapters indicating a new story arc soon to start. As the Forger family relaxes and fans are eased back into the present after a heart-wrenching flashback of Henry and Martha’s connection, Anya is soon swept into the public fixation on an adorable local news star. As the Ostanian media and the public fascination shifts to an adorable, highly intelligent escaped seal, Loid suspects she’s a Project Apple test subject, meaning a possible new story arc inSpy x Family.
RecentSpy x Familystory arcs have balanced character development, great moments likeFiona Frost’s finale in the Mole Hunt Arc, and varying organizations within Ostania, like Red Circus, to flesh out the series' factions. ButProject Apple is one of the first pieces of lore about the series, originally based in chapter #18 and beyond when Anya meets Bond, aka Subject No. 8, who has high intelligence and can see the future.
What this means by its connection with Project Apple inSpy x Familyremains to be determined, but it’s clear that a new story arc is on the horizon.
Spy x Family Uses Milestone Chapter to Break a Cycle of Hatred
Despite the comedic and charming overtones, Spy x Family still has several open wounds for its characters, but its latest chapter addresses one cycle.
Project Apple May Be the Next Story Arc in Spy x Family
Belle the Seal’s Resemblance to Bond Is No Coincidence
Despite the rest of the chapter seemingly being an innocent romp as the Forgers venture to find Belle, the nordic seal appearing all over the local news,Spy x Familychapter #103’s second-last page hasa chilling callback to Project Apple inSpy x Family. Suddenly, the seal has an explanation for why she’s so highly intelligent, including thanking Yor for giving directions to the ocean by giving her a crawfish;she is a scared, escaped animal test subject. While Belle’s specific talents are yet to be fully revealed, her resemblance to Bond suddenly comes more than just by appearance.
Project Apple is extensively described inSpy x Familychapter #19 as a research initiative by the previous Ostanian regime to breed and train highly intelligent animals for military purposes. However, the description says some test subjects potentially wound up on the black market, resulting in Bond’s introduction.
Project Apple was first named and explained inSpy x Familychapter #19 during an assassination plot against Westalis' Foreign Minister Brantz, using combat-trained dogs carrying bombs. If Project Apple research teams are not truly defunct, as revealed inSpy x Familychapter #103, it could mean Ostania is planning nefarious deeds in the future. For now, Belle the seal and Bond Forger are the main links suggestinga new animal espionage-themed story arc inSpy x Familywith the mere mention of Project Apple.
Belle’s Hinted Origins Recontextualize New Spy x Family Chapter
There’s a Deeper Reason She’s Blowing Up the News
The next story arc could reveal the extent to which Project Apple’s remnants still operate in the shadows.
Readers may wonder whether it was a slow news day inSpy x Familychapter #103 orwhether the Ostanian local news sent a message to recover Belle to cover up remnants of Project Apple.After all, when the Forgers find her, she’s hiding in the backwater, only leaving once given directions to the ocean. It also means that Loid’s moment of reassurance by Yor could still be overridden by his spy intuition and that the next story arc could reveal the extent to whichProject Apple’s remainders still operate in the shadows inSpy x Family.
For now, it’s all speculation asSpy x Familyfans are glad to get another chapter, but connecting Bond with Belle and other Project Apple subjects like Aaron is surely a pleasing sight. It means a new adventure while Operation Strix is momentarily on hold, meaning that even Anya’s school breaks can be packed with action and intrigue. There’s no rest for the wicked or WISE inSpy x Family, and there’s a chance this is not the last readers will see of Belle.
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.
