Chainsaw Man Season 1 Episode 4 begins with Power awakens surrounded by the Bat Devils intestines. She can’t understand why Denji rescued her considering her betrayal. He points to her chest which Power thinks is a “foolish reason,” for saving her and Meowy. Regardless, she’s grateful and will allow Denji to fondle her. Excited, Denji jumps for joy, raising his arm in triumph only for it to be blown off by the Leech Devil. With Power unable to move, Denji has no choice but to fight. However, without enough blood Denji is only able to amass a small chainsaw in his head.
Leech Devil is out for revenge over her “man,” the Bat Devil. It’s a nice characterization of the Devils who not only have personalities but intimate relationships too. We already saw with Pochita fondness of Denji, and Power’s love of Meowy that Devils are capable of affection. Still dating each other is surprising. Denji and The Leech Devil fight in another spectacular Chainsaw Man battle, but Denji never gains the upper hand. When things look most dire he’s rescued by Aki and his Fox Devil.
A not so quite slice of life
At the hospital, Aki explains how contracts with Devils work. In exchange for a part of the body of the human a devil will serve Devil Hunters. While Aki still questions Denji’s fondness for Devils or at least some of them, he offers Denji a deal. Denji agrees and Aki lies to Makima. However, she notes that Aki is more “flexible” than usual and wonders if it’s Denji’s influence. He denies he’s changed but it’s clear he has.
The second half of the episode is a glorious animated slice of life. Aki wakes in the morning, makes coffee, smokes on the balcony, makes breakfast, does chores, then prepares to make lunch. MAPPA really showed off in these scenes, making the food look real. It also characters Aki as a man with particular habits. He likes order. This order is disrupted when Power moves in and begins wreaking havoc in her new home. She has terrible eating habits, bathroom etiquette, and is generally rude. Denji hates having her there until she tells him he can cop a feel three times. Once for saving Meowy, once for killing the Bat Devil, and once for protecting her from Aki. Denji can’t contain his excitement. Hopefully it will end better than the last time.
I’m not sure how much this series can milk the fact that Denji wants to squeeze boobs. At some point he’s got to succeed right? Will he keep wanting to do it again or will he succumb to the pressure to “get serious?” Right now we’re just getting started. I wonder what the main conflict in this series will be. Devils seem too clever to just be getting slaughtered at some point they have to target Denji right?
