Kaiju No. 8 opens with Kafka taking the second stage of Defense Force exam. He struggles with the physical aspect due to his age. He can’t keep up despite training daily. While falling behind the other participants he considers using his powers. He doesn’t and finishes 219th out of 225 in the fitness exam. Kikoru Shinomiya finishes 5th. She mocks Kafka who earlier implied he was the man to watch. Haruichi Izumo, graduated top of his class at Tokyo Neutralization University, he finished 2nd. There’s Iharu Furuhashi, valedictorian at Hachioji Neutralization Technical College, he finishes 3rd. Aoi Kaguragi, is a current member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, he finishes first.
Kikoru Shinomiya is considered to be the best prospect of them all. She graduated from California Neutralization at the age of 16. Kafka is certain he’ll fail the test now but Reno offers him a glimmer of hope. The last few exams have featured Kaiju cleanup as the second part. If excels at anything it will be that.
The Third Division Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina, introduces the next part of the aptitude test. Unfortunately, the task is to neutralize the Kaiju not cleanup their corpses. Kafka is not happy. The participants are given Defense Force Kaiju Combat suits which according to Reno, becomes one with their bodies increasing their strength.
Kikoru is a beast
Third Division Operator, Konomi Okonogi starts measuring the” unleashed combat power” of the suits. This initial measurement indicates “how much of the suit’s power is being drawn out.” Reno combat power is 8%, Izumo is 18%, Kaguragi 15%, Furuhashi is at 14%, Kikoru is at an astounding 46%. According to Konomi it’s rare to get participants above 10%. At this point I was dying to know Kafka’s number. Reno is told by Vice-Captain Hoshina that anyone that is above a zero passes and he’s never seen a number that low. So wanna guy what number Kafka gets? ZERO.
The final test begins. The contestants are given 37 Kaiju to kill. They’ll be monitored from drones and if their lives are in danger the suits shield will be activated and they’ll fail. When the test starts, Kikoru springs into action. She starts by scaling a building and quickly takes out a Kaiju herself. Reno and Kafka have yet to move. Kafka can’t even lift the weapons without any strength from the suit. Suddenly, Hoshina lets the participants know the Captain Mina Ashiro is watching. Kafka is predicably inspired by Mina’s presence and together with Reno. Kafka deduces that the test is about more than strength and begin using logic to help the others.
Kafka is in danger
Suddenly, Kafka is grabbed by another Kaiju. He begins to cough up blood. Anticipating that they’ll use the shield Kafka desperately tries to move but he fails. Kikoru saves him and after mocking him heads off to kill the main Kaiju. Kafka’s possibly has organ damage and a broken leg. He decides to go forward anyway and increases his suit output from 0 to 0.01. Another good episode of Kaiju No. 8. The characters are just being flesh out but I like what I’m seeing so far.
I was surprised just how strong Kikoru Shinomiya was compared to the competition. She’s WAY strong (at least for now) than the others. The only disappointment I have so far is the Kaiju themselves. I’m underwhelmed. They seem like they’re fodder more then a threat. I still think the main threat will come from other Kaiju-human hybrids like Kafka. I anticipate that Kafka won’t be able to will his way to victory though. He’ll have to use his transformation. Considering how the Defense Force is watching and able to monitor his body there’s now way he go unnoticed.
