In My Hero Academia Season 6 Episode 10 Deku is shocked to see Katsuki get stabbed by Tomura’s attack. Tomura (under All For One’s control) dismisses Katsuki’s sacrifice as a waste of “blood,” thinking about Eraser Head, Gran Torino, and others sacrifices Deku snaps. He shatters the wires from Tomura with his teeth and charges at Tomura. All For One grabs Deku and prepares to take One For All. Deku is transported to the inner world of One For All.
Deku is still limited in this world, unable to move or speak. Nana Shimura appears behind him and tells Deku that they “will figure something out.” All For One directs Tomura’s attention to Nana, tell him that she was his “pathetic” grandmother. All For One explains his theory for how the inner world works: just like how organs and cells contain the memories of their owners, Quirks contain the consciousnesses of their users own ‘individuality’ essentially.
Uravity’s determination
One For All begins to crumble due to Tomura’s rage, but All For One’s brother appears and declares that “he and the others will never go to him because they have chosen to remain with Deku.” Deku and Tomura clash in the inner world, i the real one Deku keeps One For All. Tomura body isn’t perfect yet and won’t be able to absorb One For All yet.
Elsewhere, Gigantomachia continues his rampaging towards his master. The heroes prepare to intercept Gigantomachia, Skeptic takes note of the heroes and their numbers. Toga gets excited by the prospect of meeting and getting answers from Uravity and Froppy. She takes some equipment and heads off. Meanwhile, civilians flee as the giant continues to destroy. Toga appears as an old lady and leads Uravity into an abandoned home. Toga attacks her, but Uravity is determined to help people and if Toga stands in her way she have no choice but to stop her.
After the last heartbreaking episode, this weeks Chainsaw Man, was always going to be highly anticipated. After the Snake Devil kills the Ghost Devil, Power flees. The last hand of the Ghost Devil pulls Denji’s cord, reviving Denji. Quickly understanding that Katana Man and Akane are the “bad guys,” and prepares to fight them. Denji is excited that he can let loose as no one cares if he carves up a villain. Akane reports the situation to her teammates and request for backup. Two regular men show up. I’m not sure why anyone thought they were going to help but they try to support Katana Man with guns.
Denji easily knocks them down and takes one hostage. The Katana Man kneels, which Denji assumes means he’s surrendering, but he uses his speed to cut both Denji and the hostage in half. I liked the fact that Denji didn’t just come in an save the day. Obviously, he’s not going to die but it’s refreshing to be unable to assume the main character will win. Katana Man takes the top half of Denji and the rest of his crew decide to leave.
The brutal power of Makima
Elsewhere, we see the result of the carnage. Hirokazu Arai, Fushi, and four others are dead, but where’s Kobeni? Makima’s train nears it’s stop and as her killers prepare to leave she appears behind them. When the train stops, Yutaro Kurose and Michiko Tendo are meet by a bloody Makima who denies the blood is hers. Inside the train all her assailants are dead. Without time to return to Tokyo, Makima orders Kurose and Tendo to find “30 convicts serving a life sentence or worse.”
As the Katana Man’s team prepare to leave they see some crows and one of them starts to feel strange. He’s crushed to death in front of Akane and the rest of the team. Panicked, she contacts Team C, who ends up begin crushed to death as well. It’s no mistake this is Makima’s doing. At the shrine, she asks one of the convicts to repeat the name; Shuzo Mishima. Makima then makes some hand gestures and the man is crushed and the convict dies. She kills all the convicts and therefore 30 of Akane’s and Katana Man’s teammates. There the only ones left.
Kobeni’s revenge
In a flashback, we see that Arai died protecting Kobeni. Enraged, she kills the murder and then pursues Akane and Katana Man. After sacrificing her nail, Akane sends the tail of the snake after Kobeni, who dodges the Snake Devil’s attack with the acrobatic skills of Spiderman. She then avoids being shot by Katana Man and cuts off his shooting hand, catches the gun, then shoots him in the back. It’s a marvelous moment for a cowardly character.
It’s still a bittersweet moment, Kobeni saves Denji but lost her closet friends Arai and Himeno. She already hated this job and plans to quit. This is another aspect of this series I like seeing, the characters quit this terrible job. It might seem simple but most characters in anime especially the weaker ones continue to fight for the “good of whatever” only to be slaughtered. In this episode, not only does Kobeni plan to quit, a new character Madoka does, and Kurose and Tendo clearly intend only to train not fight. They may not have a choice in the matter but I hope some of them survive simply because the quit hunting devils.
I’m starting to warm up to Makima’s coldness. She still manipulative and I think she knew what might happened but her attitude is appealing. Obviously, I want to know what her powers are. From this episode it seems she needs to be high up (altitude) for some reason, she needs human sacrifices, they must say the name of the target, crows appear, and she must use hand gestures. Kobeni’s abilities are also a mystery. What did she make a deal with? I’m not sure that this episode was better than the last one but it was more satisfying.
In Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Episode 09, “The Drop,” Shunsui Kyoraku becomes the new Captain Commander as well as the new captain of the First Division. While a surprise, I think that its a fitting promotion. Shunsui is lazy, but he clearly understands the ins and outs of Soul Society. Along with Jushiro Ukitake, he’s a former student of Genryusai Yamamoto, and is most likely to embody what Genryusai found important. Shunsui can be a loose cannon and doesn’t conform to traditions, certainly to the degree Yamamoto did.
Tenjiro healing technique doesn’t make sense
It’s not really important whether healing techniques (or any technique) in anime actually make sense or not, but some are more convincing than others. Tenjiro Kirinji’s White Bone Hell technique isn’t one of them. The hot spring draws out damaged Reiatsu with their blood. The Blood Pond Hell replenishes the blood lost. Its all kinda silly and it’s made worst by Kirinji punching both Ichigo and Renji to test if they healed. Both times he notes that they would have died if they weren’t fully recovered. What if they weren’t fully healed though? I’m not taking this too serious though, they go to heal some how, but I thought I point it out.
Shunsui silences the 46 Central
I always wanted to know more about Soul Societies governing body, the Central 46. Comprised of 40 men and six judges, they are in charge of trying the crimes of Shinigami. Most importantly they act on behave of the Soul King. They’re a very conservative institution but as I noted earlier, Shunsui is less traditional. He immediately clashes with them when he decides he wants two Lieutenant, Genshiro Okikiba (former third seat) and Nanao Ise. When they Chamber protests, he reminds them that the captains are granted the “sole authority to appoint their lieutenants.”
The judges have nothing to say. Shunsui then challenges them further when he tells them he wants to teach Kenpachi, the art of Kendo. This prompts one of the judges to voice the concern that if Kenpachi revolted they couldn’t stop him. Shunsui points out that if they can’t stop the Quincy, who will protect the Chamber. Silenced once again, Shunsui calls in the person he thinks will train Kenpachi, Captain Unohana, the first Kenpachi. I remember reading this the first time and I was floor. It was such a unexpected twist. Unohana was the typical trope of the wise female healer, for her to be a violent killer was certainly unexpected.
Kenpachi Unohana vs Kenpachi Zaraki
The title of Kenpachi became confusing at this point in the series. We always thought it was the name of Kenpachi but it’s also a title? Why didn’t we call Unohana Kenpachi? According to the series, Kenpachi is the ” title that is only given to the strongest Shinigami.” The title does belong to Zaraki by this standard. What about the tenth Kenpachi, GosukeKiganjo and all the others in-between? I would like to know more about him. None of this really matters but I found the use of Kenpachi in this series confusing. Anyway, Unohana and Zaraki arrive at the limitless underground prison.
Unohana lets her façade down and give off a creepy and scary vibe. I loved it. She use to be a like a librarian and now she’s a badass warrior. According to Shunsui, Unohana was “part of the original and strongest generation of Gotei 13 captains,” and became the “most infamous criminal in Soul Society’s history.” Shunsui laments the fact that only one of them are going to survive. The fight between the two begins, with Unohana getting the advantage quickly. The next episode will get into the rest of this fight and I can’t wait.
Mob Psycho 100 Season 3 Episode 009, “Mob 1 ~Moving~,” Tsubomi has been the object of Mob’s and every boys affection. Mob being his usual awkward self has struggled to ask Tsubomi out on a date. Worst he and his class has learned that Tsubomi is moving soon. When Mameta informs Mob that he’ll have rivals for Tsubomi. Mob asks for advice. The Body Improvement Club offers rather useless advice. Tenga tells him to “grow a pair,” Musashi tells him that Tsubomi will be “impressed” by Mob’s new and improved body.
He then asks the former Telepathy Club members their opinions. However, Takenaka tells Mob that they’re not appropriate to give advice. Tome intervenes and tells Mob to get a hair cut. Outside, there’s a line of line of boys asking Tsubomi out. She turns each of them anyway. Mezato tells Mob not to bother, he’ll only get rejected too. She doesn’t get why boys even like Tsubomi. She asks Mob why he likes Tsubomi.
After school, Mob tells Reigen that he doesn’t have an answer. Serizawa, who knows even less about dating, is envious of Mob’s flirtation with Tsubomi. Mob is still uncertain why he likes her, he only knows that he does. Reigen gives Mob the stereotypical advice to Mob: be yourself. Mob runs into Teru, who tells Mob to buy her a gift. He suggests flowers. Unfortunately, for Mob he doesn’t have any money. At home, Mob just calls Tsubomi at home. He sets up a meeting the following day. As he heads for the date, he’s hit by a truck after saving a kid.
Bakugo gets to shine in My Hero Academia Season 6 Episode 9. With little time to think, Eraser Head cuts off the bottom part of his leg, preventing the Quirk killing drug from taking effect. Unfortunately, Eraser Heads Quirk cut off for a “split second” allowing Tomura to unleash his Quirks and attack Eraser Head. With his master in danger, Deku uses his Blackwhips Quirk to capture Tomura and drag him away. Shoto impales Tomura on a pillar of ice and Deku follows up with a powerful punch. It doesn’t have much effect.
Deku, Endeavor, Shoto, and Bakugo prepare to face Tomura head on. However, when Tomura attempts to use his Quirk, his body begins to fall apart. Deku notes that this is a lot like what happens to his body. Fracturing his bones and forcing his limbs to go limp. Tomura seems to lose a since of himself, asking what “time is it?” He shrugs off this odd moment and proceeds to try to use his Decay Quirk again.
Before he can Deku uses a combination of his Black Whip Quirk and the Float Quirk, he lifts Tomura and the remaining heroes into the air. Deku let off a barrage of massive and exhausting smashes, preventing Tomura from reacting. Bakugo releases that Deku is still in danger and together with Endeavor and Shoto they interfere. Endeavor grabs Tomura letting out a powerful Prominence Burn. However, Tomura still survives leaving Endeavor shocked. Suddenly, All For One awakens and uses River Stab Quirk against Deku, forcing Bakugo to protect his friend.
Well that was a great episode. Prior to this episode Chainsaw Man was a amazingly animated anime, with some interesting story moments, and epic action. However, I wasn’t sure what the bigger picture was. Obviously, the Gun Devil was presented as the main villain but this episode not only confirms that he’s after Denji’s heart but introduces other hunters. The first half of Chainsaw Man Season 1 Episode 8 is a more subdued affair.
The first part focuses on Himeno and Denji at her apartment. Himeno is trying to seduce Denji but passes out. In the morning, she and Denji have breakfast. Himeno is self aware enough to know that having sex with a minor is at least illegal as Denji informs her of the events from the previous night. They discuss Denji’s feels for Makima and she offers an alliance: she’ll help Denji with Makima if Denji helps her with Aki. As I mentioned in my review of the previous episode most anime (especially Shonen) don’t touch the topic of sex. At least not seriously. While there’s some humorous and gross aspects to this series sexual moments I think there’s more potential here.
Division 4’s get slaughtered
Makima and her assistant heads to meet with her bosses. She finds them “scary.” Subtly the men in front and behind them on the train reach down for something. The camera focuses on the unaware Makima as she stares outside the window. Suddenly, she and her assistant are shot multiple times at point blank range. To say this was a shock would be a understatement. I don’t think Makima is dead, she feel like a devil to me (its the eyes). Still this moment is shocking and had me sitting up on my seat.
Just when I thought Makima and her assistant were the only victims, the other members of the 4th Division are shot at. I say shot at because we don’t see them actually get hit with bullet which usually means they survived but with this series I’m not sure. A man in the ramen shop, interrupts Denji, Himeno, Aki, and Powers lunch. He tells them the story of his murdering Yakuza grandfather which turns out to be the man Denji use to work for and ultimately killed (after the Zombie Devil did it).
Himeno’s sacrifice
It seems that this man is under the impression that Denji is responsible. He pulls a gun and shoots Denji in the forehead, Himeno in the chest, but Aki and Power avoid getting hit. Aki uses the Fox Devil to eat the mysterious man, only for the Fox Devil to tell Aki that whatever is in her mouth it isn’t, “human, nor a devil.” Surprisingly, the man turns into a Katana Man, a cuts his way out of the Fox Devil. Aki pulls his sword out, which is a large nail, and begins attack the Katana Man with it. Each time he pierces the Katana Man, a Curse Devil counts down from three to one.
Eventually, the Curse hits “zero” and grabs the Katana Man killing him. Or at least until a mysterious young woman appears. She resurrects the Katana Man who then attacks Aki causing a wound that gushes with blood. Before he could “finish” Aki, Himeno sacrifices herself asking the Ghost Devil to help. At first it refuses claiming that the “girl is dreadful,” but when Himeno offers herself the Ghost Devil reveals itself. It process to overwhelm the Katana Man but before it gets the kill the mysterious woman summons the Snake Devil to decapitate the Ghost Devil. With the Ghost Devil defeated Aki turns to Himeno who has completely disappear except for her clothing.
This episode really opened the Chainsaw Man universe. We don’t know who the attackers are but we know that humans are also threats towards Division 4. The presence of the Katana Man means that there are others like Denji and the mysterious woman, and Aki suggests that hunters can have a variety of powers. I’m eager to see Denji fight the Katana Man. That fight will probably be different that what happens usually. However, the Katana Man seems poorly trained. Aki bested him and so did the Ghost Devil. He seems too privileged to have the type of toughness Denji has. We’ll see. I can’t wait.
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Episode 08 follows the Gotei 13 and Ichigo as they deal with the aftermath of Yhwach’s invasion and Yamamoto’s death. Seireitei lies in ruin, while critical patients are being rushed to the hospital. Isane Kotetsu asks Retsu Unohana if it was “the right choice” for them to remain in the barracks. She has guilt. Feeling that she and Unohana could have saved more lives. She’s right but as Unohana notes they were ordered not to leave “no matter what.”
Ichigo and Shinji Hirako visit Renji and Rukia who have become stable after surgery. Rukia thanks him for helping, but Ichigo acknowledges that he really didn’t do much. The meeting is interrupted when Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi calls for him. Mayuri tells Ichigo that his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, “cannot be repaired.” Mayuri and Ichigo mention that Mayuri “modifies” his Zanpakuto which is different that its destruction. I would have preferred a more detailed explanation on the difference. Anyway, Mayuri gets a message the Zero Squad (Royal Guard) has arrived.
Meeting the Royal Guard
The royal guard are five former Gotei 13 Captain that protect the Soul King and his Palace. Ichibe Hyosube, Kirio Hikifune, Oetsu Nimaiya, Senjumaru Shutara, and Tenjiro Kirinji arrive in dramatic fashion and proceed to embarrass the remaining members of the Gotei 13. When Sui Fang demands they stop joking around and asks why they didn’t help, Kirinji swiftly moves behind her. Sui Fang is suppose to be one of the fastest Shinigami in all of Seireitei, but Kirinji is faster. Furthermore, he taught Unohana all her healing techniques.
Senjumaru invades Mayuri’s lab to retrieve Ichigo’s Bankai and takes Rukia, Renji, and Byakuya placing them in three weird orbs. Despite Unohana’s healing ability she’s not good enough to heal them. Senjumaru notes that “security is a lot weaker than it was when she was last here.” I think the Gotei 13 got complacent and lazy especially with Yamamoto as their leader and were caught off guard by the Quincy. The devastation to Soul Society is the result.
What do you think of the Zero Squad? Which ones your favorite? Who’s the strongest? Does Kirinji have the best anime hair? Like and Comment.
Mob Psycho 100 Episode 008 opens with the Telepathy Club members, Mob, and Takenaka heading to Mt. Mudboat with Reigen. The car ride is miserable, Tome has a bad attitude, Mob is car sick, they miss their turn, and Reigen crashes the car into a tree. Saruta has to pee, so he a Mob (sent by Reigen) head off. After some time, Mob and Saruta don’t return. The group search for them in the forest but get they all get lost. As they head to the mountain top, Mameta forgets the spell to summon aliens and Tome has a meltdown.
At the summit, Takenaka performs the Alien Summoning ritual. Tome encourages everyone to perform the spell as well. Takenaka reveals that the author of the spell book was arrested for fraud. The spell isn’t real. When the group consider leaving Mob tells them they should summon the aliens on their own. The group joins hands and sends out a telepathic message. He summons a alien ship and three aliens beam down. The aliens beam them up to their ship. The group show the aliens games, pass times, and when it’s time to go they all give the aliens something as thanks. The aliens in turn give Tome a gem. The return to Earth leaving Mameta behind. He does return a week later though.
This episode wasn’t your typical Mob Psycho affair but I liked it. It had a lot of small comedic moments. Tome asking if Mob and Saruta were going number 2, the bickering in the car, Haruto falling during the track up the mountain, and apparently Mameta got high on something and performed naked for a stadium of aliens. Tome may have seemed ungrateful but I think she didn’t trust the guys from the Telepathy Club to care about her dreams. They never took them seriously before and she wasn’t sure they did this time.
What do you think? Did you like the little comedic moments? What about Mameta time with the aliens in the after credits? Why do you think Tome was so upset? Like and Comment.
In My Hero Academia Season 6 Episode 8 Creati encourages the other young heroes to work together to stop Gigantomachia. The plan to put him to sleep with a sedative she creates. Juzo Honenuki (Mudman) soften the land hoping to trap the giant, meanwhile, Mineta uses his sticky Pop Off’s to create a net. Suddenly, Gigantomachia comes rushing towards them with Mt. Lady holding on to dear life. Gigantomachia runs directly into the trap and falls.
Hanta Sero (Tape), Jurota Shishida (Beast), Rikido Sato (Sugar Rush), and Ibara Shiozaki (Vines) all try to pull Gigantomachia at once. It’s not enough. While the giant is distracted, Mezo Shoji (Dupli-Arms), Yuga Aoyama (Navel Laser), Reiko Yanagi (Poltergeist), Denki Kaminari (Electrification) climb on his back to attack on the villains. Denki tries to use his electricity but Mr. Compress uses the last of his debris to knock Denki out.
Gigantomachia vs the UA students
The heroes finally get Gigantomachia mouth open and they toss multiple canisters of the sedative towards his mouth. Gigantomachia blows them and the canisters away giving Dabi a opportunity to use his blue flame. The flames cover the forest, but the heroes aren’t afraid. Mt. Lady grabs Gigantomachia and forcible holds open his mouth. Pinky shielded by her acid armor, get close to Gigantomachia. The giant releases that he’s been “wasting time,” trying to bulldoze through the heroes. He needs to stop “wasting his time on insects.”
It’s not enough. While Pinky releases that Gigantomachia was the man that attacked her years ago, he tosses Mt. Lady once again. Before he can attack Pinky, Red Riot interferes saving her and grabbing her canister. He successfully climbs up the giants arm and tosses the canister into its mouth. The sedative will take time to take effect. Angry, Gigantomachia adds some armor and prepares to kill the heroes. Elsewhere, Tomura seems to be reaching his limit.
One of the things I love about Tomura is his unhinged faces. It unsettling but appealing at the same time. He withstands another Endeavor attack but before he can reach the number one hero, Gran Torino interferes. Running on fumes, Tomura’s seems to be like a wild animal. After a flashback, showing Shimura’s agony as she gives up custody of her son, Kotaro, Tomura impales Gran Torino. Deku becomes enraged and rushes to attack Tomura. The villain pushes past Deku to target Eraserhead with the Quirk-killing drug. He manages to get the shot off before the episode ends.
The 7th episode of Chainsaw Man, The Taste of a Kiss, concludes the Eternity Devil Arc and exposes some questionable sexual behaviors of Himeno. The episode opens with Denji hacking away at viscera of the Eternity Devil. Despite this, Denji is constantly being bitten by various heads gnawing at his body. As he bleeds he loses power. When Denji’s arm Chainsaw’s retract he being to bite and drink the blood of the Eternity Devil. After each assault from Denji, the Eternity Devil feels pain, something that Denji takes joy in causing.
Denji enjoys it so much that he appears to be insane. Himeno recalls a conversation with Kishibe about the “sanity” of a devil hunter. He claims that if a devil hunter is too “sane,” they’re more likely to die. He has a point. Facing death, especially from monstrous beings like Devils wouldn’t be something that “normal” people would choose to do. Kobeni seems to be a prime example of what happens when a normal person tries this job. Although she no longer seems sane to me. Denji continues to attack the Eternity Devil and eating its blood. This goes on for three days.
Eternity Devil gives up
Eventually, the Eternity Devil gives up and begs Denji to kill it. The devil hunters leave the hotel exhausted. The episode quickly pivots to a group dinner were all of Division 4 gather. Himeno and Denji flirt throughout and it ends with a vile moment of Himeno vomiting in Denji’s mouth. Personally, I have an aversion to vomit (like most people I assume) and had to skip that part. I’m troubled by the ending. Himeno takes Denji home and he’s seem out of it and she’s still drunk. When he asks for water she gives him beer (Denji’s 16) out her mouth. She then asks him if “they should do it.”
I’m not that offended by underage drinking (some might be though) but Himeno is sexually inappropriate. I tried to find out how old she is but I’m sure she’s older. I doubt they’ll have sex, Himeno will sober up. That said I think Chainsaw Man is more concerned with sex than most anime. I’m not sure it’s a bad thing. The series seems to be implying that sex isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, specifically with the groping (Denji was disappointed) and the kiss (well you know how that ended). I’m not sure were this series is headed but I’m mildly interested. Just no more vomit.
