Dandadan's new episode is all smiles

Key Takeaways

• Dandadan switches things up with a more relaxed episode that allows the characters to become closer.
• Characters face the aftermath of battle and awkward moments after victory.
• This week, the show's appeal is more evident than ever, with its nostalgic vibe, cute romance, and treatment of the antagonist.

WARNING: The following contains minor spoilers for Dandadan, Episode 10, “Have You Ever Seen a Cow Mutilated?”, now streaming. crunchy roll.

From heartbreaking to delightful, Dan Dan Dan Over the past few weeks, we've been constantly switching things up, giving each episode a unique tone, whether it's focusing on jokes or combat. As the anime nears the end of its first season, rather than ramping up the chaos, it pumps the brakes, allowing the characters to grapple with recent events and new emotions on an unexpectedly healthy footing.

Previously, things got wet and rough for Okalun, Momo, and Aira, as they all faced hordes of new alien enemies in an empty space that resembled a school, but gradually filled with water. With another brilliant plan from Momo and help from the other two, they emerge victorious. Unfortunately, it also meant showing up naked in the middle of school.

How do they begin to explain?

… The obvious perversion of Tatsu Yukinobu, who sexually threatens older women, is becoming blindingly obvious.

There's a lot about this series that has a nostalgic appeal. For example, I sometimes feel a bit of an old Gainax vibe to the show. Perhaps not in the art style or script, but certainly in the boldness of the characters. A pattern is emerging among the cast, one in which writer Yukinobu Tatsu's apparent perversion of sexually threatening older women is prominent. Queen Sensei, the school nurse, is a prime example.

No kinky shame here. To be honest, I have a lot of respect for you. The Queen comes on strong, demanding to know if the aforementioned nudity of the protagonists is the result of bullying. An act of concern that can only be taken in a threatening tone due to her menacing aura. Her design is too much for her ~ no This will become important later, but I wish she was just a full-time nurse to make an already funny scene even funnier.

Lessons Learned and Buried Ax

In Episode 10, the story progresses in two main ways. First, the three begin to investigate exactly why the aliens have been acting so aggressively recently. Second, they struggle with how to explain why they all randomly got nude in the middle of school. The first is about long-term thinking, but the second is about the immediate, and this allows the character's growth to be on full display. This is especially true for Aira, who continues to impress week after week.

Having been given a golden opportunity to escape the humiliation of that day, she is tormented by guilt at the thought that Momo is responsible. It's a touching scene, and while he doesn't rush into any kind of friendly reconciliation, the moments he shares with Momo afterwards are meaningful. They still aren't friends per se, but if Ira was mature enough to admit her past rude behavior, Momo was definitely mature enough not to touch it.

Moreover, Okarun finally gets to explain his previous big misunderstanding to Momo, and his embarrassment as he tells her the real reason he was behind the school is adorable. He just wants to be stronger to impress her, and she can't help but make fun of him for being so nervous about it. It encapsulates the season's adorable chemistry, and the animation never fails to inject subtle romantic tension into every small gesture between the two.

An amazing send-off from Mr. Mantis Shrimp

The second pattern that emerges this week (and a much better one than the previous one) is to get the attention and then deal with the antagonists. Turbo Granny has been transformed into the main cast member, Acrobatic Silky has been spiritually resurrected through Aira's transformation, and now it's the turn of Mr. Mantis Shrimp (aka the Dover Demon).

It's hard not to laugh when a show takes major/minor villains and makes them allies or keeps them around just for fun. It's not hard to feel for the guy, especially after what happened in Episode 7 and his kid comes into the picture. The somewhat human expression in his eyes also helps, giving the previously creepy design a cute appeal that quickly grows on viewers.

The happiest alien abduction in history

Dan Dan Dan's international appeal is quite simple to understand when you look at episodes like this. Regardless of country or native language, the fascination with the supernatural and the intrigue that stems from that fascination are universal. It's fun to think about the unknown, and the series respects that obsession as much as it loves to mock the extremes of such concepts. In this case, you don't even have to go that far to be effective.

It conjures up images of classic alien conspiracies, such as UFOs abducting livestock. Dan Dan Dan Wear your inspiration on your sleeve and look good while doing it. This episode, which brought a lot of laughter in the past due to the standard cute romance, was surprisingly pleasant. There are two episodes left, and I hope it's a satisfying enough finale because I can already tell it's going to be sad to say goodbye to the series.