With Kaiju No. 8, Episode 8, the gripping sci-fi/military-themed anime series has once again delivered an episode filled with fast action, moral dilemmas, and a cliffhanger that leaves viewers eagerly anticipating the next installment.
Plot Summary: The episode begins where the last episode ended with Hoshina, a formidable fighter, engaging in a battle with Kafka, aka Kaiju No. 8.
But the fight, it turns out, is as much a test of Kafka’s mental fortitude as it is his strength as he quickly realizes Hoshina’s amazing sword skills are far more dangerous than he ever thought.
No wonder Hoshina is thought of as one of the strongest people in the defense force.
The problem is, while Kafka does have the power to hit Hoshina so hard he would probably kill him, the last thing he wants to do is hurt his own team leader.
So it is up to him to figure out a way of either winning the fight or retreating, without Hoshina learning who he is.
Kafka does eventually achieve the retreating, after being cut quite severely by Hoshina several times, and goes back to find Kikoru.
RELATED: In which Kaiju No 8 episode does Kikoru first appear?
The rest of the episode has the Defense Force’s Third Division having a party in celebration of their first mission together, and Kafka being promoted from cadet to full-fledged officer.
Kaiju No. 8, Episode 8 ends with a brief scene showing new character Kaiju No. 10 flying high above the city atop a wyvern, while followed by a fleet of other wyvern.
The last thing we hear before the credits roll is the humanoid kaiju commanding his wyvern “Initiate descent”.
Yep, with that kind of cliffhanger, the coming Episode 9 could be quite grim.
Now let’s look at what worked in Kaiju No. 8 and what could have been done better.
What worked in Kaiju No. 8, Episode 8
The Fight Scene Between Hoshina and Kafka: The fight between Hoshina and Kafka is the highlight of the episode, providing a thrilling display of action mixed with some damn good strategy.
Hoshina’s relentless assault with his swords, and Kafka’s ability to evade and counter-attack, make for a captivating spectacle.
The fight itself, though, is not just about physical prowess but also about Kafka’s emotional and moral dilemma as he faces a challenging decision: how to balance surviving the fight without harming someone he respects and likes.
This moral complexity adds depth to the well-choreographed and nicely animated fight, making it more than just a physical confrontation as the viewer ends up worrying about both participants.
The fight was also not just a simple action sequence but became a thought-provoking moment as we see the moral dilemma Kafka finds himself in.
Kafka’s Promotion and the Ominous Ending Scene: After the intense battle, the episode takes a breather with a work party to celebrate the success of the team’s first mission, and the release of Ichikawa and Furuhashi from the hospital.
The party scene, while a departure from the intense action, was a welcome change of pace.
It allowed for character development and team building, showing the human side of the Defense Force members as they first bicker with each other, and then bolster each other’s confidence.
It is during this party that Kafka is officially promoted, as Hoshina highlights his significant contribution to the team despite not being a regular member of the Defense Force.
The promotion is a moment of triumph for Kafka, but it is overshadowed by the ominous ending of the episode.
It is then a new, more dangerous kaiju is introduced, hinting at future challenges and conflicts that the team will have to face.
The reveal of Haruichi Izumo’s connection to Izumo Technologies, a major player in the world of Kaiju No. 8, was also an interesting plot point that likely has significant implications for future episodes.
What could have been better?
While Kaiju No. 8, Episode 8 was generally one of the strongest episodes of the anime so far, as it struck a good balance between action, humor, horror and character development, there was one scene that could have been improved.
That was the ending scene where Kaiju No. 10Â was briefly introduced, as his appearance came out of nowhere, with anyone who hasn’t read the manga having no idea who he was.
With a little more foreshadowing, and his appearance being integrated better into the episode’s overall narrative rather than being completely separate from it, it could have strengthened viewers’ anticipation of the next episode even more.
Overall, though, Kaiju No. 8, Episode 8 was a very strong episode leaving me, at least, quite antsy to see what comes next.
Now check out all our other recaps for Kaiju No. 8 here on Leo Sigh — Kaiju No. 8, Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6 and Episode 7.