With Acrobat Silky defeated, life goes back to relative normalcy in Dan Da Dan episode 8. Aira has become a permanent addition to the cast, on account of her massive misunderstanding, which complicates things between Momo and Okarun. It’s an odd and humorous relationship triangle. However, things quickly take a turn for the occult once more.
Aira Complicates Things in "Dan Da Dan" Episode 8
Momo, Okarun, Seiko, Turbo Granny, and Aira sit down for a celebratory meal. Notice how after each antagonist so far, the meal has featured something related to said antagonist. They ate crab after defeating the bound spirit. Here, they’re having somen noodles, reminiscent of Acrobat Silky’s hair. Just a fun little detail.
Momo tries to patch things up with Aira, but she’s having none of it. Aira is still set in her “chuunibyou” ways, or “eighth-grade delusions.” She is convinced that she was given powers by heaven to defeat Momo and the demons under her control, including Okarun. It’s a fun sequence, made all the better by the floating text that spells out their dialogue while they’re stuffing their faces. Aira storms off in a huff, but not before thanking Okarun for saving her. Then we’re treated to a hilarious scenario as Turbo Granny replaces Okarun’s golden ball. The over-the-top baseball analogy is the perfect buildup for a perfect punchline.
The next day, Momo invites Okarun to hang out. However, he reverts back to his avoidant behaviors. She tries to rationalize it as best she can, but she still has this funny feeling. That’s when she catches Okarun on the ground, on top of Aira.
Turns out, Okarun was trying to train in secret so he could better protect Momo. It came up in the fight against Acrobat Silky that Okarun has no fighting experience whatsoever. In the midst of his training, however, Aira found him and started making advances of the romantic variety. After a squabble over romantic awkwardness, they tripped and Okarun ended up on top, leading to the misunderstanding with Momo. He tries to explain himself but she brushes him off, and they spend the rest of the day moping.
Romance Quickly Turns to the Occult
There’s no time for regret, however. The school goes dark, everyone disappears, and water starts leaking in. Okarun, to his surprise, finds Aira also trapped in this closed space and they search for a way out. Meanwhile, Momo has a close encounter with an aquatic dinosaur-like creature. The reveal of this creature is delightfully tense, dripping with atmosphere and suspense. The use of ripples in the water is a great visual cue that heightens the tension. The creature lets loose a powerful stream of water, like a pressure washer on steroids that just narrowly misses Momo.
Okarun and Aira aren’t faring any better as they come across a strange plate-headed figure with a knack for boxing. Okarun manages to avoid its lightning fast punches but then he’s caught in a psychic gravity well. The Serpoians have returned. This time, they want to run experiments on Okarun to figure out the source of his cursed power. Before they can start, a violet flash rushes in. In a spinning flurry of legs and hair, the wide-toothed grin of Acrobat Silky takes shape. Aira has accessed her own yokai powers and is ready to fight by Okarun’s side.
Overall Thoughts on "Dan Da Dan" Episode 8
Dan Da Dan episode 8 is another fun episode filled with everything that makes the series so enjoyable. The romantic subplot is starting to really take shape with the addition of Aira. Adding her inexperience with romance on top of her popular-girl/chuunibyou persona rounds out her gap appeal. Realizing all her knowledge comes from her father’s magazines is priceless. We get a return to the horror genre when Momo sees the dinosaur. It was legitimately unsettling, especially seeing the creature’s grotesque movements. Then there’s the encounter with the Serpoians and the boxing-gloved figure against an orange hued filter. An interesting choice, to be sure, but it’s on brand with the rest of the supernatural encounters.
Occult Corner
The Loch Ness Monster: It’s safe to say, given its appearance and water-based abilities, that the creature Momo encounters is inspired by the Loch Ness Monster. Anecdotal evidence of the creature lurking in Loch Ness of the Scottish Highlands dates back as far as the 7th century AD. The most famous sighting was in 1934 when a London gynecologist took what is now called the “surgeon’s photograph.” It depicts a slender neck and head coasting on the surface of the lake. The photo has since been debunked as a hoax, but Nessie’s hold on cryptozoology has been strong ever since. Other similar cryptids can be found all over the world including Champy in Lake Champlain, the Mokele-Mbembe of the Congo River Basin, and Kussie from Hokkaido’s Lake Kussharo.
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