Our heroes’ eventful romp in the mountains comes to a close, but a few strings are left hanging. With the Evil Eye still possessing Jiji, regular life takes a turn for the chaotic. That’s nothing new for the Ayase household. A few extra hands never hurt anybody. Yet.
SPOILER WARNING for Episode 5
Rated 16+ for Sexual Violence, Smoking, Suggestive Dialogue, Suicide, Violence
Everything’s Back to Normal…Mostly
It’s time for a celebratory feast at the Ayase household! Even Aira, the misguided pink-haired popular girl, makes an appearance. Here, we find out that cold water awakens the Evil Eye, but hot water awakens Jiji. It’s a simple but effective solution until Grandma Seiko can properly exorcise the spirit.
This first scene is filled with so much energy. The show practically turns into a family sitcom at times like this. The manga artist, Yukinobu Tatsu, has gone on record saying he includes these big group dinner scenes because he likes the feeling of connection. It perfectly balances that heartwarming sensation with crucial story elements.
Next, we get an adorable little moment with Momo and Okarun blushing over hand-tag. Not only were their reactions unbearably wholesome and cute, but framing the moment as they travel through a tunnel, reflecting the moment that first brought them together, was pure poetic perfection.
Later, after Jiji checks up on his parents, it’s revealed that Mother Kito was actually an alien or cryptid in disguise. The setup was very well done. Police flashlights framed her silhouette as she peeled off pieces of her body to reveal a grotesque head and elongated limbs. It was something straight out of a horror movie.
The next day at school, Momo convinces Okarun and Aira to stay at her house to help keep the Evil Eye in check. It doesn’t take long for the worst-case scenario to come about. The last minute of this episode is comedy gold.
The timing, the fakeout, the dramatic zoom in, the speed of the punchline, and the freeze frames were perfect. The classic “Japanese table flip” bit was the cherry on top. The only note I have is that I wish the finishing shot was a little less distorted, so we could see every hilarious detail.
Final Thoughts
DanDaDan never ceases to amaze with its ability to fit so much detail into its run time. This episode in particular had lots of little moments, from the mantis shrimp alien, named Peeny Weeny, explaining why he and his son are back on Earth to Aira dealing with hostility from her classmates. It never felt bloated or tiring.
There was a good balance of up and down, keeping both the crazy and mundane engaging. This was also a great episode for character acting. When they’re not dealing with aliens or ghosts, the characters are exploring their interpersonal relations and emotions. This helps fill in the gaps and adds another layer of investment.
As much as we love fiction, real life can be just as enjoyable.
Scorecard
Art and Animation: 4/5
- Still shots had just as much life to them
- Moments of high energy still hit hard
- Great character expressions
Story and Characters: 3/5
- A lot of explaining scenes
- Nice development on all fronts
- Slight lull in the story, but much needed as a denouement
Sound and Presentation: 3/5
- For every loud zany moment, there was a quiet sweet moment
- Incredible variety of scenes
- The last minute was everything it needed to be
Occult Corner: Subterraneans
When Mother Kito reveals her true form, she says Momo has made an enemy of “us subterraneans.” It’s not quite clear what the “subterraneans” are, but they’re likely inspired from several cryptozoological and conspiracy theories. There is no shortage of underground dwelling cryptids like giant spiders, bats, and even apes.
Two more likely connections could be the mole people myths or the reptilian theories. The latter claims there’s a race of bipedal reptile-like humanoids who can shapeshift and have infiltrated humanity. This also brings to mind the “Hollow Earth Theory,” which proposes that a thriving ecosystem exists beneath the surface.
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