REVIEW: ‘Otherside Picnic,’ Episode 12 – “Sorawo and Toriko”

Last time on Otherside Picnic, viewers stepped back into the otherside to rescue the U.S. Forces trapped at Kisaragi Station in episode 5 and episode 6. In the first half of this two-part finale, the girls helped the soldiers move towards an exit point… only to encounter a shaggy-haired woman clad in a kimono named Kankandara. Otherside Picnic Episode 12 picks up immediately with that same cliffhanger.

Immediately, Kankandara, a half-human, half-snake creature, is super intimidating. Despite her appearance as a shaggy-haired beauty, she has bright, red teeth that look perfect for chewing up humans in the Otherside.

In their fear, the U.S. soldiers unleash a volley of bullets. Yet Kankandara, in her true form, is unphased. In fact, all she does is blast the troops -and the girls- with a sonic boom that stops the bullets in their tracks. Yet the fight isn’t over, and with a lot of teamwork, a lot of creativity, and a desire to never give up, the girls and the soldiers somehow figure out a way to defeat Kankandara in what has got to be the best action sequence in the entire cour.

I will note Otherside Picnic Episode 12 contains the most body horror out of all the episodes thus far. I say this as a plus because seeing such a horrific sight really drives home the dangers of the Otherside, as well as the overall eerie nature of a parallel world. Plus, Kankandara’s design is just so dang cool that it only made the body horror of a half-human, half-snake monster all the cooler.

Post-battle, the girls -as the soldiers affectionately call them- find themselves alone. Thankfully, they’re safe, despite this being the always dangerous Otherside. The girls move through a very heartfelt scene that, for me, really bookended Sorawo and Toriko’s initial meet-cute. After a lot of emotions, they’re back to business. Of course, post-Otherside, this means a huge meal to celebrate surviving once again.

The back half of Otherside Picnic Episode 12 is actually quite calm when compared to the initial action. In fact, the show actually focuses on the titular Sorawo and Toriko and them just being together and talking. It’s a sweet way to end both the show and this season. I say both because I’m not sure if Otherside Picnic will receive a second cour at the time of this review.

Otherside Picnic Episode 12 was a fantastically scored finale with a lot of bang. The music is great, the sound design is superb, and the animation is at its best. Additionally, Otherside Picnic Episode 12 is a primarily action-forward episode, which means we get to Sorawo and Toriko at their finest. The tender moments the girls share feel well-earned, especially after weeks of watching them face off against all manner of monsters.

While the mystery of Satsuki remains, I have to say that Otherside Picnic Episode 12 was a really solid finale. It’s not perfect, but it both leaves room for a second cour while also being a solid bookend to the series overall. I’d love to have gotten closure on Satsuki. However, I believe that in the Otherside Picnic novel series, Satsuki still remains a mystery.

Ultimately, I found myself really enjoying the vague nature of Satsuki’s existence. Hopefully, Otherside Picnic will do well enough to get a second cour. I’d really love to see the girls unravel the mysteries around Satsuki. It would be neat to see some closure around her character.

I will miss my time with Otherside Picnic, especially after this bombastic ending. I strongly encourage reluctant viewers to give this series a try. Double so if you want a sapphic story with lots of supernatural goodness. If you’ve been waiting to binge Otherside Picnic, now’s the time. At twelve episodes, you can watch it in a day or two and still have a fantastic story. 

Otherside Picnic is streaming now on Funimation.