REVIEW: ‘Buddy Daddies’ Episode 11 — “Everyone Will Be Hypocrites”

The wholesome Buddy Daddies we’ve fallen in love with has been pivoting over the last few episodes as Kazuki and Rei’s hitman life. Still, more specifically, Rei’s mafia family has begun to apply pressure. Last episode, Miri’s mother had a change of heart, and after a family day, Kazuki and Rei said goodbye. One of the most emotional episodes of the season so far, the last episode balanced somber notes with joy that offered at least a small respite than watching this family be broken apart. That said, both Kazuki and Rei were able to process things because they had Miri’s future and her happiness in mind. But in Buddy Daddies Episode 11, “Everyone Will Be Hypocrites,” harm has found this family, and no one is going to be able to be the same.

Opening with just how empty Kazuki and Rei’s life is without Miri, Buddy Daddies Episode 11 is quick to show just how much these two dads miss their daughter. At the same time, it’s hard to wallow with our duo because Miri’s mom isn’t the same woman who abandoned her. Instead, she’s trying her hardest to be the mom she never was. It would have been easy for PA Works to keep Miri’s mom as someone to hate, but this shift in Miri’s life works emotionally because nothing is an easy decision. Sure, Kazuki and Rei love Miri, but can they give her a happy and, more important safe life? That’s the big question that the series has danced around and one that it confronts directly in this episode.

In a deep rut, Rei decides to head back to his family house and to his dad. But as we’ve seen, his connections to Kazuki and Miri remain the focus of his dad—I mean boss. As the next in line to take over the organization, Kazuki, but specifically, Miri is seen as a weakness. She is the complication that Rei won’t clear himself, and so Boss Suwa puts into action the hit that has been hinted at for some time, and with Miri and her mother away from the daddies’ watchful eyes, the danger hits quickly.

Buddy Daddies Episode 11 is about tension and emotion. We get to see the hole that Miri leaves in Kazuki and Rei’s life, but we also get to see that her mother has changed since Episode 3, and done so deeply. As a series, every emotional moment is a success because PA Works makes sure that each character doesn’t just talk about their emotions; they act on them. In this case, the audience see Miri’s mom change. We see Kazuki and Rei struggle to maintain the joy they had when Miri lived with them. But most importantly for the narrative, Kazuki and Rei make the decision once again to stand up to Boss Suwa and the organization and keep Miri as their daughter. While we get the chance to see both men independently decide to be a father to Miri, this is the first time in the series that we see them accept and act on the task together. They verbalize it and push their fears of danger away as they embrace the fact that only they can protect Miri.

Buddy Daddies is a hit from PA Works, and that has to do with how the hitman reality has hung over the series even in the sweeter slice-of-life moments. In Buddy Daddies Episode 11 the other shoe drops and choices are made that will define the end of the season. Kazuki and Rei are fathers by choice, and they will protect her. Right now, that protection is from the organization, and in the future, it’s for the rest of her life. But that choice comes with extreme danger and consequences. With the end of the season closing in, PA Works’ pacing has been perfect and has managed to deliver in almost every way (I mean, the indirect kiss in episode 10? Be still my yearning shojo heart). Where we go next will be a rollercoaster, but Buddy Daddies is well worth the ride.

Buddy Daddies Episode 11 is available on Crunchyroll with new episodes every Friday.