REVIEW: ‘Kaiju No 8’ Episode 7 — “Kaiju No. 9”

Kaiju No 8 Episode 7 delivers a barrage of strong sequences that remind us why the series, based on the manga by Naoya Matsumoto, is so addicting. From the brazen humor to layered characters and electrifying action sequences, “Kaiju No. 9” is a stellar installment. The titular villain makes his second appearance after its fight with Shinomiya (Fairouz Ai), targeting Ichikawa (Wataru Kato) and Iharu (Yūki Shin). And it’s through this showdown that the beating heart of the series shines through — Ichikawa and Kafka’s (Masaya Fukunishi) friendship.

Despite the action and monster design that anchors the story, an abundance of heart takes center stage. And we often witness it through acts of kindness, first, with Kafka and Ichikawa saving one another in Episode 1. Later, we see it again when Kafka rescues Shinomiya but also reassures her and treats her like the teenager she is. These interactions are what are building Kafka into a formidable, engaging hero. In Kaiju No 8 Episode 7, we see how Ichikawa has taken these lessons to heart. Yes, he wants to be powerful. But his greatest hope in getting stronger is to ensure that Kafka never has to transform and risk his own life.

His growth in power is formidable, though, something that Iharu notes. The latter is initially frustrated after being so quickly dispatched by the Kaiju No 9. Its monstrous capabilities wreak havoc on the duo as their communications are blocked, and they’re far from any other squad members. While both of them suffer damage, Ichikawa quickly tells Iharu to run and get help, even though he himself is terrified. Iharu can’t help but double back; he worries more about helping his friend than getting himself to safety.

But that emotional pull and Ichikawa’s desire to save gives the initial setpiece its dramatic stakes. When Iharu thinks about rising in the ranks, he thinks of being saved by Mina Ashiro (Asami Seto). When Ichikawa thinks about it he thinks of the hapless, brave Kafka, who rescued him in Episode 1 despite having no skills as an Anti-Kaiju Defense Squad member. Ichikawa is inspired by Kafka’s tireless attempts to get stronger and his will to save his friends. In his eyes, Ichikiawa is doing the same thing.

It makes the Kaiju No 9’s attacks all the more brutal. Kaiju No 8 Episode 7 ups the ante on violence and disturbing imagery. The way Kaiju No 9 controls and warps its body is repulsive, building energy in its fingertips before releasing it and puncturing wounds in Iharu and Ichikawa’s bodies. That, coupled with the sound design and effects layering the monster’s voice and the casual way it discusses potential carnage, make for a chilling villain. One who views humanity with curiosity and destruction. And while we hope that the show isn’t going the way of a Chainsaw Man or Jujutsu Kaisen with shocking deaths and trauma, Ichikawa’s life hangs in the balance for a moment.

It all circles back to why his friendship with Kafka is integral to the story. When Kafka shows up at the last moment to save his friends, it’s a thrilling sequence that delivers enormous impact. We care so much. We care that Ichikawa is saved and that it was Kafka doing the saving, even if it spells trouble for our hero. His ire at No 9 when he feels the harm it’s been inflicting on his friends is palpable, the animation doubling down on his electrical silhouette to reinforce his rage.

So much of the action thus far in the series has centered on single blows. This is especially true with Kafka in his kaiju form. His fight with No 9 allows for more space for movement, even as Kafka begins to demolish it. But where the series finds depth in these more stagnant moments is in the lighting and shadows that surround him, conveying his power without it having to rely on the blows themselves. The electrical effect works wonders, allowing for a distinctive color palette that speaks to the type of power that Kafka harnesses.

It’s similar to seeing what the kaiju cores look like, which rely on a colorful vibrancy reminiscent of a piece of machinery. There’s an artificiality that lends itself to the science-fiction nature of the series. These two components and design elements speak directly to the episode’s final showdown, which promises genuine and potentially dire consequences. Kafka almost made it to safety and nearly dispatched No 9. But in the end, cornered, he loses the momentum he had. It’s a shocking moment that allows Hoshina (Kengo Kawanishi) his first real moment to shine through action, and it’s here that Production I.G. cuts lose, the direction dizzying as it captures the captain’s speed, power, and grace.

It’s a major cliffhanger to leave viewers on. With a strong, emotional core in the central friendship and overwhelming action, Kaiju No 8 Episode 7 is one of the series’ best episodes so far. It beautifully marries together the show’s strongest aspects, catching us in a whirlwind of significant stakes that threaten vital consequences.

Kaiju No 8 Episode 7 is out now on Crunchyroll.