REVIEW: ‘Ranma 1/2’ Episode 7 — “Hot Competition”

The continued defiance of any semblance of logic makes Ranma 1/2 consistently hilarious. Anyone who loves series such as The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Or Nichijou will find plenty to celebrate in the latest adaptation of the classic manga. While it isn’t, by definition, a gag-humor anime, Ranma 1/2 Episode 7 commits itself to wall-to-wall comedy as the plot grows increasingly nonsensical. The anything-goes martial arts style is preserved in “Hot Competition,” where Ranma (Megumi Hayashibara and Kappei Yamaguchi), in girl form, faces off with Kodachi (Ayane Sakura) to shake her affections for him in his male form.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 7 doesn’t dull the momentum. From the jump, we’re thrust into the escalating stakes as Ryoga trains Ranma for the Martial Arts and Rhythmic Gymnastics competition. However, we quickly learn that Ryoga isn’t doing this out of the goodness of his heart. Instead, he plans to sabotage Ranma. He believes that if Ranma loses and has to date Kodachi, it will divide Ranma and Akane (Noriko Hidaka), leaving the latter to Ryoga’s affections.

The training goes awry as the two fight until morning, leaving both worse for wear. The sequence of watching them duke it out is hilarious and achieves that hilarity through simplistic touches. We don’t see every moment of the fight. Instead, we’re privy only to their yellow and blue silhouettes with expertly executed sound effects.

The main action, however, takes place in the ring. It’s a literal boxing ring. Because as mentioned, Ranma 1/2 rejects the need to beholden itself to any logic. Instead, it forgoes sanity and lands itself straight in absurdism. Ranma and Kodachi are only allowed to fight using the tools of rhythmic gymnastics, though that quickly turns into any tools. And Kodachi reveals herself to be a cheat, trying to sabotage Ranma before setting foot in the ring. From a sleep sedative to chaining Ranma to Ryoga in his pig form, Kodachi doesn’t do anything she can to hinder her opponent.

While other fights throughout the series utilize hyper-saturated color pallets to heighten the battles, Ranma 1/2 Episode 7 focuses more on the quick back and forths between the two fighters. There’s a stark difference between Ranma and Kodachi’s fighting style, which is buoyed by their characterizations. Kodachi is severe elegance, utilizing her popularity to get by with apparent cheating — more than one of her tools hides blades in them. Meanwhile, there’s a rough around-the-edges energy to Ranma in this form, graceful and balletic but prone to quick judgment and rash decision-making.

It makes for a fantastic pairing as the two work against the other’s weaknesses. It’s a joke-heavy episode, from casual remarks to visual and physical comedy. One of the best bits is the overwhelming acceptance of the ludicrous lack of rules in the fight. Ranma blocks an attack with Ryoga, and it’s fine since, in this case, a pig is a tool. It’s also OK that Kodachi uses her ribbons to throw other inanimate objects at Ranma because they’re also tools. The ring physically moving because Kodachi has a league of underlings underneath it to move it at her whims? Acceptable.

But perhaps the funniest moment arrives with Ranma’s father, Genba, in his panda form with a tea set and a fully packed lunch. Akane tells him this is no time for a tea break, but of course, it’s needed for the requisite threat of Ranma’s curse being revealed. Kodachi grabs the hot water and pours it over Ranma and Ryoga. And, momentarily, they transform, though a wall of steam shrouds them. Ranma’s primary concern isn’t that his curse will be revealed but that the entire school will see him in a leotard.

Of course, they’re quickly transformed again, aided by the all-powerful water hose that Akane and Genba found. This level of pratfall-style comedy makes the series ridiculously watchable. The plot is relatively thin, but the whens and whys of the story are endlessly unpredictable. We know that Ranma will maintain his secret, but we have no clue how.

Ultimately, Ranma wins the fight, leaving him completely burned out. Kodachi doesn’t seem too perturbed, ready to continue her plight for Ranma’s affections. This further solidifies that Ranma 1/2 looks to build out its expanding ensemble steadily.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 7 is peak comedy. Utilizing its high-octane energy and love for all things silly and absurd, it’s relentless in its charms.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 7 is out now on Netflix.