REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 7 – “Feeling Kinda Gloomy”

It’s telling how even what amounts to a filler-esque/transitional installment can still be laden with superb animation and pivotal character moments. As the Evil Eye arc continues to simmer in the background while the characters ready themselves for the next hurdle, DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 7 expertly dodges any threats to momentum killers. Instead, the series finds ways to evolve the characters even as the action takes a backseat. And the result is a thoughtful, expressive examination of how they grow and develop while the adults in their lives best try to champion and support them. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 7 injects itself with a contemplative beat, sandwiched between a wholesome and adorable opener and the balls-to-the-walls insanity of the closer. In this moment, Seiko (Nana Mizuki), having witnessed her granddaughter be threatened by the Evil Eye, tells Manjiro (Hiroyuki Yoshino) that as an adult, “you want to burden yourself with all the kids’ troubles, so you can tell them to do whatever they like.” Essentially, to be able to allows kids to be kids. Manjiro, in an effort to convince Seiko to bring the Hayashi band back for the exorcism, tells her it’s important to guide them to see reason and reality, too. 

The scene is gentle and beautifully scored, a striking contrast to the series’ often mad dash energy. Seiko’s moment of reflection speaks to the story in general that both plays within the rulebook of well-established shonen tropes while offering pieces of something fresh and new. Here are four teenagers burdened with abilities that force them into figures of heroism. Yet they’re constantly fed, clothed, and taken care of by an adult who understands the gravity of the situation. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 7 allows the characters to act their age.

All of which, in retrospect and moving ahead, makes Momo (Shion Wakayama), Okarun (Natsuki Hanae), Aira (Ayane Sakura), and Jiji’s (Kaito Ishikawa) actions all the more relatable and sweet. Okarun running back to the maid cafe to walk Momo home is both a cute moment for the two in their will they, won’t they romance, shows Okarun’s growth as a character, and allows for some hilarious, expansive animation as Momo continually watches the clock countdown to the end of her shift (relatable). 

Later, the fours’ frustration and insecurities are potent, so much different than their rambunctious, hotheaded camaraderie’s in Episode 6. Okarun is feeling guilty for not being able to protect Momo from the Evil Eye. In contrast, Jiji feels the same about not being able to maintain control and, subsequently, hurting Momo. Aira is feeling guilty over being the one whose drink caused the transition. The only one not awkward or fumbling is Momo, who sees it as a mere blip. She was able to save herself due to her quick thinking. 

Momo is such a wonderful, fully realized character, and it makes complete sense that, of the four, she’d be the least burdened. What’s done is done; why linger? It makes just as much sense, then, that Okarun would be plagued by the moment, agonizing over his inability to throw a punch and how that equates to being weak until he’s confronted by Turbo Granny who points him with a crucial question – does he want to learn to throw a punch or does he want to be strong? 

Okarun comes to a pivotal realization.

Up until now, Okarun has viewed “being strong” through a narrow perspective. Turbo Granny reminds him that it’s her powers he has, and, in that case, he must utilize his strength differently. She drags him (and a trailing Aira) to the school during the night in order to knock some sense into him and, in a beat of growth for her too, offer him some training. 

It’s one of the more straightforward and comprehensible visual explanations of different characters and their powers. She uses a piano to explain the difference between his power versus Evil Eye’s or Aira’s while in her yōkai form. While he can make maybe two moves per beat, they’re doubling it. DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 7 does an exemplary job of making an exposition moment interesting and informative without detracting from the rest of the episode. 

It all culminates in one of, perhaps, the series’ most absurd jump cuts – something that’s crucial to the narrative language of DanDaDan. They turn around and, suddenly, a floating figure adopting the visage of a famous composer appears, introducing our next ridiculous battle for Okarun and Aira to deal with.

Moments between Okarun and Momo and an infectious score power the episode.

The shock of the moment is infectiously weird and unpredictable as we scramble to try and figure out just what type of fight the two will be embarking on to get strong enough to protect their friends. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 7 is a glorious culmination of all the details that make the series such a tremendous, engaging experience. The action may be more subdued, but the character beats and the emotional pull remain just as vibrant.

From intriguing direction choices (such as the shot of Manjiro and Seiko speaking through a panel of glass), to the score that bobs and weaves, malleable yet ever consistent, and the charismatic performances, the series is as strong as it’s ever been. It might have paused on the relentless, breakneck speed, but it remains energized. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 7 is available now on Crunchyroll and Netflix. 

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