REVIEW: ‘Sakamoto Days’ Episode 20 — “Mutual Fans”

There’s a major revelation at the center of Sakamoto Days Episode 20, and yet it fails to stick the landing. Despite the fumble of a key point in the story, “Mutual Fans” picks itself up a bit due to some strong enough action, courtesy, as always, of Shin’s (Nobunaga Shimazaki) storyline and a moment of genuinely shocking violence followed by earned character growth at the very end. 

As has become customary in the series, Sakamoto Days Episode 20 is an example of middling highs and sigh-inducing lows. It bears repeating that this wouldn’t be an issue if the manga the anime is based on had settled for rote animation and stiff action. But mangaka Yuto Suzuki has such expressive designs and utilizes dynamic line-work to help create such tremendous feats of motion on the page that the adaptation seems less impressive in comparison.

The pop-art style and aesthetic worked well enough with the more urban settings, but now diminishes the overall effect as the characters are surrounded by nature. The trees are blotchy, and there’s a distinctive lack of weight to the setting. For a series so entrenched in action, there’s no kineticism or flow. Once we’ve seen one bout of action, we’ll likely see it again in the same form and framing. The Netflix adaptation fails to bring anything new or fresh to the table when executing a sequence. 

Sakamoto Days Episode 20 struggles with fluidity. 

It’s why the Shin fight scenes always land so well. They’re forced to be in motion. While Sakamoto (Tomokazu Sugita) possesses a lot of speed, his primary fighting tool is in clever defenses and ways of disarming an assailant, as well as his sheer power. This is something even Shin notes in Sakamoto Days Episode 20. He lacks his mentor’s skill and mass. He needs to harness his own abilities and strengths to defeat his opponent. 

The fight between Shin and Toramaru (Hisako Kanemoto) is the definitive highlight of “Mutual Fans.” And not just because it is essentially two fans fighting over who knows Sakamoto best. The sequence highlights Shin’s speed and adaptability while mid-battle. He’s able to gain the upper hand by tricking Toramaru into jumping off a cliff and into the river below. 

And this is where the heart of the series emerges. Shin, hearing Toramaru’s thoughts, realizes she’s stuck and must go and fish her out despite her earlier attacks. This both doubles down on his good nature while also setting up a fantastic cliffhanger. Shin, like his mentor, has a habit of attracting strays. First, with Mafuyu (Daiki Yamashita), and now with Toramaru, who is so thankful that she goes so far as to offer him her beloved Sakamoto doll. 

Shin remains the series overall MVP. 

But the payoff truly comes to fruition later, once another member brutally attacks Toramaru and the exam instructors. We learn that the contestant Shinaya is actually a cyborg being controlled remotely by Gaku in an effort to find recruits for his and Slur’s plans. Shin, refusing to run, stands up against him only to realize he’s been immobilized after overexerting himself by using his clairvoyance. 

And then boom: payoff. His kindness and willingness to help pay off as Mafuyu and Toramaru reenter the battle, coming to Shin’s defense before he can be attacked. It’s a fantastic moment that also spells out a greater threat as the two intrigue Gaku due to their clear strength. 

However, despite the strong character work and some confident action direction, Sakamoto Days Episode 20 falters with its biggest reveal. Akira (Mao Ichimichi), being related to Rion Akira, Sakamoto’s old classmate and friend, is a significant moment in the episode and series as a whole. And yet, the moment lands with a whimper. The dramatic stakes lack tension, coming across as emotionless. 

“Mutual Fans” needs more heart. 

Rion is so intriguing, and the character design still works, but even the small jump into Sakamoto’s memory of her does little to capitalize on it. We want to know more about her because she is a secret component of his past. But not because the episode sets it up in such a way that it draws on emotional threads.

There’s a general apathy that permeates the show—a distance created by the over-the-top, slick animation and a score that, when in espionage mode, suggests a series much more serious than it actually is. Sure, Sakamoto’s strength seems untouchable, but the show sometimes forgets he’s human. 

Sakamoto Days Episode 20 works in small bouts of action, and the Shin element shines as always. But the series continues to miss the big emotional moments regarding its protagonist. The animation is already stiff, so the series can’t afford a cold and detached story either. 

Sakamoto Days Episode 20 is out now on Netflix. 

Previous Episode | Next Episode