REVIEW: ‘Dorohedoro’ Season 2 Episode 4

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4 focuses on Nikaido (Reina Kondô, Fate/Grand Order) as it starts to explore her past, her magic powers, and her connection to the devil Asu. But even as we walk down memory lane, things continue to unfold in the present, as secrets are revealed and a farce plays out. 

The farce opens Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4, as we see the hapless Cross Eyes try to stage their deceased landlord’s body in her home, in such a way that it doesn’t create any suspicion. This endeavor sees the group struggle through a couple of attempts, including having their landlord “die” quietly in the tub, as well as staging her suicide. They go horribly wrong. 

This opening creates a bit of levity as the group sees unexpected repercussions from their attempts. The oversights that lead to much of their struggles are easily foreseeable, but it’s also what gives them an edge of humor. This opening hits the humor equivalent of a trainwreck. Tragic, yet you cannot avert your eyes. The final moment also delivers a bit of the show’s propensity for the grotesque as a surprise pops out to threaten the bewildered Cross Eyes. 

The opening of Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4 illustrates the levels of ridiculousness this group can get up to.

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4 takes a dramatic shift in tone once it gets past its opening. We learn a bit more about the process of becoming a devil, a transition previously brought up in the series. We learn about the special meat prospective devils are fed and its origins, as we see Asu (Hozumi Gôda, The Witch and the Beast) tortured by Chidaruma (Shigeru Chiba, Ghost in the Shell) for keeping secrets from him. 

The brutal treatment Asu endures for choosing to help Nikaido escape from En (Ken’yû Horiuchi, Cowboy Bebop) is one of the more impactful violent moments in the series so far. The Henious treatment he undergoes forces a critical question to the forefront: What connection could the devil have to Nikaido that would cause him to risk such torture to help her?

We begin to learn the answers to this question thanks to Chota’s (Anri Katsu, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes) discovery of Nikaido’s diary. Nikaido wrote the diary while under En’s control, in the hope of preserving her determination never to use her magic, even if all other control over herself was lost. 

The exploration of devils, as well as Nikaido’s backstory, alleviates some curiosity.

From Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4‘s background exploration, we learn that Nikaido knew Asu before he was a devil, when she was just a small child. We also get our first glimpse of her powers, which will likely surprise many. Given all the talk of her having time magic, what we see leaves a lot of intriguing questions floating in the air as to what exactly her magic entails. 

The element that stands out the most from Nikaido’s past is the setting. Lush forests and beautiful farmland make up the scene, giving it a wholesome, childhood energy one wouldn’t expect from the series. Well, except for the hunters who prowl about looking to capture young sorcerers. That part feels right at home. 

The answers remain unspoken, as Chota’s violation of Nikiado’s privacy is interrupted by En, who discovers the truth behind the ruse Chota and En have put on. Needless to say, he’s not happy. His rage is cut short, however, when Chota accidentally tears the piece of En that was used to make his contract with Nikaido. The remaining weakness the strip of flesh poses feels intentional, setting up the element’s future importance.

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4 ends with a step forward for the growing friendship between outcasts.

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4 ends with a brief segue to Fujita (Kengo Takanashi, The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic) when he learns that Ebisu (Miyu Tomita, DanDaDan) is leaving to return to her home. His initial, blasé response is contradicted by his mad rush to reach her before her departure to learn where she is going. 

There has been a low-key friendship slowly growing between the two outcasts over the series run, and this feels like another step for that plot. Given how little anyone seems to think of him, it will be interesting to see if Fujita opts to follow Ebisu, since she was kind enough to be willing to make a contract with him, if only poor dietary choices hadn’t gotten in the way. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4 delivers a strong narrative setup for both the past and present events. What we’ll learn about Nikaido, what steps En will take now that he knows his fixation has left, and what impact Ebisu’s departure will have all create intriguing questions that will hopefully have answers forthcoming. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 4 is streaming now on Netflix. 

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