REVIEW: ‘Dorohedoro’ Season 2 Episode 11

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 follows Nikaido (Reina Kondô, Undead Murder Farce) and Asu into the Cross Eyes’ base in search of information En kept in a secret vault. Natsuki (Sara Matsumoto, Train to the End of the World) also learns about the extent of her newfound powers, though she is unaware of the danger they put her in due to the hunger of an unforeseen threat. 

This episode, like many in the series, looks to do a lot. As it follows several characters around En’s former mansion, we see interactions and conflicts play out. As each individual pursues their own goals, the plot continues to twist and turn around them. But nowhere do these changes feel more important than where Natsuki is concerned. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 reveals that The Boss can steal the magic powers of others.

The secondary character’s newly discovered defensive magic proves formidable, perhaps one of the strongest we’ve seen so far. Its potency is so great that she can easily defeat Risu/Curse when he arrives at the mansion once more, seeking his killer among the Cross Eyes. But while the significance of her strength seems like news enough, it’s actually the revelation it brings about regarding the Cross Eyes themselves that makes her newly gained strength vital to the narrative. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 reveals that The Boss can steal the magic powers of others, at the cost of his target’s life. Suspecting this fate for Natsuki, Dokuga (Kôki Uchiyama, Trigun Stargaze) intends to send her off on a mission far from the mansion so he can try to persuade The Boss from taking the faithful Natsuki’s life. 

The moral conundrum that plagues Dokuga is thoroughly explored in Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11.

That Natsuki is in genuine danger from within the Cross Eyes casts a grim perspective on the group’s leader. En was a monster, but those who served him faithfully were at least treated well. The Boss treats his own with the same indifference as he does those who oppose him, which doesn’t bode well for the shape of the world moving forward. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 adds another layer of complexity to the situation by showing Dokuga’s struggle over what to do. He has no desire to see Natsuki harmed and knows that allowing anything to happen to her would be wrong, but The Boss saved him and the others. He gave them purpose and a chance to continue living when the rest of their world had written them off. Can he turn his back on him now? 

The moral conundrum that plagues Dokuga is thoroughly explored in this episode, using clear, concise means. The animation and voice work do an incredible job of bringing his deeply rooted struggles to the viewer without lingering too long. Unfortunately, the matter is quickly taken out of his hands.

Natsuki’s final moments in Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 feel rushed and unnecessary.

The ultimate fate of Natsuki in Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 ratchets up the threat of the narrative, but not without a cost. While the character’s final moments are brutal to watch, they feel rushed and unnecessary. Like the narrative knows it’s been a few episodes since a gory death scene played out, so we need to do this now. It reinforces the fact that anyone outside the core cast is fully disposable. This makes it hard to connect with these characters, knowing they can get offed for no reason other than to emphasize that the situation is serious. 

What further hurts the moment is the lack of clarity surrounding how it came to pass. As far as we know, Natsuki shouldn’t yet be in any danger. So how does this situation turn on her so quickly? While there is a likely explanation coming, it’s a magical world, so it’s not hard to drum one up; the absence of it here leaves a layer of confusion over the scene. This further drives home the impression that it plays out more for shock value than for any other motivation.

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 is a mixed bag.

The other major element of this episode is from Aikawa. As the persistent headaches that have always plagued the character intensify, we are treated to a repugnant moment in which the character sprays a mysterious black goo from his face and neck, as if he’s a well that has struck oil. The moment heralds some form of bizarre transformation, as he seems to be once more gaining a new head. 

What this moment means is left unclear as the credits roll on Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11, but it is yet another twist in a series that already feels like it’s using too many. We still don’t even know what the nature of Aikawa/Caiman’s previous transformation meant for the character, yet we are onto another one now. Hopefully, this one will come with some answers, not just another bout of amnesia that will leave him reset back to square one. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 is another mixed bag. While it delivers some strong emotional beats, the plot becomes muddier, and the cast feels increasingly disposable. Hopefully, we will see some answers soon as we close in on the season’s end. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 11 is streaming now on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

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