REVIEW: ‘Dorohedoro’ Season 2 Episode 9

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 9 sees Shin (Yoshimasa Hosoya, Trigun Stargaze) and Noi (Yû Kobayashi, Delicious in Dungeon) clash with the Cross Eyes in an attempt to retrieve En’s head from their boss. However, the old order continues to crumble as the duo confronts a startling turn of events. 

The series’ signature brutal combat is in full effect with its opening fight. Between the heightened sense of desperation from the Cross Eyes, being so close to finding their long-absent boss, and the need for payback for the loss Noi and Shin took at the hands of their opponents earlier, the brawl is primed to be short and bloody. 

The more the duo trounces the Cross Eyes, the worse it feels.

But while the Cross Eyes were able to get the drop on the experienced cleaners in their past fight, the knowledge gained from that experience has served both Shin and Noi well, as their approach has adapted to their targets’ known strategies. This quickly disarms several key tactics that led to the pair’s downfall before. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 9’s opening battle delivers hard hits, but that’s not what engages most within the scene. As the battle plays out, an awkward question begins to seep into the mind: Who should I be rooting for? Because immediate inclination may not be the right choice.

Having spent so much time with Noi and Shin throughout both seasons, it is easy to start cheering for them. Their camaraderie makes them likable, especially in Noi’s case, but the more the duo trounces the Cross Eyes, the worse it feels. After all, En was a terrible leader who oppressed and killed anyone who stood in his way. The Cross Eyes, while doing some questionable things, primarily stand for the overthrowing of the magic-centric order that grinds anyone who can’t wield smoke into a third-class citizen. 

The Boss’s actions leave a lot of questions about his true goals.

This complicated reality highlights uncomfortable truths about how we can feel about individuals and what they represent. Noi is probably my favorite character in the series from a personality standpoint. But she and Shin are, without a doubt, bad people. Creations of the system they live in, perhaps, but they nonetheless reinforce and prosper from it.

The wholesale defeat of the Cross Eyes is cut short, however, when The Boss arrives. Restored to health by a panicked Natsuki (Sara Matsumoto, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon), the Cross Eyes’ leader has grown even more powerful than his would-be assailants could expect, leaving both soon overwhelmed and near death. 

The reveal of what The Boss has done instantly leaves lots of questions about his end goal. Given the relentless way he dispatches Noi and Shin, it feels likely that En’s probable replacement in the pecking order may not be any kinder than he was. With the amount of raw power at his disposal, though, there aren’t many in the world we’ve seen that could hope to stand up to him. Though one person does come to mind. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 9 explores the aftermath of The Boss’s fight with Noi and Shin.

The rest of Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 9 explores the aftermath of the conflict. We learn more about the pivotal event six years ago, as well as why Dokuga (Kôki Uchiyama, My Hero Academia) hid the truth from his compatriots. 

Dokugo’s motives reveal a new layer to the character. While he seems utterly devoted to his group, he isn’t above manipulating them. He sees his choice as one made for their benefit. If he told them the truth, they may feel compelled to abandon the cause.

But, without The Boss, what chance do any of them have? They were barely scraping by before. Rather than trust his friends to choose for themselves, Dokuga chooses for all of them. It just remains to be seen if they survive the ramifications of that decision.

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 9’s violence hits hard and comes with surprisingly deep questions.

The final major beat is an incredible character moment between Noi and Shin. After finally waking up, having fully recovered from her injuries, Noi is brought to see Shin, who is not doing so well. Despite being told that she can’t help him, Noi pushes her powers to the limit to restore her partner.

The genuine care Noi and Shin share for each other delivers a powerful moment for the pair. Given how abused the “partner” concept is in the series, it’s nice to see a duo who showcase the true power the contract is supposed to hold.

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 9’s violence hits hard and comes with surprisingly deep questions. All that remains is to see what comes next as The Boss moves on with his plan. 

Dorohedoro Season 2 Episode 9 is streaming now on Netflix.

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