REVIEW: ‘Kaiju Girl Caramelise’ Episode 2 – “The Unopened Door”

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Episode 2 builds upon the groundwork established in the premiere. Tapping into the series’ humor and relatable characters, Kaiju Girl Caramelise is proving that the premiere only scratched the surface of what’s possible. While the tone somewhat shifts, “The Unopened Door” is perfectly appropriate for where each character is in the story.

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Episode 2 picks up right where the premiere ended. The morning after turning into a full-blown kaiju, Akaishi Kuroe (Hikari Senga) goes to school worried that this transformation may happen again at any time. Desperate to know whether Minami Arata (Daishi Kajita) is okay, Akaishi searches for him. Of course, the mean girls are her constant roadblock, upset that she was with him, that they were holding hands, even upset that she’s merely existing.

When Akaishi finally spots him, he’s talking to Manatsu Tomosato (Akira Sekine). Akaishi mistakes her for Minami’s girlfriend and tells him to never talk to her again. Secretly, she’s hoping that some distance will keep her kaiju hormones at bay.

Manatsu brings a fun new energy to Kaiju Girl Caramelise Episode 2.

That night, Akaishi looks out her window and sees a giant moth and thinks yet another kaiju has made an appearance. When she goes outside to investigate, she finds Manatsu lying on the bridge in a moth-like sleeping bag. Further questioning reveals that Manatsu is not interested in Minami. She’s in love with the kaiju from the night before, whom everyone has dubbed “Harugon.”

The more Manatsu talks, the more it becomes clear that her obsession with this particular kaiju borders on the unhinged, claiming that she will love Harugon even if she must give her body to be burned to do so. To avoid detection, Akaishi allows Manatsu to believe that she knows as much as she does because she’s the kaiju’s High Priestess.

Every line that Manatsu speaks is increasingly more disconcerting and humorous. She also scoffs at normal boundaries and etiquette, immediately calling Akaishi by her first name, Kuroe, even though they have only just met. In Japanese culture, using someone’s given name without that level of familiarity can be a sign of unusual closeness—or, in Manatsu’s case, another indication that she has no interest in following social conventions.

Akaishi struggles to keep her emotions – and her transformations – under control. 

The next day at school, Manatsu begins to notice an obvious connection between Akaishi and Minami. Unfortunately, the mean girls notice too. During gym class, they lock her in a supply closet, and her anger causes a small kaiju tail to appear. When Akaishi doesn’t show up to their next class, Minami becomes concerned but can’t find her, and Manatsu is worried because they were supposed to meet up.

When Manatsu and Minami overhear the mean girls talking about locking her in the closet, Minami realizes that he’s been too nice to them and goes to help Akaishi out. Akaishi has been holed up in the closet because her tail is still there, but after hearing Minami’s heartfelt proclamation of affection, she decides to trust him and opens the door.

Before he can see, the tail reverts. Minami notices that Akaishi is actually looking him in the eye and makes it clear that she’s the only one he’s interested in, and then leaves her there stunned. The result is that she becomes overwhelmed with emotion and goes full-kaiju once again. The entire school, aside from the elated Manatsu, is terrified, and Akaishi once again is left wondering what to do. Minami, though appearing frightened, looks the kaiju in the eyes.

“The Unopened Door” is the perfect follow-up and helps strengthen the world. 

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Episode 2 builds on the show’s established foundation. The introduction of the overly eccentric Manatsu is a brilliant way to add in some much-needed comic relief that isn’t just another way to mine jokes from a girl dealing with serious anxiety about turning into Girl-Godzilla.

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Episode 2 refuses to spend more time on setup. “The Unopened Door” operates with the belief that the audience is caught up before moving on to show viewers why they should care. Even the addition of a friend and ally in Manatsu ultimately makes a lot of thematic sense. It sets up what is clearly going to be among the most bizarre love triangles to ever appear on television.

Manatsu isn’t here just to pad the cast list but to show that people respond in wholly different ways to the knowledge that they’re unlike everyone else. While Akaishi looks inwards and tends to shut down, Manatsu is bold and outgoing despite herself. Kaiju Girl Caramelise Episode 2 ends on an exciting cliffhanger that is sure to rev up audiences for what’s in store next.

Kaiju Girl Caramelise Episode 2 is available now on Crunchyroll.

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