Summary
Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Dandadan, Episode 2, “That’s a Space Alien, Ain’t It?!”, now streaming onCrunchyroll.
Dandadan’sfirst episode was a close-to-perfect openerfor one of the year’s most anticipated adaptations, and it’s a pleasure to report that the second kept the good times rolling. As the second act of its introductory arc, Episode 2 focuses on the character interactions that made the premiere so enticing, as Okarun and Momo slowly get the hang of their new circumstances.
Last week, Momo was accosted by aliens that wanted to mate with her while Okarun got his body possessed and penis stolen by the similarly perverse ghost known as Turbo Granny. As their respective close encounters converged, a possessed Okarun fought the aliens while Momo awakened her dormant psychic powers, saving both of them. In the end, they agreed to work together to defeat Turbo Granny, and Momo realized she might be in love with Okarun.
Momo and Okarun’s Paranormal Situationship
A lot went down in the previous episode, at least enough that being able to semi-succinctly summarize even just the latter half in three sentences feels like an accomplishment.Not sinceMob Psycho 100has a series been able to throw so much at the wall and have the myriad elements coalesce into something so mesmerizing while still being completely legible. It’s all anchored by two great characters with whose dreams the viewer is already intimately familiar.
With that in mind, it was smart to begin Episode 2 with something more relaxed - or as relaxed as these two can be under the circumstances. Okarun is still without his gentleman’s sausage and Momo needs to constantly suppress Turbo Granny’s curse with her psychic powers. Still, the sun is up and that means the ghosts won’t come out, so they may as well find a place to rest.
Why Their Banter Works So Well
The writing between Momo and Okarunremains strong this week. It’s practically the backbone of the storytelling and would carry the narrative along well enough even if the visual direction wasn’t constantly keeping the viewer on their toes. Simple techniques like the mosaic framing during their trek to Momo’s house, dotting the steps on their journey, liven up what would otherwise be a stagnant scene of the characters talking.
Kensuke Ushio’s music similarly does a great job of injecting their scenes with a delightful poppy vibe that fits this story of young love in all its chaotic glory.As discussed in previous features, what makes their chemistry so fun are the layers to their personalities, especially concerning Okarun. Archetypally speaking, one would expect him to be as shy in front of Momo as he is in school, but the dude can come out of his shell in the most unexpected ways.
… When Okarun ruins a tender moment by outright insulting Momo for being too blunt with people, it’s as funny as it is real.
There’s a dimension to being an introvert that can often be overlooked in media, in that people naturally act differently depending on their environment and the people they’re with. It’s not even beholden tothe characterbecomingmore extroverted over time- they could become a whole different person at any time once they’re comfortable. So when Okarun ruins a tender moment by outright insulting Momo for being too blunt with people, it’s as funny as it is real.
Dandadan’s Action Continues to Amaze
Episode 2’s latter half throws our daring duo into another battle, this time against an alien evoking a sumo wrestler aesthetic. There’s plenty to praise about the setpiece itself, from the use of setting to the action choreography, but particularly impressive is how the story drip-feeds worldbuilding to the viewer. Despite looking very much like a spirit, their foe is an alien, yet they triggered a defense mechanism designed for spirits.
Okarun points out that ghost sightings and paranormal events, in general, can be linked to alien theories as well. There’s a crossover between the two cultures and the center of that Venn diagram is whereDandadan’s lens is firmly focused.Something about the aliens and spirits is connected, because both seem keenly interested in human “bananas”, as evidenced by the Serpos trying to mate with Momo and Turbo Granny absconding with Okarun’s member.
The fight drops a lot of hints toward the bigger picture but ultimately doesn’t spend too much time dwelling on any particular thread. Plenty of time for that later; for now, it’s time to fight. For a show that’s already demonstrated an exquisite command of color, it’s impressive that it successfully manages to eschew so much of its palette for this climax. The nature of the arena the two find themselves in is devoid of color, turning it into a black-and-white movie.
Okarun Gets a Killer New Look
In a word, the whole sequence is kino, and even more so when the only color permitted to shine through the grayscale battleground is red -the same color as Okarun’s new transformation. Momo keeps his mind protected while letting the curse consume the body, turning Okarun into a badass whose machismo immediately makes a strong impact.
Just as quickly, his new personality becomes hilarious, because that same charisma is internationally overblown right down to the absurd speech pattern. Despite the superpowered glow-up, Momo still manages to outshine him in a satisfying and clever climax that incorporates all the rules introduced in just this episode. That, combined with a satisfying cliffhanger makes Episode 2 ofDandadananother winner.
