Dandadan Episode 2 Review: Birth Of A Depressed Hero

Dandadan Episode 2 Review: The second episode of the anime of the year is here. Let’s discover how this episode plays out.

Dandadan Episode 1 Recap

This anime is about two people with vastly different outlooks on life. Their personalities also stand in stark contrast: one is a popular girl, while the other is a bit of a loner. The story kicks off with the protagonist, Momo, being dumped by her jerk of a boyfriend, a guy she only dated because he reminded her of the well-known actor Takakura Ken. Shortly after, she stumbles upon a boy being viciously bullied and instinctively steps in to help him.

This unexpected encounter leads the boy to open up about his fascination with aliens, only to find that Momo has no interest in them whatsoever. In fact, she believes in ghosts due to a personal connection. The two, once strangers, begin to clash, each trying to prove the other wrong. They eventually make a bet: Momo will visit a building known for UAP sightings, while the boy will venture into a tunnel famous for being haunted. And that’s when everything takes a turn for the worse.

Without a doubt, the highlight of the show is the way it portrays the aliens and ghosts. The fact that the ghost and the alien started to hound the protagonists for their weenies and bananas was really wild.

Dandadan Episode 2 Review

We get another unpredictable but wildly entertaining episode from this series, essentially proving how good this show is at its core. You might think that this show is only filled with random situations and nothing else, but you will be gravely wrong. Here, the plot gets explored a lot more, and we understand the connection between aliens and ghosts a bit better.

The episode starts with Ayase demanding that Ken does not use his real name in front of her anymore. This is because Ayase loves the actor Ken Takakura and the fact that this geek with whom she suddenly became entangled shares the name is unsettling for her. But after all this, they decide to first go to Ayase’s house and meet her grandmother to assess the entire situation and decide upon what to do next. However, they had many more adventures waiting for them in this house as well.

It is commendable that even after all the weird antics of the characters, they are so empathic and humane, especially the protagonists. None of them come off as one-dimensional, as we see shades of emotions each of them carry. These two might not understand it now, but they are walking the path of becoming an absolute power couple with their dynamic synchronisation and ability to complement each other.

Here, we also saw the arrival of another banana-loving specimen, whom you will fail to categorise as either a ghost or an alien. But the highlight of this episode is definitely the upgradation that our hero goes through with not just his appearance but also his demeanour and voice. We see the rise of an overpowered Ken Takakura, who, unlike his counterparts, becomes chronically depressed and lethargic after receiving powers.

Verdict

This episode was again great. Till now, there is literally nothing for me to point out as a negative side to this anime. It delivers on all fronts, be it comedy, action or drama, all brilliantly woven together with a touch of absurdism. The unique style of the series and the characters showcase the shounen genre in a new light and present something that will never fail to entertain you.

Must Read: Dandadan Episode 1 Review: WTF Did I Just Watch