Assassination Classroom Episode 2 (Teacher Piñata!)

I must say, I was looking forward to this series coming out because of how it could blend comedy with more lighthearted moments, and I was right, it has all those things. Koro-Sensei remains fun and this episode helps us more get into the depth of who Koro-sensei is, what kind of teacher he is, and a bit more on the students. I’m guessing they’re going to rotate focus on students to give a little limelight on each, this one being the baseball kid. The only main person is Nagisa who serves as the viewpoint character, taking down notes on how to kill him.

It begins with baseball kid going to try and kill him with a baseball. Well, it won’t make sound, but still, Koro-sensei’s a bit too fast for him.

Mostly, the episode then shows how Koro-sensei loves to travel, and since he can move at Mach 20, pretty much anywhere on earth is a simple trip away. He can go from the classroom in Japan to New York to…pretty much wherever. A lot of comedy comes from how fast he moves, like a big tentacley Roadrunner or Speedy Gonzales.

Later on, we see him talking with baseball kid, and discusses his technique, saying how the kid emulated a famous baseball player, and Koro-Sensai giving him an…odd checkup.

 

He tells him he can’t pitch the same way as his idol, because his shoulders are off. And this leads to one dramatic point of this episode. The thing about this class is that they are losers. The rejects, the outcast group in a rundown school building meant to be the bottom of the barrel, to scare the proper students into shaping up. So, obviously, people saying something is impossible pokes at the beaten down image they already have.

But here’s the twist that makes Koro-sensei more than just funny, but also really endearing too. He wasn’t going to that game just for kicks, but to learn about baseball kid’s mentor..straight from the horse’s muscles.

 

 

And it turns out he learns something about baseball kid, his wrists and elbows are better. It shows he’s very observant about his students, that he had their best interests at heart, and he’s willing to go beyond what normal teachers do to help them.  He helps them improve, and really is like a super teacher, the only hiccup being the fact his students are constantly trying to kill him.

Most of the rest of the episode are more shenanigans. I could talk about them, but like I said, comedy is best experienced rather than talked about.  Even if I explain he joke, it won’t come across quite right. However, there are snippets that we are given. For instance, the Japanese agent that first told the kid about this is coming on as the class’s PE teacher.

He looks like he’s a straight man that might be good for some comedy and an alternate perspective on things.  He’ll be able to comment on how the students are growing, and becoming happier due to Koro-sensei’s influence. Its curious how, while still trying to kill him, or even because of it, he’s improving their lives. They had no hope, but now here’s someone who can give them hope and inspire them.

The episode ends with a new student entering the class, who apparently is some sort of mad delinquent who’s psychotic and wields a knife and oh my God I can hear Midnight’s heartbeat from over here.

 

Overall, the funny parts remained funny, the dramatic stuff was sweet, and things are going well. I was afraid at first the students would be so bland and boring, but so far they’re giving them personalities and I remain engaged. The only real issue I have is they repeat information…a lot. They really want to drill in out heads Koro-sensei destroyed the moon, he’s their teacher, and they have to kill him. They repeat it over and over, and it cluttered the episode a bit. If they cut that out, things would be much tighter and smooth and the good parts would shine even more. I’m excited to see what happens next, and what twists the knife student will give.