Apologies for the REALLY late post, but things came up and I just haven’t been in a good mindset to sit down and write a post for a while due to unforeseen events occurring. Anyways, after a couple of episodes of pain and suffering, this episode ended up strangely comedic. To which I feel mildly torn since it started extremely depressing. However, I do also enjoy the levity because of all the pain and suffering Rudo has gone through. He deserves levity and this weird group is turning out to be the friends and family he deserves. And man, did I get a good laugh out of this episode.
We are introduced to a new character this episode, Zanka and he is… a lot. Assigned as Rudo’s teacher, the two immediately start off on the wrong foot. However, before a fight could break out, Rudo actually takes accountability and apologizes. I have a lot of issues with characters with hair-trigger tempers. Some of them work, but a lot of the time, I get really annoyed. So the fact that Rudo caught himself lashing out defensively and apologized after recalling wise words from Regto really made me respect him as a character. It also goes to show how Regto actually was a great father/mentor figure to Rudo. And Rudo reveling at how Regto was right about de-escalating an argument was honestly really cute lol…. Only for it to go south REAL fast. Whelp, so much for that very brief pleasant interaction. Though we all know that the two are gonna be reluctant best bros by the end of this. Also it’s hilarious how as soon as I heard Zanka talk I was like: oh, it’s Inosuke. And my immediate thought is that he’s finally voicing a more lowkey character… only for me to immediately take back my words once the guy started shouting. Yup, he was typecasted once again lol.
I was honestly hoping that Rudo and Zanka would get along right away since Rudo absolutely needs a friend and Zanka seemed like he was genuinely interested in Rudo’s gloves, something he greatly cherishes. But poor Rudo just doesn’t understand social cues and his attempts to try and reciprocate Zanka’s smiles just ended up making the situation go from pleasant to fistycuffs. The emotional whiplash continues with how the somewhat serious duke ended up in a gag. Not gonna lie, I freaking died as soon it was revealed that Rudo was using a freaking plunger as a weapon and was essentially flinging poop at Zanka. I’ve talked before about how I hate it when a very serious situation gets interrupted by comedy, but I feel like in this instance it works since there weren’t any serious stakes in this confrontation. And it probably was for the best that the situation ended up concluding in such a hilarious turn of events. I had to pause the episode because I was wheezing lol. The cherry on top was Enjin laughing his head off at the situation while both Zanka and Rudo were left bewildered. It tickled me just how embarrassed Rudo was finding out he was using a plunger as a weapon lololol. Poor kid looked traumatized. XD
I feel like there wasn’t too much going on in this episode, but it was certainly a hilarious one that I wasn’t expecting. Not from this series at least lol. We get introduced to some characters who are probably going to end up as pillars of support in Rudo’s new life as a Cleaner. Because we all know Rudo is going to join whether he wants to or not initially. The levity in this episode makes it feel like Rudo is finally receiving the type of interactions he SHOULD have gotten earlier in his life but was treated as a curse. So this definitely is the start of a better future for him even if it will be paved with struggles and hardships. Especially since it seems like he’ll be surrounded by people who could possibly come from similar circumstances and be able to empathize with him. But judging from his interactions with a couple of the new characters, I’m sure he’ll finally make some deep friendships and find people he can rely on other than Regto.