天下制覇

Why don’t anime characters ever just come out and say the reason that they’re pissed off at each other?

Impressions:

Not a bad episode of Kenichi as far as Kenichi is concerned. The first half was certainly interesting enough with the Odin/Kenichi showdown. As soon as the eyecatch hit though, the entire tone and momentum of the episode changed as we went to nonsensical comic relief with Niijima, Siegfried and Tanimoto before trying to go back to being sort of quasi-touching with Miu and Kenichi. While it did include the arguably important return of Siegfried, it was a complete and awkward shift that totally lost the drama and impact of the first 12 minutes and really stuck out as fairly shoddy filler to pad out the episode.

Summary:

We get about a minute of repeating the last episode to kick this one off. As the two take their stances, Kenichi thinks about the young Ryuuto. He charges to attack, but Odin grabs his arm in an arm bar and stops it just in front of himself. Kenichi jumps back as Odin says that he really stands no chance. Kenichi rushes to attack again, but Odin gives off a fearsome aura and Kenichi gets scared and trips over himself jumping back.

Sakaki, Apachai and Honoka are eating at a restaurant when suddenly some punk comes up and realizes that they’re associated with Nijima. Sakaki does his “I’m crazy angry” thing and the guy falls over. He explains that it’s something even animals like cats and mice to in order to make themselves seem more fearsome.

Back with Kenichi and Odin, Kenichi tries to punch again, but a strange barrier blocks his punch. Odin keeps taunting him, and Kenichi attacks again. As he approachs, Odin’s aura flares again and Kenichi hesitates. This time, he gets a palm to the face and is knocked down and out. He warns Miu to stay back, but then Kenichi surprises him by being able to stand up. It doesn’t last long though as he’s barely able to keep his feet. He does note that he’s figured out how Odin’s ‘barrier’ is working, he’s just really fast.

Kenichi attacks again, this time with the aura of the masters behind him and isn’t fazed by Odin’s aura. This time though, Odin just grabs his arm and throws him. Kenichi tries to attack a few more times, but Odin is able to block every single one, and as Odin slaps Kenichi’s hands, the force/chi/whatever is burning him.

Odin explains his technique, but Kenichi doesn’t really understand at all. Odin basically is able to flow and move such that it’s like he’s protected by a barrier in every direction. Kenichi thinks about the last fight he had with Thor and using his techniques in tandem to win. He tries it on Odin, but Odin catches his yamazuki punch and then just steps out of the way of the muay thai knee to the face.

Odin gives him another shot to the chops, knocking him down, and then takes the yin/yang pin off his lapel. Miu asks him why he’s doing such things, and Odin tells her that it’s because Kenichi did something unforgivable. He then takes out a dirtied yin/yang pin and folds it in half before dropping it on Kenichi and leaving.

After the eyecatch, Niijima is still trying to recruit Tanimoto, and gets a chop to the face for his efforts. Niijima isn’t set back though, and has his own secret plan. He snaps his finger and a strange shadow starts playing a tambourine.

A little later, Niijima is confronting a team of Loki clones with ‘Hermit.’ The Loki clones can’t believe it, so they try attacking. The ‘Hermit’ defeats them all easily and they’re sent packing. Tanimoto shows up and tries to attack Niijima for messing around with him, but ‘Hermit’ blocks the blow. Then the ‘Hermit’ takes off his cloak and reveals that he’s Siegfried. He’s joined up with Shinpaku because Niijima helped him find his melody. Niijima’s big plan was to force Tanimoto into Shinpaku by spreading it around that he already was in. Tanimoto’s less than amused and smacks Niijima again before saying that he’ll kill him. Siegfried steps in and starts talking about companions and destiny, but Tanimoto just walks off.

After that long aside, Kenichi is holding the folded up pin. He gets pissed and throws it at the garbage can. He tells Miu that he’s fine and that they should continue on their way. So… back to the chains and groceries that they left behind last episode. Miu tells him that she’s happy that he’s feeling okay though, and Kenichi is a bit relieved that she’s fine with everything.

At the dojo, the masters are giving him a hard time in general for how much he got himself beat up. Akisame tells him that Miu’s Grandfather wants to talk to him. The elder gives him a peptalk about learning from losing… for… like… the fifth time. Kenichi thanks him sincerely. Next week, the survival training with the elder begins.