English Dub Review: Chainsaw Man: “From Kyoto”

Overview: Denji (Ryan Colt Levy) combats his new Devil foe as Makima (Suzie Yeung) and Kobeni (Bryn Apprill) do what they can to pick up the pieces of their own ambush. 

Our Take: Similar to how there was padding in the beginning of last episode in the moments leading up to Himeno trying to seduce Denji, the same is done here in her demise. Unfortunately, it is not nearly as visually appealing with it offering no creative or stylistic spin in portraying Himeno’s death once again, serving as useless, albeit brief, recap to fill in the gaps for lack of content. 

What comes after more than makes up for it in Denji’s battle against his bladed adversary being a short-lived but an enjoyable CG/2D hybrid bout. It highlights Denji’s weakness, after thinking the mystery man cared about his subordinates, trying to bluff and use him as a bargaining chip for his surrender, becoming severed in two as result. 

The real star of the show is that of his superior, Makima, and her unparalleled healing factor against fatal gunshot wounds. Most important is the haunting presence she brings to her underlings and how terrifyingly powerful and far-reaching her abilities are, through her contract with her own unknown Devil. 

Although she slaughters the culprits to bloody pulpy effect, with how far-reaching the scope of the attacks were and the significant casualties amongst them, it will be intriguing to see how she oversees the remaining forces that have been merged into one unit. It will also be fun to see what fresh and entertaining faces crop up from that, especially in interacting with Denji, Power and whoever else remains. 

Kobeni also gets her time to shine in avenging Arai, after he dies from the old lady under the Gun Devil’s influence. If there was ever a question of how she qualified as a Devil Hunter, it is swiftly answered in how, despite her anxieties, has fear-inducing combat capabilities in dispatching the gunner, eventually making her way to the Devils after Denji. MAPPA brings her nimble nature to life beautifully with her maneuvering around the Devil snake being equal parts graceful and calculated. 

After driving them away, her scene with an unconscious Denji highlights the harsh and insane reality of her job. It is a strong, but subtle character moment in her thought-provoking self-evaluation of what the job has forced her to compromise about her morals in the unsavory way she handled the situation with Denji and the Eternity Devil. It ends with a burning tinge of tragic irony with Kobeni wanting to tell Himeno of her resignation, being blissfully unaware of the profession’s true brutality in how it has taken her life.