English Dub Review: Kaiju No. 8 “The Kaiju Who Defeats Kaiju”

Remember last week, when I said “The Man Who Became a Kaiju” should be a building block? And Kaiju No. 8 would be best served to take the established comedy and action, and ramp it up episode over episode? I don’t think I’ve ever been more correct.

“The Kaiju Who Defeats Kaiju” actually advances the story in all of the necessary ways. We get a snippet of how powerful Kafka’s kaiju form really is, while showing how grounding Ichikawa is for Kafka. Not to mention we get some much needed world building, including Kafka’s friend Mina, and her tiger! Oh, and let’s not forget Kafka’s last chance to make the Defense Force…and the people he needs to compete against. Oh, and he made the first cut! However, you learn that the written exam isn’t the problem. The only thing I am looking for now is what turned Mina from a jovial kid and into a sullen, very serious adult.

So far, the showrunners know exactly how to pace a show. I was expecting a lot of middling tire spinning, where we get nothing more than kaiju on kaiju violence. Now, while I’m all for mindless violence from time to time, episode two isn’t it. Especially when we need so much exposition, exploration, and not to mention the explanation to make things make sense this early.

One thing I wanted to comment on is the feel of the episode. “The Kaiju Who Defeats Kaiju” went fast. But the exposition, flashbacks, and worldbuilding didn’t feel like it went along at too fast of a pace. We got enough facetime with Kafka’s kaiju form to see that he can kind of control it, and start to slowly build goodwill with the citizens while in his kaiju form.

One thing that I think was skipped during “The Man Who Became a Kaiju,” was the theme song. This slow, plodding song creates a neat juxtaposition to the show’s comedy. YUNGBLUD’S “Abyss” has a very methodical tone, and definitely throws off the expectations for what Kaiju No. 8 is going to be to the uninitiated. I comment a lot on anime openings, because some are there just for contractual obligations, but others just fit the show. Thankfully, YUNGBLUD’s song not only fits, but it’s kind of a banger.

The end of the episode was surprising to say the least. You see that there are a lot of other candidates getting ready for the practical exam. It sets the story well, and doesn’t give a wasted opportunity to show how not only he progressed, but the world in general as well. Shows like Demon Slayer ruin a decent first episode by squandering opportunities to show how the characters and the world progress. So, here’s a hot take. Kaiju No. 8 is already better than Demon Slayer in that regard. We even get an early rival with Kikoru Shinomiya. This little punk managed to throw Kafka’s work van with just her Numbers 4 Suit.

To say I’m really digging Kaiju No. 8 is an understatement. The pace of the show is almost perfect so far. The fact that both episodes so far feel like they’re 5 minutes long, but nothing feels rushed is awesome. Pacing is a small thing that could make or break the show, and turns that tiny attribute, and turns it into a gigantic problem. Hugely popular shows like One Piece, Demon Slayer, and Dragon Ball have huge problems with pacing, and I can only hope Kaiju No. 8 doesn’t fall into the same trap. So far, like I said, this has been an awesome ride so far.