English Dub Review: Dandadan “Clash! Space Kaiju vs. Giant Robot!”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Using the nanoskin that Momo’s house is made of, Momo and company create a giant Buddha robot to fight against the space kaiju.  Kinta pilots the robot, and together with Momo’s psychic powers and Aira’s hair abilities, the group seeks to turn the tides of battle.  Meanwhile, Okarun and Jiji have been ejected from the Buddha robot, and they land in the middle of a rice paddy…

Our Take: 

What a way to cap off the second season of one of my favorite anime ever, with an epic battle between a kaiju and a giant Buddha-shaped robot.  Regarding the previous episode’s conclusion and the season finale, this larger-than-life sequence serves as an immediate callback to the “Pacific Rim” movies, more so than Kaiju No. 8.  Given my appreciation for the Guillermo Del Toro-directed sci-fi blockbuster, and also “Power Rangers”, it’s almost like this episode was made for me in mind.  Considering they’d never piloted a robot before, defeating the kaiju is easier said than done. However, it does elevate the stakes needed to deliver a thrilling and miraculously stylized conclusion that happens to be an improvement over the season one finale.

Not only did the showdown provide a solid callback to previous mech anime shows, but it also left some room for character growth between the destruction.  The most notable case is Kinta, whose admiration for giant robots makes him a somewhat perfect pilot for the Buddha robot.  Despite the abuse he received for liking a hobby “made for children”, Kinta showed no fear in loving himself, even though he still possesses a self-absorbed manner that annoys Momo and Aira.  Suppose Kinta’s first appearance two episodes ago wasn’t enough to convince you of him being another worthy member of the group.  In that case, the season two finale should suffice in offering the development needed to humanize this socially awkward sci-fi nerd.

Another reason the finale surpasses the first season’s finale is its cliffhanger ending.  The season one finale provided something worth looking forward to in season two, but it wasn’t without controversy, which made audiences uneasy about Momo’s predicament.  The finale in season two delivered a much more shocking cliffhanger for the right reasons, notably due to an alien woman piloting the giant kaiju who seems to have the hots for Okarun.  This final moment teases an even more enticing competition for Okarun’s heart in the third season, with Momo and Aira being caught in the middle.  Right now, there’s no word on a season three announcement yet, but since season two was such a blast to watch, I wouldn’t mind waiting until then.  Though I won’t be surprised if that wait winds up being shorter than anticipated, considering the show’s cultural impact.