English Dub Review: Fist of the North Star “The Mad Dogs Must Die”

Overview

Toyo, a compassionate old woman, has taken in countless orphaned children and showers them with unconditional love. Kenshiro deeply respects her kindness, especially toward Bat and Rin, whom she treats no differently from the others. But after Kenshiro and his companions leave the village late at night, a terrible danger approaches…


Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, Fist of the North Star delivers another brutal confrontation as Kenshiro crosses paths with the sadistic Jackal and his gang. The episode quickly establishes the emotional weight surrounding Toyo and the orphaned children she cares for, making the violence that follows hit much harder. Jackal’s cruelty is emphasized through psychological terror as much as physical brutality, while Kenshiro’s return shifts the tone into pure vengeance-driven intensity.

The rest of the proceedings balances tragedy with the series’s signature over-the-top style, especially once Kenshiro begins dismantling Jackal’s men one by one. Fox’s bizarre fighting technique and Kenshiro’s absurdly casual counterattacks add a layer of dark humor without undermining the tension, which has always been part of the franchise’s charm. At the same time, Jackal stands out compared to many other wasteland bandits because he actually understands how dangerous Kenshiro is and prioritizes survival over pride, making him feel slightly more threatening despite constantly retreating.

Overall, the episode blended emotional loss, explosive action, and grim comedy into another strong showcase of what makes the series so memorable. Beneath all the exaggerated violence and ridiculous villain antics is a surprisingly effective story about protecting the weak in a world ruled by fear and cruelty, while Kenshiro’s relentless pursuit of justice continues pushing the narrative toward an inevitable and satisfying confrontation with Jackal, which seems to be Part 3 of this arc coming up…