English Dub Review: Tank Chair “Episode 5”
Overview (Spoilers Below):
The Kurosakas report back to Sensei, the founder of the Academy, following their defeat by the Tairas, and are given one last chance to pursue them. Uzu, a new recruit from Class A, is sent to assist. Uzu seems obsessed with Nagi and goes on a rampage under the guise of carrying out his mission, leaving the Kurosakas bewildered by his overwhelming power and erratic behavior.
Our Take:
We’d have thought that after the battle against the deadly Kurosaka siblings, we’d move on to the next dangerous assassin. However, this week’s episode showed this isn’t the case, as the siblings are set to return for another round against Nagi. So, it seems that Shizuka may have found someone worthy of curing Nagi’s condition, and it’s someone from their past. Given Naozumi’s formidable abilities, it’s enough to break up its seemingly repetitive “assassin-of-the-week” structure, though that doesn’t make its execution any less frustrating. However, Nagi and Shizuka’s quest also seems to be getting harder now that the Academy knows their presence. Even worse, the Kurosakas now have a new ally from the Academy, Uzu, who happens to be more unhinged than the freakish sibling duo.
As mentioned before, the episode diverts from its repetitive structure by focusing more on the Kurosakas and the aftermath of their battle against Nagi. At the same time, it further emphasizes the Academy and its nefarious traditions, notably its Sensei, whose obsession with perfection leads him to blame Shizuka for Nagi’s current condition. Sensei seems like another antagonist whose calm demeanor makes him more intimidating than villains with booming presences. If so, we can bet Nagi will be in for a fight for his life later. But first, Nagi will have to deal with Uzu’s unbelievable strength and dangerous killing intent. Still, Uzu is more annoying than charming in his twisted behavior. The fifth episode does a commendable job of moving the story forward, especially through the Academy and the Kurosaka siblings’ perspective. However, it still lacks the storytelling heft needed to elevate its premise even further, and Uzu’s personality came off as slightly more irritating than humorous.
