English Dub Review: Sanda “Love, the Most Selfish Thing There Is”

What’s love got to do with it? Well, a lot, apparently.
OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Sanda is saved from Namatame by Fuyumura, but when he starts noticing himself gaining feelings for both Fuyumura and Kazao, Yaguida warns him that it may lead him to certain death.

OUR TAKE

On the eighth week of Sanda, my true love gave to me: Eight heart attackings, seven kids a-killing, six organ transplants, five wet dreams, four old man hugs, three detected lies, more supporting cast, and a buff Santa in his undies! Sanda has managed to escape the killer kids of Class 10, but he is by no means out of the woods just yet. For one, he still has his Santa related need to grant the wishes of children, something that nearly got him to let his hands be cut off, so like most pathological people pleasers, he’s going to have to learn to prioritize himself in those situations if he’s going to survive. But that instinct is also at odds with the fact that he’s a teenage boy most of the time and gaining feelings for not one but two of his female friends, Fuyumura AND his state appointed fiance Kazao. That would be fine on its own, if a little messy, but as mentioned a few episodes ago, Santa falling in love, especially with a child, will lead to his immediate death. I feel like that’s a bit harsh since he IS still mentally and physically a child himself most of the time, and I still have some questions about how his parents had him if that curse was in effect (maybe his dad died right after he was conceived?), but the image of an old guy with a teenager is squicky enough that I kinda get why it has drastic consequences.

However, on top of all of that, he’s not done dealing with Namatame yet either, as she convenes with Oshibu about taking another crack at fighting and killing Santa Claus, who she apparently has gained a crush on herself. She and Oshibu seem to agree on adults and aging being the worst, which just further cements the theming of Sanda using maturity and growth to fight those who would rather keep everyone young and immature. Ono herself is having conflicting feelings about this as well, as she has now gone through puberty and feels there is no place for her at the school, and so is planning to run again. It at least gives her and Sanda a scene one on one, which is kinda rare, but it would be kind of a dick move for her to just vanish again on Fuyumura (man, if I had a nickel, I’d have two nickels!). What’s clear is that things are ramping up and we’re entering the final third of the season, so let’s see how we get there!