Sakamoto Days Episode 16 Review: Slice, Slice, Deaths
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Okay, maybe I am little more easily pleased than the average viewer of ‘Sakamoto Days’, but this was definitely one of the best editions of the anime this season! It was all about slicing, dicing, blood, blood, blood, and more blood.
Aptly titled ‘Slice Slice Dance’, episode 16 starts off right where the last episode of ‘Sakamoto Days’ ended: with primary antagonist Slur enters the JAA (Japanese Association of Assassins) headquarters with his sidekick Gaku. Their mission is to wipe out the ‘corrupt’ organization. Naturally, an unprecedented bloodbath follows. Although a surprise entrant stops them temporarily, and no, it’s not Taro Sakamoto.
Although, sure, Sakamoto and Shin do turn up at the JAA building, since they learn about Slur’s plan from the crazy Apart, who tried to kill Sakamoto and Heisuke at the Tokyo tower, not too long ago. So, this episode also brings Sakamoto face-to-face with Slur in a very violent showdown. In a twist, it turns out they do know each other. Not too surprisingly, Slur’s first reaction to seeing our chubby protagonist is to comment on how out of shape he is.
Slur and Gaku’s character designs stand out a bit compared to the rest of the assassins in ‘Sakamoto Days’. Slur could easily headline a corporate romance manga, while Gaku radiates the grit and swagger of an action-fantasy hero. You could simply pick up Gaku, drop him into a show like ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’, and he’d fit right in. Honestly, they look more “main character” than Sakamoto and Shin combined. Hehe. Still, I am always rooting for Shin! (Also, Lu, but she is missing from all the action in this chapter)
True to its episodic title, this edition is all about “Slice, Slice, Dance”… but it’s the dance of death. Slur’s exact logic behind wanting to wipe out the JAA is unclear, although it seems he wants to raze the institution and start something of his own. Maybe become the “Lord of Assassins.”
Fast, casually furious, and dripping with enough blood to rival a gory horror flick, this chapter of ‘Sakamoto Days’ delivers pure adrenaline. Gaku’s basically the Grim Reaper cosplaying as a human, and every fight scene cranks the intensity to eleven. With sharper animation, it could’ve been legendary, but even as is, it’s a bloody good time.
Only the last few minutes of the episode shift the action from JAA, to provide some lighter, comedic moments from the barbarity brought upon by Slur and Gaku.
Watch Sakamoto Days on Netflix.
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