DanDaDan – Season 2 Episode 1 Recap & Review

The Review Geek

2 days ago

Like, This Is the Legend of the Giant Snake
Episode 1 of DanDaDan Season 2 picks up right where we left off, as Momo is left exposed in the hot spring, forced to fend off the five predatory guys. However, a surprising helper shows up. It's Turbo Granny! Funnily enough, she's been keeping an eye on Momo the whole time, hiding inside her backpack.
With the hot spring destroyed, courtesy of Turbo Granny's powers, the authorities show up and chase the guys off, who are revealed to be the Kito family men. However, Turbo Granny has noticed that Jiji's apartment isn't exactly clean either, given its 'covered in blood'.
Speaking of which, Okarun and Jiji receive visitors in the form of the Kito family. They don't take kindly to lying, and while Okarun gets a close shave in the form of guessing Jiji's favourite team (courtesy of a poster on the wall), Jiji is not so lucky. When he mentions he hasn't had a girl over (even though he obviously has as Momo has been there) the Kito matriarch is not happy.
While this is going on, Momo and Turbo Granny head off to visit the Shrine of the Giant Snake. Folks in these parts used to worship this divine creature, believing it lived deep in the volcano. Every time it got hungry, it burst out and caused eruptions. To try and protect their livelihood and quell the great beast, the villagers decided to sacrifice one of their children to the mountain.
For the past 200 years, there hasn't been a single blast. It would appear that there isn't a mythical creature in these parts after all though, chalked off to a man-made superstition. But then this is DanDaDan and honestly, anything could happen here!
When Momo shows back up at Jiji's, she's shocked when she finds the entire Kito family waiting for her. With Okarun and Jiji knocked out on the floor, Momo does what she can but there's just too many to fight off. During a break in the action though, the matriarch tells Momo that she's messing with their plans for the festival and they've been protecting this land for generations.
This is one of the families that have been making offerings to the Great Serpent up at the volcano. The spot they're standing on in the house (specifically Momo's, given she's in this weird dank room we saw Okarun and Jiji looking in last season) is the place where folks are sacrificed. The Kito family have been inviting people into their house all these years and sacrificing them up.
This is what happened to Jiji's family and, unfortunately, this is what they intend to do with Momo.Momo tries to get out of the ground as it turns to quicksand but while the entire family are busy handling Momo, Jiji and Okarun spring into action to save her. Things do not look good though, as everybody tumbles down into the belly of the beast. Figuratively speaking anyway… for now.
Jiji tumbles down and lands right on the body of what appears to be the Great Serpent. This creature stirs and faces the group, letting out a monstrous roar. It turns out the legend is true after all… kinda.
It would appear that this thing is a giant man-eating earthworm, not dissimilar to the one from the front of Okarun's magazines he shared with Momo in season 1 at school. The Kito family have been feeding this thing for the past 200 years and as a result, it's bigger than any reported before.
The Kito family decide to chant and do a ritual… which make them easy prey for this deathworm to gobble them up. With the gang gone, the trio are left to fend off against this giant creature… will they come out on top?
The Episode Review
After a long wait, DanDaDan is back with its second season, and it doesn't waste any time connecting right to the first. We pick up where we left off, with the same slick animation, comedy and action that made season 1 such a hit.
The Kito family have this weird Ginyu Force energy to them, as if they're relegated DBZ villains. I mean just look at that pose when the whole family are together! However, this works pretty well and they certainly slot into this crazy, psychedelically charged world.
This death worm looks like it could be bad news too and with the Kito family gone, the next set of episodes do look like they're going to turn up the heat – and the action. Whether it'll hit the heights of the fights we saw with Turbo Granny in the tunnel or Acrobatic Silky though remains to be seen.
The animation is slick and although the visual style and editing isn't quite at the same level as season 1, it's still early days yet and that could change.
Either way though, DanDaDan gets off to a great start, setting everything up for what should be another wild season. Roll on next week!
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Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!