Dandadan – Episode 10 Review

「キャトルミューティレーションを君は見たか」 (Kyatoru Myūtirēshon o Kimi wa Mita ka)
“Have You Ever Seen a Cattle Mutilation?”

The aftermath of last week was not as expected (but then again, when is anything as expected with this show, and thankfully at that). The interrogator turns out to be Queen-Sensei, the school nurse who looks like she could easily star in one of the “reference materials” in Aira’s father’s study. She doesn’t appear particularly concerned that the kids were in the state of undress they were in, more focused on whether or not the kids were bullied. Momo’s friend comes to a completely different conclusion- that it had to be a fight over Okarun. Which- she’s not wrong that there is some rivalry going on there, but that wasn’t the source of that scene. And not just any fight- a nude gladiator combat. The Gladiator cut that didn’t make it into theatres, I guess. Hilariously out of left field, with the delightful detail of geometry class tools in lieu of traditional weaponry.

Of course, the trio’s reputation is going to take a hit- no way news of an incident like that wouldn’t travel like wildfire through a high school. Momo isn’t too bothered by it, more wearied by the whole affair. I guess I can’t blame her, with aliens and supernaturals constantly on your ass, you’ve got much bigger fish to fry than school rumors. Which, if Okarun’s theory is right, is a really big fish, the yokai being the ones protecting the world from an alien invasion. In spite of Aira claiming she’ll blame it all on Momo, she actually does the decent thing for once and fesses up to her cohort that she was the one who spread false rumors about Momo.

In an act of kindness (or teenage arrogance wanting to prove their elders wrong), the kids take the injured extraterrestrial home, foisting him upon Grandma as undeniable proof such things exist. I get a kick out of how Grandma stubbornly sticks to her story that “it’s a kappa”, even after seeing it leave in a spaceship, and Okaru chimes in about theories claiming kappa are indeed aliens.

Also amusing was the dinner scene. Feeding sushi to a sea creature? That’s kind of cannibalism, but he doesn’t seem bothered by it, declaring “awful”, even as he shovels it down. The women are very violent, maybe more so than the men, declaring war over sushi.

I learned about yet another weird creature legend I had no idea even existed- the Dover Demon. The Dover Demon was reportedly a strange living thing observed at night over the span of a few days in Massachusetts. And it appears here, as the ABBA singing, mantis shrimp boxer.

Much like the other creatures that have appeared so far, the oddity of the week, the mantis shrimp boxer, has a backstory full of suffering. His son gravely ill with chronic blood loss, he has to work his tail off for treatments, but due to his abilities, is only able to work dangerous jobs. I love how even in the middle of a serious conversation about this guy trying to provide for his sick kid, Momo falls over squealing when he mentions Okarun’s real name.

Okarun has a strong sense of justice and can’t a creature in need, even offering to donate his family jewels, until it gets pointed out that the alien needs something more sustainable, like a job. Luckily, thanks to Grandma’s sense of smell, they discover that this species’ blood is none other than…milk. Wow, talk about a plot twist. That’s easily solved with a cow from Grandma’s friend, which the alien beams up in a classic extraterrestrial abduction scene. Though, the thought occurred to me- if it’s a shrimp mantis alien- will the living environment be suitable for a cow or will old Bessie keel over upon landing. It would be kind of a shame if it did, but also kind of funny, that everyone overlooked something as important as that. So incredibly zany and none of it makes sense if you stop and think about it. The beauty of it is- you don’t have to. The charm of this series is just taking the show as it comes and appreciating the art and wildness for what it is.

Something I don’t think about too often, but certainly must be true, is the financial blow delivered by any run in with aliens, be it building damage, hospital fees, or in this case, school uniforms. I guess their uniforms went AWOL in the Nessie/Godzilla/Sex Aliens Gattai adventure and Grandma now has to buy school uniforms- for the third time. From what I’ve heard, those things aren’t cheap, either. She refuses to buy Momo one, seeing through her act, but has no problem with shopping for the other too. I am curious, why aren’t Aira and Okarun’s parents buying them their uniforms? That isn’t explained, and I suppose not terribly important given the focus of the series.

It cracked me up that Momo speaks to Grandma in super polite Japanese “degozaimasu”, and keeps it up, until getting mega pissed. Eventually, Grandma and Momo reach a compromise, with a Hiroshi Abe (famous actor) impersonation from Momo in exchange for uniforms. She keeps it up (or at least her version of it), even when answering the door- that is until she sees who it is, dropping the act in total surprise.

With that, it’s now it’s Okarun’s turn to be jealous when Momo’s cool childhood friend shows up out of the blue. It turns out due to circumstances, he’s now coming to live with the Ayase women. But more on that next week, I suppose.

Preview