Odd Taxi – 06

「なんでやねんが聞きたいよ」 (Nandeyanen ga Kikitai yo)
“Let Me Hear You Say, “What the Hell?””

Did the pacing just exponentially rise, from the last episode? Or was there way too many things happening at once. Odokawa confronts Shirakawa, seemingly five steps above us. First, we see a professedly innocuous text message, which Shirakawa seems to refuse as she stands in waiting in front of his house. Odokawa treats her with coldness, as she was the one who deceived him. For a moment there, Odokawa thought she was into him. But the situation changed, and now she has pleaded her guilt.

In another turn of events I wasn’t expecting, Odokawa and Dobu, work to make a deal together. Is the show trying to make Dobu a likable character? In some ways, it has already succeeded, but for others, it might be difficult to make the jump into liking Dobu, as in episodes of yore, he was presented as the main antagonist and nothing more. But as we have learned, his Yakuza organization runs far deeper than we could have ever imagined. The deal was only made in favor of Odokawa and Dobu. A win-win-type situation. But even though Odokawa lets Shirakawa go, he still cares for her and asks Dobu to alleviate her debt.

Meanwhile, Kaikibana goes deeper and deeper into arrears. He needs to alleviate his expenses, as well as keep up the mirage for his girlfriend. If the preview is any indication, it seems things are going down for him next episode. 

Imai makes a short appearance and invites Odokawa to spend the night with him, he works at a hostesses bar and wants to repay Odokawa. Everything is settled for, and Odokawa needs not worry. Tanaka makes an appearance as well, bringing Dobu’s gun to the bar and shooting a bullet into the sky. Odokawa meanwhile, in the bathroom, hears everything. Imai comes in to inform him of the situation. And Shibagaki almost loses his life! 

Furthermore, this episode also touched on Baba and Shibagaki’s relationship stretching farther apart. Baba seems to continue on his trail to shift into a successful TV host in his solo career. While Shibagaki is only left with the radio show. It’s honestly a little sad to see as Shibagaki is stuck and late in his life, so a resurrection for him is rather hard. While Baba has that boyish good looks and charms and is a little bit of a moron, so people seem to enjoy watching him on TV. While the sullen old grandpa is left in the dust. 

And out of left-field it seems, Baba and Rui are in a relationship, they both know they have a lot of labor to do, and life can get busy for them, so they try to make their relationship work, while still pursuing both their dreams.

This episode was a lot. So many things happened. it was a little bit hard to keep up with at times. But I like how it seems that the strings are being tied up. The story is coming together, and it appears the show is plunging towards a conclusion where all of the characters are somehow connected. And might even have an all-out fight between them. I just want to see that conversation between Odokawa and Tanaka. As Tanaka seems hung-ho on getting his revenge on Odokawa. No matter what, he will avenge that Dodo! His whole reality might crash down on him, and he might be left with only a couple of ways out. 

The moral high ground and go to prison, or the selfish way out, the cowardly way. 

Yano also got a little screen time in the preview, so we might get to meet him next episode. He doesn’t have a CV just get, so I’m assuming he’s a non-speaking character.

I’m glad at least Shirakawa came clean and was honest about the whole ordeal. But at the same time, she tried to play it like somewhere in between all of it, she developed (real) feelings for Odokawa. I’m with the man on this one. It just seems way too fishy for her to try and reel him back in, as she does not yet know about Dobu and Odokawas plan. I think Odokawa made the right choice to ask her not to contact him ever again.

As I said, this episode was a lot, I read all your comments by the way, even though I might not respond, what was your take on this episode?

Preview