Episode 8 of Marriagetoxin turns comedy into chaos when Gero finds himself in a deadly struggle with the mysterious Hitman Hunter. What begins as a fun little field trip quickly turns into one of the more action-packed and emotionally layered episodes the anime has produced so far.
The episode starts out with Kinosaki trying to teach Gero how to win prizes at a crane game, saying that it’s the secret to becoming popular with girls. Unsurprisingly, Gero fails spectacularly, despite several tries. Eventually the pair give up, and decide to go to a photo booth instead, enjoying a rare peaceful moment together. But the peaceful atmosphere doesn’t last long, as someone watches them from afar.
Kinosaki, editing his photos, discusses the rising rumors of the Hitman Hunter, an assassin who kills dangerous killers. He fears Gero could be one of the hunter’s next victims, ratcheting up the tension before the real danger even arrives.
Outside the booth, the pair come across a pink-haired woman, Arashiyama. She is mistaken for the Hitman Hunter at first, but instead asks Gero for protection. Arashiyama is one of the Beast Masters’ branch families, a division of the Beast Masters that has recently elected to face the Hitman Hunter head-on. That decision has jeopardized her life.
Arashiyama expects rejection, she has neither money or influence. To her surprise Gero immediately agrees to help, at a low price. Gero really wants to help her out, something unusual for someone who never sees Masters asking for help. This little moment shows one of the best things about his character, underneath his deadly occupation he still has empathy and respect for others.
Arashiyama then reveals herself as the Hamster Master and introduces Sirius, one of her pet hamsters. She also mentions that she’s going to a get-together with other Beast Masters even though they are always looking down on her rank in the organization.
But the meeting is a nightmare.
By the time they arrive, everyone is dead pretty much. The only survivor is an unknown black-haired boy, who soon reveals himself to be the Hitman Hunter. Before Gero has a chance to answer, the boy releases a devastating attack that instantly shows the huge power gap between the two.
The ensuing fight scene is easily the best action scene of the series so far. Gero uses several poisons to enhance his fighting ability, pushing his body to the limit, but even then, Nakagawa (the real identity of the Hitman Hunter) is still frighteningly powerful. His personality is calm, which is more disturbing. He speaks casually, but unleashes devastating attacks that can destroy portions of the building itself.
Nakagawa’s background is one of the biggest surprises in the episode. Unlike many strong characters in the series he does not come from a famous assassin family or secret organization. He’s just a regular guy with superhuman strength and a warped sense of justice.
Nakagawa believes he is making society better by killing dangerous killers. His biggest dream is surprisingly simple. He wants to open a quiet cafe with his girlfriend where people can come and relax without having to be afraid. Yet, the contrast between his gentle ambitions and brutal methods makes him one of the most fascinating characters in the anime so far.
You’ll also be blown away by the first impression Arashiyama makes. She has some awkward fangirl moments around Gero that are pretty funny, but she gives some real emotional bravery when it counts the most. She has no fighting ability, but she steps between Nakagawa and Gero in an attempt to save him. Her actions eventually convince Nakagawa to spare Gero’s life, proving that even someone as dangerous as him can be swayed by compassion.
Just when it looks like the conflict is solved, the episode brings in another shocking twist. Suddenly the necklace of Arashiyama changes and starts drinking her blood. A bat representing the main Beast family appears and calls Gero and Nakagawa telling them they have to meet him if they want to save her.
The episode ends by establishing what may be the most exciting and darkest storylines in the anime yet.
What makes Episode 8 so compelling is the way it seamlessly blends humor, action and character development. There are little things in the writing that gain more meaning when you look back. The other Beast Masters probably died for disrespecting and ignoring Arashiyama enough to start the meeting without her. They could have waited and Gero’s presence could have turned everything around.
Overall, Episode 8 gives us some great battles, new characters to remember and a lot of story development, all while adding new questions surrounding the Beast Masters. If the upcoming episodes keep building on these themes, Marriagetoxin might be on its way to its best arc yet.