Chainsaw Man Episode 7 Review: That Adds Little and Explores Little About The Plot And Characters

Cast: Kikunosuke Toya, Shiori Izawa, Tomori Kusunoki

Director: Hiroshi Seko

Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll

Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3.5/5 (three and a half stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

After six episodes of uninterrupted quality (here is the review of Chainsaw Man Episode 6), with a truly surprising continuity in these terms, Chainsaw Man allows himself a moment of respite with an episode, the seventh, which disregards expectations and focuses on evidently secondary but which continue to constitute an important part of the anime also as regards the minute. The episode opens with Denji who, transformed into Chainsaw Devil, throws himself into a fight to the death (literally) against the Devil Eternity. A battle with no holds barred that sees the protagonist triumph after three days of continuous attacks. Finally free from the crystallized dimension in which the enemy had trapped them, the members of the Hayakawa team and Himeno’s group ease the tension in a local izakaya, between hot dishes and alcoholic drinks.

The situation, between pints of beer and a light and carefree atmosphere, degenerates up to Himeno’s disgusting kiss to Denji, who finds themselves sharing the same bed during the night. Without almost realizing it we have passed half of the series. This new episode introduces us to other characters and gives us some iconic, but disgusting moments. Our protagonist at the opening of the episode does what he does best: “chainsaw”. The episode opens with what has by now become a staple of the series: the gory action. Denji takes the form of the Chainsaw Man and collides with the Infinity Devil, in a somewhat repetitive but still fun battle. At this point, we hope to see other Devil Hunters use their powers to create some variety of action, but all are too weak for the events of the last episode.

Chainsaw Man Episode 7 Review: The Story

Chainsaw Man takes a break, it does so with an episode that stages a fight that clashes with the premises of the previous one, ruining what was built, and wasting the opportunity for a more reasoned and complex resolution which, at this point, does not seem to be prerogative of the work. In short, Chainsaw Man proves that he has no strategic or minimally composite battles in his ropes, and the desire to convey everything into mere chaos, to make it a pure and essential element is understandable and indisputable, but only to the extent that he manages to remain coherent and faithful to itself.

The idea of ​​inducing the devil hunter protagonists to face a devil who bases his power on the modification of reality, on the subversion of the rules of space-time and the imposition of one’s own, as well as one’s scheme, one’s ingenious move, and the consequent interest created around the dynamics of the pact (between humans and devils) and future clashes (which one hopes at least more difficult), they end up crumbling because of a solution, on balance, simplistic and far-fetched.

And beyond the detail just analyzed, it is hoped, on a general level, that, despite the deeply chaotic nature and expression that distinguish it, the anime will be able, on future occasions, to give us more measured and meditated clashes, given that a work that bases its power-system on the pacts and the peculiarities of the devils’ powers and, therefore, on the rules, on the constraints, should aim to differentiate the conduct of the fights without being repetitive in proposing simple, almost superficial results.

Chainsaw Man Episode 7 Review and analysis

The simplicity and speed of the fight with the Devil Eternity, relegated to the first five minutes of the episode, then end up allowing perhaps excessive space for secondary dynamics, for the ecchi-slice of life of the dinner with a surprise ending, for questions, ultimately, of little importance, which add little to the main plot and do not contribute to developing the characters. The only relevant notion learned during episode 7 concerns the reputation that the Devil Chainsaw seems to have among the ranks of his fellows, with the Devil Eternity who recalls his strength and the fear he must have instilled in the past.

Important information to revive the mystery around Denji’s powers, which suggests a power not yet fully exploited, has not yet come out. It is no coincidence that Makima had previously repeatedly stated that she placed his hopes on Denji and his abilities, and it is not a fact that Aki and Himeno agree. And if a healthy dose of madness is added to the still unexpressed potential, then the blindfolded devil hunter can only be certain that her dream of seeing the Pistol Devil defeated can be realized thanks to the boy with “wheels out of place”.

Even from the point of view of animation, the episode reveals itself to be fluctuating, with the first part (that of the fight) convulsive but impactful, with careful management of the CGI (which does not disturb and is indeed still well made), with an unprecedented amount of blood and good fluidity. Fluidity is somewhat sacrificed in the central part, with good but slightly below standard animations and drawings of the series, and then back in the final scene, again technically masterful and well-directed, in a penumbra that highlights the proverbial management of the light already mentioned above.

Luckily, it all settles down in a more introspective episode, after the group Devil Hunters manage to get out of the possessed hotel. In fact, in this episode, we talk a lot and think a lot. It’s mysterious enough, and spiced with a touch of violence, to keep us interested, but it’s what I would call a passing episode in which we are told a little more about our devil hunters and their past because it seems that Denji’s difficult times with the Devil Hunters have just begun. And finally let’s spend 2 words on the kiss scene mentioned in the title, well to be honest, it’s impressive that the show has gotten to this point before anything crosses the line of “too much”.

Chainsaw Man Episode 7 Review: The Last Words

Chainsaw Man Episode 7 puts the point on the confrontation with the Devil Eternity, however dampening what was built, giving up a potentially epic fight and disregarding the expectations that the previous episode had fueled. The outcome of the battle is too simplistic and beyond a visually spectacular first part, the episode does not carry important events or information, preferring to insist on the secondary dynamics of the series. This episode was centered on Denji’s obsession with his first kiss, but also by Aki seeming to have a crush on Makima or Himeno having a crush on Aki. It was all about the characters’ feelings for each other, and apart from a little gore at the beginning, it was an almost reflective episode with a stomach-churning “twist”!!!