Marriagetoxin Episode 8 wastes no time in putting Gero in another weird and dangerous situation, but this time the stakes seem much higher. What begins as a fun day out quickly becomes one of the most intense showdowns of the anime thus far, bringing in a new enemy and adding to the dark side of the Masters’ world.
Gero Tries To Be Popular
The episode starts off surprisingly comedic, with Kinosaki trying to teach Gero how to win prizes at a claw machine. He says the secret to being popular with girls is mastering these arcade skills. Unfortunately for Gero, even poison techniques don’t help him successfully grab a stuffed toy.
The pair moves on to a photo booth after repeated failures. Kinosaki, who is taking photos with them, mentions the growing threat of the mysterious Hitman Hunter. He is worried that Gero might be the next target for the assassin, so they can’t let their guard down.
Their casual day out takes a suspicious turn when they see someone secretly watching them in the vicinity.
The Sudden Request of Arashiyama
Gero and Kinosaki stepped out of the booth to find a pink haired woman waiting for them. First they think she is the Hitman Hunter, but the truth is much more surprising.
“I am Arashiyama of a branch family of the Beast Masters,” the woman announces. Her group has recently voted to oppose the Hitman Hunter, and she may be a target. She is afraid for her life, and asks Gero to protect her.
Arashiyama initially believes that Gero will reject her because she cannot pay for adequate protection. But Gero surprises her by volunteering to be her bodyguard for next to nothing. Masters is not one to ask for help often, so he’s really eager to help her.
Then, the episode shows the special job of Arashiyama as Hamster Master. She also introduces one of her hamsters, Sirius, throwing in a bit of comedy before the story takes a darker turn.
The Beast Masters Expect a Bloodbath
Arashiyama takes Gero and Kinosaki to a meeting of Beast Masters, hoping they can talk over the increasing danger. Unfortunately, they’re too late.
At the meeting all the members have already been killed.
In the room is only one survivor, an unfamiliar black-haired boy. Before anyone can react, he suddenly rushes at Gero with sheer speed and power.
The mysterious attacker turns out to be Nakagawa. The infamous Hitman Hunter himself.
Nakagawa Proves He’s in a League of His Own
The clash between Gero and Nakagawa easily becomes the highlight of the episode. Nakagawa tears Gero apart in their first exchange, even cutting through part of the building with terrifying ease.
Gero knows that he cannot compete normally and injects himself with various poisons to enhance his abilities. For a moment, it seems like the fight is equalizing, especially when Gero gets Nakagawa off the building.
But Nakagawa returns casually a few seconds later, with one hand, talking calmly on the phone, and proving just how ridiculously strong he is.
The episode does a good job of building up the tension, with Gero seeming to be actually vulnerable for the first time in a while. Even after a third poison shot, Gero still can’t keep up.
It gets to be too much, eventually. His body begins to fail him and he is helpless before Nakagawa.
Nakagawa’s Motivation Is Really Very Simple
As Nakagawa is about to finish Gero off, Arashiyama intervenes and offers her own life instead. She has no power but will not let the person trying to protect her go.
That one act alters Nakagawa’s perspective.
He admits he hasn’t seen Masters risk himself for others before, and this makes him reconsider killing Gero. The scene works surprisingly well, as it humanizes Nakagawa without losing the danger around him.
Later the group discovers Nakagawa’s true motivation. He dreams of opening a peaceful café with his girlfriend one day, and he thinks killing off violent hitmen will make the world a safer place for customers to relax.
It is a strangely wholesome dream for someone capable of brutal murder, and makes his personality all the more unsettling.
The Beast Family Discovers a New Danger
As things start to settle down, the episode ends with another shocking twist.
Arashiyama’s necklace tightens suddenly, squeezing around her throat as it draws out her blood. Then a bat shows up, claiming to be from the main Beast family. It orders Gero and Nakagawa both to meet them, if they hope to save Arashiyama.
The cliffhanger is building towards a bigger confrontation involving the Beast family itself, and suggests this arc is only getting started.
Review .
Episode 8 features one of the best action sequences of the series so far, and introduces an interesting new villain. Nakagawa is immediately noticeable, because he feels completely different from the previous enemies. He talks casually, acts politely, dreams of owning a café, but can kill without hesitation if it gets him to his ideal future.
The contrast makes him incredibly entertaining to watch.
Arashiyama also makes a strong first impression with her energetic personality and comedic chemistry with Gero. Her being smitten with him could be some funny moments down the line, but the episode already teases she might be another support character who has issues contributing in battle.
There are also little storytelling details that pay off for those who pay attention. One interesting moment is when you think that the Beast Masters could have lived, if they had just waited for Arashiyama to come with Gero, instead of leaving her out of the meeting.
Overall, this episode handles the blend of comedy, action and character development well, taking the story into much darker territory. If the anime keeps adding new villains and conflicts like this, this new arc might be the best one in the series so far.