Chainsaw Man (Episode 8) – Gunfire
Denji wakes up in Himeno’s apartment and is pleased to see she’s prepared to make him breakfast. He confirms that he loves Makima, which prompts Himeno to offer to help him if he helps her with Aki. He’s in!
Chainsaw Man (Episode 8) – Gunfire
What happened?
Himeno claims to have no recollection of what happened the night before. She doesn’t remember carrying him to her house, undressing him, or offering to have sex with him. All Denji could remember was Makima giving him the lollipop she was sucking on and calling it their first indirect kiss. Anyhow, Denji ate breakfast with Himeno on her balcony where they conspired to ensure that he ended up with Makima and she ended up with Aki.
Meanwhile, Makima was on her way to Kyoto to arrange some protection for Denji. She wasn’t looking forward to it, but it had to be done, especially with so many devils showing an interest in him. What was the Gun Devil afraid of? However, they were ambushed on the train and executed. Simultaneously, several other groups took out the rest of the team. The last group was Aki, Denji, Power, and Himeno who were eating lunch.
The grandson of the Yakuza boss that had control of Denji was also in the restaurant. After interrupting their meal, he pulled a gun and started shooting. Power was the first to get to him, knocking him flying into the air. Aki fed him to Kon, however, the Fox Devil was not impressed. It did not like that at all. The grandson emerged from inside Kon, his body changed, swords coming out of his arms and head. Aki fought back, using the Curse Devil and he appeared to have won, but then another person appeared and revived him. Himeno, who was already losing a lot of blood from a gunshot, increased her contract with the Ghost Devil to save Aki, but will it be enough?
What did you think?
So, this is pretty much where the third volume of the manga ended. There’s another scene which I’m sure is how things will open in the next episode, but it doesn’t change the utter shock of what just happened. It’s such a crazy episode when you think about how calm and serene the episode started. It had an incredibly realistic feel to it from the way Himeno and Denji acted to the animation of her apartment. Then, we got the simultaneous targetted attack and the whole thing is thrown in the air.
Obviously, this isn’t the end. There’s no way Makima is going to die so that loses a lot of the shock factor straight away. Sure, when the chapters were first published it would have been insane. I think this is my favourite episode yet. There are so many questions that I believe it would be impossible to watch this episode and then call it a day. My main concern is Himeno who completely vanished, giving up her body to the Ghost Devil. The main thing I’m looking forward to is seeing how they undo this or how much of it they do. I refuse to believe the entire team has just been killed and won’t be returning.
Episode Highlights
Other reviews in the series
Manga
- Volume 1 – Dog and Chainsaw
- Volume 2 – Chainsaw vs. Bat
- Volume 3 – Taste of a Kiss!
- Volume 4 – The Gun is Mightier
- Volume 5 – Minor
- Volume 6 – Boom Boom Boom
- Volume 7 – In a Dream
- Volume 8 – Super Mess
- Volume 9 – Bath
- Volume 10 – A Dog’s Feelings
- Volume 11 – Go Get ’em, Chainsaw Man
- Volume 12 – Bird and War
- Volume 13 – Spoiler
- Volume 14 – I Wanna See Penguins!
| English Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Japanese Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Medium | Manga |
| Volumes | Ongoing |
| Author | Tatsuki Fujimoto |
| Artist | Tatsuki Fujimoto |
| Genres | Action, Devils, Horror, Supernatural |
| Demographic | Shounen |
Anime
- Season One
- Episode 1 – Dog & Chainsaw
- Episode 2 – Arrival in Tokyo
- Episode 3 – Meowy’s Whereabouts
- Episode 4 – Rescue
- Episode 5 – Gun Devil
- Episode 6 – Kill Denji
- Episode 7 – The Taste of a Kiss
- Episode 8 – Gunfire
- Episode 9 – From Kyoto
- Episode 10 – Bruised & Battered
- Episode 11 – Mission Start
- Episode 12 – Katana vs. Chainsaw
| English Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Japanese Title | Chainsaw Man |
| Medium | Anime |
| Released | Fall 2022 |
| Episodes | 12 |
| Animation Studios | MAPPA |
| Genres | Action, Devils, Horror, Supernatural |
| Demographic | Shounen |
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As much as I don’t care about which anime wins the best awards on well-known sites, Chainsaw Man’s faithful adaptation deserves to win many categories at least from one site. I will never understand how many anime-only viewers see this series as lame or with one of its arrogant claims:
“The story feels like an early 2000s generic shonen rip off that relies on shock value and gore as its primary tools.”
I agree CSM’s action scenes are gory and shock value exists but they mean well and are not romanticised/admired with “that looks cool” tone.
This episode might be my most favourite so far because the previous gathering event has served its purpose of “appreciate your mundane life for you never know tomorrow will be your literal deadline” motto. Well except Makima but besides being a main character, there’s another good reason why she was
subtly portrayed her Stockholm Syndrome-like attention to Denji. I’m aware of “Makima’s simps” but what does one expect from Japan’s otaku subculture? 86 has many simps for Lena’s “waifu traits” which unfortunately made me unsee that and one of the reasons why I’m unable to sincerely like her.
Anyway even though the camera angle between Katana Man & Denji looks awkward and too distant, it actually works as it gave off the feel that unpleasant stuff is about to happen. The thing with guns is that they’re too fast for anyone to avoid, and I could understand the director conveying the tone of the Public Safety team’s life being cut off too soon.
*Lena’s “waifu traits” which made me unable to unsee that
Yeah. I think the anime adaptation is as close to the manga as they could have gotten. There are a couple of small events that got cut but nothing that impacted the story.
People are going to simp over any character regardless of how nice they are or not. It’s not really surprising that Makima gets that attention, although it should have been pretty clear from the beginning that something was off about her.
I just hope we get another season because the mini-arc that comes next is incredible.
Also, it’s worth noting that guns had been completely outlawed since the Gun-Devil appeared so no one is expecting anyone to have them. There was little any of them could have done.