Peach Boy Riverside (Episode 8) - Companion and Companion

Sally has to choose who to side with – Mikoto who seeks to destroy all ogres or Sumeragi who wants to make peace. Unfortunately, it’s never a simple decision even if it appears to be!

Peach Boy Riverside (Episode 8) – Companion and Companion

What happened?

Sally stepped forward and took Mikoto’s hand. She wanted to be with him, but she also wanted to change his mind about the ogres. He was furious that she chose him. His hatred for ogres was absolute and he would even cut through Sally if she were to get in his way. Sumeragi was fascinated by her decision and told her to run after him.

When Sally caught up with Mikoto he was still angry and wasn’t prepared to listen. It was as if he believed his choice would be enough to make her go with the obvious answer. Maybe, he would be able to find the peace he longs for one way or another if he wasn’t at the centre of it. Just then an explosion erupted on one side of the city. Ogres!

The martial arts tournament was suspended and the contestants made an offer of five hundred coins for the head of an ogre. Hawthorn wanted to tell them all to run and that they had no hope of bringing even one down on their own, but they wouldn’t listen. He slipped away, but one other contestant followed him in the hope of teaming up. Hawthorn was able to convince him to head home and be with his family, but just as they were about to part ways he was struck by lightning, burning him to a crisp.

Todoroki, the lightning ogre approached Hawthorn accusing him of being the peach boy. He had hoped that he would have destroyed them both with the lightning, but it wasn’t to be. Frau and Carrot ran to the city wall to help, unaware of the danger Hawthorn was in. Sumeragi, however, was all too aware and stepped between Sally and Hawthorn’s location, and had no intention of letting her pass after she chose Mikoto.

Frau and Carrot got caught up in fights of their own. No one was going to get to Hawthorn in time to save him. He knew that. He’d dodged death a few too many times of late. At least this time he would charge it down headfirst. Todoroki unleashed his gore cannon, sending a bolt of lightning sizzling towards Hawthorn as he charged. However, it didn’t reach its intended target as Winnie appeared, absorbing the attack.

Peach Boy Riverside Episode 8 Sally and Sumeragi

What did you think?

Well, I am surprised that Sally chose Mikoto and so was he. I think he hoped that she would have chosen Sumeragi and been forced to face him. Not because he wanted to kill her, but I think he wanted her to defeat him and end the cycle of vengeance. She made the wrong choice for the right reason and basically made everyone her enemy. However, this episode was outstanding. I loved the way it set up all the fights and left us hanging in a number of precarious positions.

Winnie arriving at the last second was amazing, however, had you been watching as they were being released, you would have had no idea who Winnie was as she was introduced in episode 11. Sure, she was briefly shown in episode 7, but it was just a glimpse. You may also have completely forgotten about Todoroki who was last shown in episode 3. I’m really enjoying this show, but I absolutely hate that they released it in this manner.

Peach Boy Riverside Episode 8 Carrot versus Shinki

What have you learnt?

So, what exactly is Sumeragi? I doubt he’s human as he was able to catch Mikoto’s sword with his fingers when they first met in episode 11. Apparently, he’s not an ogre as Sally’s peach boy powers didn’t activate. Could he be the being that I hypothesized about in episode 12? My theory was that if an ogre is born from humanity’s hatred which then consumes the ogres forcing them to hate humans, and peach boys are born of the hatred that ogres have, could Sumeragi be something born of the hatred of those with the peach boy powers?

It’s a crazy and very convoluted idea, but not completely unreasonable. The question is what is Sumeragi trying to achieve. He claims to want peace between humans and ogres, but that seems like a lie. Even the mid-tier ogre could tell he wasn’t being completely genuine in the last episode. I’m looking forward to finding out, although I’m even more curious how the next two episodes will fit together as they appear in reverse order to how they were released!

Chronological viewing order – 4, 1, 2, 7, 11, 12, 5, 6, 3, 8, 10, 9