That episode was definitely a giant bundle of WTF – in a good way. There were loads of moments that just made no sense at all, but when you factor in the mix of humor, development and surprise, it was a pretty successful package.
For starters, I enjoyed the “Hell’s Watchdog” character a lot – most especially when he want to drink the tea and spilled the entire cup trying to get it into his muzzle. He appears to have been little more than a plot device, but he served his function well – giving us some serious exposition on Yuu and leading Ayumu to confront his killer again. I did think it was kind of lame that a demon from Hell would be killed by a sword that couldn’t finish off a zombie, but there was explanation forthcoming for that. He did manage to spill the beans about the serial killer using the souls of the dead as sacrifices, as well as the fact that Yuu takes on the pain of whoever she heals.
The stoop chat between Yuu and Ayumu was probably the most emotional of the series so far. Yuu’s transition from stoic to tears was a bit too abrupt, but you could definitely feel the tragedy of her situation – her body is a vessel for incredibly powerful magics she can’t control. Even to speak can release that power with unknown consequences, and for someone so powerful she seems mighty fragile too. Ayumu as much as confesses to her and promises to protect her from anything – even nuclear missiles. But how about a… Detached black-and-blue-whale???
Yessir, that megalo may have been the weirdest monster ever – a giant flying whale in a tuxedo vest and what the Hell he was doing there I still have no idea, but it was up to Sera and Mahou Shoujo Ayumu to kill him (mind you, there was no transition from the Ayumu/Yuu talk to this nonsense whatsoever). Ayumu does the full-on transformation thing again and ends up succeeding by going super-moe (“No, Ayumu – you mustn’t get any cuter!”) and launching a 1000% kick even as Sera invents knew ways to call him a piece of shit.
As I said, WTF… I really do enjoy the way this show switches between outrageous and serious, and has no fear whatsoever of going completely random and giving no explanations. Hell, just the Dyson Air Multiplier alone is more interesting that several series currently airing. It’s not high art, but there’s a subversive quality to the humor and a lingering sense of impending dread (as witness the surprise ending) that makes the show quite appealing.
