DAN DA DAN Episode 4 Review

Last week on DAN DA DAN, viewers were treated to some of the series’ rarer slow moments – in a show that thrives on chaos and confusion, the choice to make last week’s episode a build-up week to this week’s installment was a bold one – though there was still enough madness last week to go around. With the stage set for a crazy showdown this week on DAN DA DAN, Episode 4 needed to deliver – and it did not disappoint.

This week on DAN DA DAN, Momo and Okarun traveled back to where it all began – the tunnel where Turbo Granny first stole the latter’s ‘banana’, as we get ready to steal it right back. I had high expectations for this week’s episode, and somehow, they were exceeded. I can’t wait to talk about this episode, so let’s cut to the chase and talk about DAN DA DAN Episode 4! Spoilers ahead!

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The Review

Image by Science SARU

In some ways, I was surprised that we were taking on Turbo Granny this early on in the series. Call me naïve, but I had figured that Turbo Granny would be the big bad of the season, maybe even lasting until the show’s inevitable second season – with this level of success this early on, I envision many more seasons of DAN DA DAN, so there’s no worries on that front. Ultimately, I’m glad we revisited this antagonist this early on, as surprising as the decision was. In the end, it paid off.

Turbo Granny in the Shono City tunnel was an absolute spectacle. Her changing forms and unique abilities were brought to life stunningly by Science SARU, but it was the creature design that really made her shine. She always retained certain qualities that let you know it was her, but the various contortions of her features added this uncanniness to her design that added to the fear factor surrounding her. She has also, as of this week’s episode, jumpscared me twice in this show – kudos to you, Turbo Granny.

Beyond her physical appearance though, I loved Turbo Granny’s characterisation in this episode – we knew there was an immaturity to the character despite her age. However, this week’s episode leaned even further into that juvenile side of her, particularly when she agrees to give our protagonists a ten-minute head-start, and then begins to jump numbers while counting, just like that one cousin would always do when you would play hide-and-seek as a child. Moments like this keep a show that could so easily descend into the horror genre, light-hearted and jovial.

Image by Science SARU

Keeping with the vulgar aspects of DAN DA DAN, Okarun then takes Turbo Granny up on her offer from the very first episode, and attacks the spirit in a very unique way – and thus emerges a scenario in which I do not envy either party involved. I have to commend DAN DA DAN for this – I’ve never quite seen something like this go down before, especially not in an anime that’s this mainstream and popular. One thing we cannot deny is that the series has found its lane, and for the most part, that lane is unpopulated, which is an incredible feat for a modern-day shonen.

We then get to the meat of this episode, which is a thrilling chase between our heroes and a giant crab spirit. Despite the insane level of peril that Momo and Okarun are in, I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear throughout the entire pursuit. Whether it was the slapstick nature of the chase, as everyone crashed through the streets of Shono City, or whether it was the great interactions between the characters through dialogue, the whole thing was just an absolute delight to watch – even if Momo and Okarun were in mortal danger the whole time.

And then, just when I had thought the action was winding down, it kicked off again, and didn’t really come to an end until the closing moments of the episode. Truly, the chaos never ends with DAN DA DAN. With so much of the screen time this week being taken up with chase sequences, this episode is a sort of presentation for Science SARU. Before this anime hit the scene, I knew the studio majorly for Devilman: Crybaby, and the animation style of that series is so unique, I feel like Science SARU’s talents as an animation studio never shined through to the level they could have. DAN DA DAN, and this episode of it in particular, is letting the studio triumph as a main contender in the anime scene, and I love to see it.

Image by Science SARU

Speaking of animation, the blend of Turbo Granny and the crab spirit was absolutely horrifying. That crab was a particularly horrific monster before Turbo Granny even got involved in the whole affair, but the two of them blended together? An absolute ‘nope’ moment for me. I have to say, I think Momo and Okarun are handling this new world they’ve stepped into pretty well. I guess that’s characteristic of shonen protagonists – they do love to step up to the plate very quickly. Still though, I think I’d need at least a season if I was in this show before I could stop screaming at the sight of everything.

The climax of the episode leading back to Momo’s grandmother was genius – it should have been obvious once they led Turbo Granny onto the train that that was the plan, but it never crossed my mind until I saw her, which made the reveal all the more thrilling. However, what truly caught me off guard was the emotional tone that the episode ended with, revealing the nature of Turbo Granny, and letting us sympathize with what was, to this point, one of the show’s most unappealing antagonists. While the poignancy of the closing moments was unexpected, it was not unwelcome – a fitting end to such an amazing episode.

I absolutely loved this week’s episode of DAN DA DAN, and with four episodes now in the bag, I think I’m in the clear to call this my favourite anime of the Fall 2024 season – and the competition this season has been stiff, so that’s saying something! I hope the show maintains this quality the whole way through, but honestly we’ve had so much action in such a short amount of time, I’m not against the series taking a breather and slowing things down next week – after all, with this week’s episode, we’re sort of done with the show’s first arc. Where’s DAN DA DAN taking us next? Only time will tell… Did you love this week’s episode as much as I did? Be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments!

See also: DAN DA DAN Episode 3 Review

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Where to Watch DAN DA DAN?

Image by Science SARU

DAN DA DAN releases on Crunchyroll every week on Thursdays. The English Dub is also releasing weekly alongside the Japanese original, so big news for Dub watchers, you don’t have to wait! Be sure to check out the show, and let us know your thoughts!

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