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This episode is basically Studio Trigger’s manifesto. It spits in the face of everyone who complained about trivial things from the previous installments and re-enforces the fact that they don’t give a shit what people think of them. If you didn’t like the other episodes, you certainly won’t like this one… and you’ll realize that Kill la Kill doesn’t exactly think highly of you, either.

Episode 3 features the first real showdown between Ryuuko and Satsuki. It’s properly ridiculous, and while I was a bit disappointed to see it end in a stalemate after how hyped up this battle had been by Japanese fans, it definitely works as what Trigger calls “Kill la Kill‘s first climax.” Joke’s on them, I already climaxed during episode 1. But, if I’m being honest, my favorite part of this episode was actually the buildup in the first half. The early scenes prove that Satsuki is an amazing antagonist. She doesn’t take shit from anyone and basically makes Junketsu (another Kamui) her bitch immediately after it’s introduced. Some very well-delivered exposition – that shows rather than tells, unlike most anime – gives us insight into how powerful Kamuis really are, and we get more hilarious moments of Mako using her seemingly elastic body to bounce around everywhere. It also features one of the best animation cuts yet from this series: Mako’s dad and little brother run a crazy circle around their bedroom, undressing, bathing, and getting into bed all in the span of 15 madcap seconds. It’s animated with the kind of comic intensity you rarely see in today’s cartoons, and is pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Oh, and there’s a Dead Leaves reference in there too. Imaishi remembers!

One of my favorite things about this episode is how it specifically brings up a lot of the things certain people disliked about the last two, then just flippantly excuses them and tells the audience to stop getting so worked up. It does this pretty constantly in the first half, including a scene where Mikisugi (the teacher) makes an innuendo, Ryuuko calls him on it, and he responds that she’s interpreting him incorrectly and that it’s naive to get angry over something so meaningless. If there’s one lesson to be learned from 2010’s Panty & Stocking, it’s that this crew loves screwing with potential fans who can’t handle the (im)mature content on display. They don’t want to accommodate you if you aren’t part of the target audience, and I love them for that. I’m glad they’re calling folks out, as it gets annoying when even diehard Monogatari fanboys suddenly feel the need to jump on the bandwagon in labeling the sexual humor “creepy,” which is so hilariously hypocritical that I don’t even know where to begin.

Of course, the real meat of this episode lies in its action-packed second half, and it’s killer. While not quite as crazy as I’d been led to believe, it features a few truly awesome civilian-flinging moments and (outside of a couple very jarring seconds) some fantastic CGI. That corridor fight is legendary… I only wish it was longer. The budget does kind of show throughout like it did in episode 2, but Trigger has done an admirable job maintaining the breakneck pace and high energy of the series premiere in spite of potential money woes. Ryuuko reaches full power this time, and Satsuki probably kills at least half the student body trying to take her down. It ends with neither woman victorious, our hero prepared to slice her way through every single club to discover the truth behind her father’s murder. Villain-of-the-week pacing is a go~

Remember my first blog entry on this show where I so boldly claimed that fanservice does not necessarily undermine someone’s character? Episode 3 pretty much makes my point for me. To reach her full potential, Ryuuko has to embrace her inner awesomeness and stop being ashamed of her body. Satsuki doesn’t even flinch at the prospect of strutting her stuff because she’s already sexually liberated, and Ryuuko realizes she has to follow suit if she wants any hope of winning. So she does her full transformation – sadly copy-pasted from the OP, which kind of ruins the moment – and manages to hold her own in a seemingly hopeless fight. I mean, yeah, this is all definitely just an excuse for the fanservice to exist in-universe, but it also proves that Trigger understands how sexualization does not automatically equal objectification, and to me it actually comes across as empowering, since these characters are first and foremost supposed to be considered cool by the audience. They’re comfortable with their bodies and don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of them – something everyone should strive for. That said, they would totally kick your ass if you talked shit about how they looked. You know it’s true.

To be honest, I have no idea why some people are so bothered by how overtly sexual Kill la Kill is. I really hate delving into this topic, but in spite of the awesome fight scenes and great humor, I’ve seen far more criticism about boobs and butts than legitimate discussion as of late. Yeah, Ryuuko and Satsuki are hot, whatever. Their characters are well-written and enticing in a way based almost entirely around their personalities rather than their looks, and that’s why the ridiculous T&A shots aren’t annoying. All that inventive fanservice is thrown in your face constantly because Kill la Kill is fun and audacious, not because Trigger wants you to pop a boner. Shit, why else would the teacher always strip off his clothes while spouting exposition? Why else would every scene involve some kind of impossible slapstick? Why else would the overall art design resemble Looney Tunes more than actual human anatomy? You’re not supposed to be taking KLK seriously. Just look at their silly costumes and laugh.

This series uses constant sexuality and violence for comedy because it loves reveling in depravity to the point where it no longer has any basis in reality. Under other circumstances this kind of stuff probably should make you feel uncomfortable, but Kill la Kill is goofy and non-exploitative. I would by no means call KLK a feminist show, but it’s not like this is fucking Yuushibu where the female characters have no personality and the camera purposefully zooms in on their panties; this is a crazy action-comedy made for insane people of all shapes and sizes. Male, female, whatever – it doesn’t matter. You’re here for the zany spectacle, and there’s no limit to the creators’ imaginations. If the roller coaster is making you sick, it’s probably best not to get on for another ride.

For the rest of us, next Thursday can’t come soon enough. We’re in for the long haul, you and I. We’ll always have Honnouji Academy.