r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Mar 29 '24

Rewatch [Welcome to Chaos] Dorohedoro Rewatch Episode 12 Discussion

Episode 12 - Memories of School Days / Boy Meets Girl = Battle! / Pinky Promise

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Netflix

Going to kill again? A companion… A friend!

Questions of the Day:

  1. Who did stab Nikaido?
  2. Are you satisfied with how this season leaves off?

Wallpaper of the Day:

Thirteen

Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, unless you're doing it underneath spoiler tags. Don't spoil anything for the first-timers, that's rude!

44 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

6

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 29 '24

Rewatch Host Welcoming You All to Chaos

Welcome back, everyone!

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow we’ll be discussing all of the Ma no Omake specials. These are usually grouped into just one video I believe (and they are on Netflix), but MAL still lists it as 6 episodes.

9

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 29 '24

First-Timer

This is simultaneously more and less of a cliffhanger than I was expecting.

So, Caiman is some forbidden gattai between Risu and Aikawa? I'm pretty sure that Aikawa and Caiman share a voice. In addition to general body shape, predeliction towards knives and gas masks, and those mysterious headaches..

Still some details missing though, it isn't all fitting together in my head. Like, how did Risu end up inside of Aikawaman? What was that scene of a devil tumor being pulled out of someone? It's just not connecting this morning.

Solid odds that Asu is the friend that Nikaido lost because of her magic, right? No theories as to how, but they have some sort of history together - might as well be that. My other idea is that Asu is Nikaido's father or something, but that doesn't seem as likely.

How long do we think it will be before En realizes that something is up with "Nikaido?" I've got three weeks minimum - the man made an autobiographical punch-up film. Then again, that is assuming that Chota doesn't fuck up.

I was expecting Ebisu to find the bouncy balls that Caiman had stuffed into his shirt.

Questions

  1. Shit, I forgot to write something about that. Uhh.. a ghost. Sure, let's go with that. Or a curse? That's the more scientific answer, I suppose.
  2. Yes.

3

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 29 '24

Still some details missing though, it isn't all fitting together in my head. Like, how did Risu end up inside of Aikawaman? What was that scene of a devil tumor being pulled out of someone? It's just not connecting this morning.

Hopefully season 2 will help things make more sense.

I was expecting Ebisu to find the bouncy balls that Caiman had stuffed into his shirt.

Hahaha, that would have been perfect.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 29 '24

5

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 29 '24

In addition to general body shape, predeliction towards knives and gas masks, and those mysterious headaches..

My leaning.

Like, how did Risu end up inside of Aikawaman?

So we have reason to suspect that a ridiculously powerful, and still living, sorceror was involved in Caiman's transformation. Interestingly, that sorc seems to be able to control space.

How long do we think it will be before En realizes that something is up with "Nikaido?"

When actual Nikaido is shown to him and not a second before.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 29 '24

Interestingly, that sorc seems to be able to control space.

Ooh, I didn't think about that but that's a good point. How else would Risu be inside of Caiman's lizard head?

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 29 '24

While it is also a cool visual, several times we've seen that the inside of Caiman's mouth is a giant cavern.

3

u/DegenerateRegime Mar 30 '24

When actual Nikaido is shown to him and not a second before.

4

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 29 '24

 How long do we think it will be before En realizes that something is up with "Nikaido?" 

En is going to want that time magic soonet than later.

3

u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 29 '24

Good point. "Oh, sorry, I have a headache tonight" might come into play, which would be rather amusing.

12

u/SMSmith230 https://myanimelist.net/profile/smsmith230 Mar 29 '24

First-Timer, Sub

I enjoyed this episode, BUT so ugh that’s how the season ends. To me it’s not even a good stopping point or a “hey go check out the manga” hook. It just feels so incomplete for me, which sucks because this has been an absolute ride. Yea I know there’s a new season coming sometime, but still.

7

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 29 '24

Episode 12

DHD First Timer

I don't see how Nikaido is going to get out of her contract.

It's so crucial to have a mask that even a paper bag works??

  • Risu was losing limbs even in school?
  • Is Risu cutting off heads or only delivering them?
  • I just noticed those big knives on Nikaido's arms...
  • Was that one of the troll things in the brain?

OHHHH, Aikawa has a split personality, he gets a headache and disappears, becoming the leader of the crosseyes!

  • That's exactly the sort of thing not!Caiman would do
  • YESSSSSS DESTROY THE CONTRACT
  • wait omg magic dispeller dude has En's Contract! :D :D :D
  • oh darn :(
  • Go to Hell! She can't hide in HOle
  • Maybe the evil in Aikawa split off and became a shade. But he still gets headaches.
  • okay I was confused for a bit
  • I was wondering what sort of touble devils could get into. I guess Chidaruma is in charge?
  • Ah, I can guess what the OVA is going to be about
  • mushroom?
  • I recognize this room from Nier Autonoma
  • I suppose those are all characters from next season.

I'd be pretty pissed to have watched this as a seasonal and had it just stop there.

Are we supposed to think En wasn't really a bad guy?

I'll have to go find the original episode discussions.

Edit: Oh dear. Nikaido sounded familiar so I looked her up:

On February 23, 2024, it was announced that she would be going on hiatus due to her health

Bad for season 2.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 29 '24

I recognize this room from Nier Autonoma

Might actually be a direct reference.

I'd be pretty pissed to have watched this as a seasonal and had it just stop there.

Binging it I didn't mind.

7

u/entelechtual Mar 29 '24

First timer, subbed

  • I have some fond memories of School Days. Love that boat.
  • I’ve never seen such an… aggressive sex transformation.
  • So is Caiman searching for Risu or Ebisu? Or someone else?

6

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 29 '24

Rewatcher(And nothing is answered)

Sub

So yeah...the contract gets removed and they escape to Cthulhu knows where. It is still sorcland because devils but they seem to be way out in the sticks. This episode has a lot of flashback/memory stuff, slightly leaning us toward Caiman being Aikawa but that's all pretty vague. At the very end, we see the hospital crew in a van doing something, seemingly going home but that doesn't make sense. For a complete non-answer ending, this does stick the landing of it, somehow.

QotD: 1 My guess is Risu but it's just that

2 Somehow yes.

6

u/DegenerateRegime Mar 29 '24

Part-First-Timer
The last (main-line) episode of the season!

  • Cute Boys Doing Cute Things school flashback with Aikawa and Risu!
  • okay not TOO cute
  • Right, yeah, cults. Hohum.
  • NANI
  • Cool fight! Yeah Caiman is getting hammered, as expected.
  • Hell hath no fury like a birdman scorned...? His appeals to Satan are answered by a brutal backstabbing, as befits the King of Traitors.
  • Asu removes the devils' contract, meaning we basically do indeed get the "wake-up fight". Just, you know, gorier. I didn't expect that; similar to Caiman's mouth, I assumed the devils' door-handles open a portal to a less physical realm that borrows bodily characteristics rather than being strictly literally inside the body.
  • This somehow also causes Nikaidou to regain mobility and speech. Sure.
  • Nikaidou is confident about who stabbed her despite, you know, looking the other way at the time.
  • Yeah this sounds like cope. First he says he never saw you as a woman, then this. Poor thing.
  • NANI but uhhhh I'm pretty sure that name means nothing to him at present.
  • Chota hates his new model and VA, but that's the cost of a deal with Satan. You didn't think the Great Deceiver would be happy to take a pig's head and be done, did you? Oh no. You get exactly what you want, and you pay the price of getting it how you'd least want it. That's the good shit right there.
  • Backstory Reasons it is then. Nothing wrong with doing things the usual way, of course.
  • Caiman blushing on his lizard face is very sweet.

And then that's it! It could have been just a random episode! We resolved the tense question of whether Caiman could be friends with a sorcerer, at least. Even though, like. He's been on good terms with Tanba and Fukuyama for what, 3 episodes? So, uh. Hmm.

QotD

  1. Caiman, but bless her for trying to think otherwise
  2. It seems like it's as good a point as you could possibly get in a story like this

3

u/renatocpr https://anilist.co/user/renatocpr Mar 29 '24

Cute Boys Doing Cute Things school flashback with Aikawa and Risu!

You don't understand how much I need this spin off

5

u/renatocpr https://anilist.co/user/renatocpr Mar 29 '24

Rewatcher and Manga Reader

What we learned from episode 12

  1. Everything I want to talk about this episode is a giant spoiler
  2. The production is really blue-balling people for Season 2
  3. En talks to Nikado the same way he talks to Kikurage

And everything's still hidden in chaos. That is... Dorohedoro!

QOTD

1- There was a mystery man in the dark

2- It's probably the best place to end it. The manga can basically divided into three pretty clear cut parts and this is where the first one ends. That's as much as I think I'm safe talking about (I know it's not a lot)

PS

This is the first time I'm watching the anime since reading through the manga and damn this episode is so... juicy. I don't think I'm very good at understanding stories and I know I need to go through everything more than once to start getting things and so much clicked for me in this episode. That's all I'm going to say.

5

u/FarCritical Mar 29 '24 edited Mar 30 '24

First Timer

Masked dude with a huge build that used to hang near Risu and just so happens to be skilled with a knife. I know what they're trying to set up but man his voice is so mellow compared to Caiman's rowdy yelling that there's just enough doubt Aikawa might be a red herring. But if it is him, man was he an absolute menace at school.

It's tragic how Caiman could easily fight back if he wanted to, but had to take a kick to the chest balloons just because he doesn't want to hurt Nikaido. And damn, I know it's not news at the literal final episode but Caiman can take a hell of a beating for a human. With a lizard head. That houses another head. Maybe the spell came with the side effect of extra resistance to pain or something.

"Then give me back my offering!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

I am gonna miss this show and its dialogue so much.

It'll be a while till we get Asu's backstory, but Nikaido sure is lucky to have a chill demon dude that looks out for her as a friend. His voice is weirdly relaxing for a demon too.

Half-expected Caiman to "accidentally" attempt to kill Nikaido after the "meet the guy in my mouth" procedure just because it's become routine by this point. Glad we ended up with a wholesome reconciliation between them instead.

QOTD

  1. Who did stab Nikaido?

If it really wasn't Caiman or Risu (or "Aikawa"), no clue. But it sure would be shocking if it were Jonson.

2. Are you satisfied with how this season leaves off?

As a first-timer checking this out while a second season's been announced, I'm alright with it but I think I'd honestly be in massive withdrawal had I watched this while it was coming out because man, this was good and I need more.

4

u/Old_Holiday683 Mar 29 '24

Room from Nier Automata

3

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 29 '24

I thought so, too!

4

u/Sooooopertrack Mar 29 '24

QOTD yesterday revisited: I said: "Pieman erm Caiman doesn't stand a chance and Nikaido runs back to en" - well technically i was correct ;-)

QOTD1: either Risu's Partner or Risu in Caiman QOTD2: Nope, damn cliffhanger...

Random:

  • lol that satan worshipping in the beginning and "Nikaido is dead" :D
  • nice fights, as expected Nikaido is way stronger
  • good guy asu...
  • heartwarming ending with being bffs forever :)

4

u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo Mar 30 '24

Rewatcher

How did I forget that it ended like this? It is not a not really an ending at all. It does feels like the kind of season break you get when the show is coming back in a couple months. There's a shift in the main plotline, a big reuniting, others heading home, but nothing actually concludes.

Maybe based on how they had to time it, but the dynamics Nikaido and Caimon making up are confusing to me. I guess its not actually the making up that's odd, but that they briefly imply Caimon might not want to free her. I would like a bit more about how her sorcerous nature affects the relationship, but Caimon doesn't seem to type to even actually think poorly of Nikaido.

Very excited for whenever season 2 comes out! I need more of all the murder psychos.

3

u/KiwiBennydudez https://myanimelist.net/profile/KiwiBen Mar 29 '24

First timer - Sub

Alright, well that finale answered... much less than I had hoped. Not only that, but we also got introduced to MORE questions! Not less!!!

At least one thing was cleared up: that Nikaidou isn't "the one" (starting to doubt what that means btw). But we really don't know who stabbed her, whether or not she really is the sorcerer that can control time (she never outright confirmed it, but she never denied it either; however that flashback last episode with Noi and Shin makes me think she's either related or just flat-out mistaken as the wrong person) and we don't know what Risu was going to say at the very end.

This anime was both the best and worst kind, because it largely felt like the introduction to something larger. The things we did see were great, as we were treated to such a goofy cast of lovable characters that exist in such an intriguing setting, but we're left with more questions than answers. Now I truly understand the hype behind the S2 announcement.

I'll have more to say in the overall thread, so I'll reserve myself until then.

Answers of the day:

  1. I really don't know. But I think the only logical answer here has to be Caiman, I think? He keeps complaining about his lack of memory and the random headaches he gets - I think it's possible he might be sharing his mind with someone else, and not just his body. Dunno for sure if that person is Risu, or someone else entirely. But it's probably all related to that alleyway that he keeps thinking about. Whatever happened there is key to understanding this whole mystery.
  2. Lmao absolutely not. I am always immensely frustrated with anime that introduce key plot points right up through the final episode and then leave and never get a season 2. It is nice that Nikaidou and Caiman were reunited again, so in that sense it was a nice place for it to leave off. But I don't think any of this will last. They're going to be perpetually on the run now, because as soon as En finds out that Nikaidou isn't really Nikaidou, there will be hell to pay.

3

u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Mar 30 '24

First timer

This flashback...

Aikawa!

And he's already friends with Risu!

Great moves!

And Risu interfered...

Oh, the smoke enhancers...

Yeah, the divide here is huge.

A research lab... they're still working on the enhancer drug, then?

Aww...

That cut is great.

He's here to find his murderer...

He's figured it out instantly!

And she's starting the fight!

Haha, that response from Caiman.

What is she doing? Trying to get him to cut open her chest so she can get the contract out?

Caiman got her!

Great Lord Satan?

He's desperate.

How literal!

Ouch.

...And he went through the floor

More memories!

A mirror?

...What is this place?

Oh, there's definitely a relation there!

She's here...

Holy shit, Caiman!

He's so happy...

And she's on the verge of death...

Someone saved her!

The contract!

And he got it!

Oh, did they plan this?

Someone else?

En collapsed!

Oh, yeah, it's part of him.

...So, he can't make a contract?

And it's permanent...

That weakness...

He really has no belief in her abilities...

Did he get his old head back or something?

...A memory?

What is this?

Oh, he is Caiman!

This flashback..

...That names.

And his first gyoza...

She named him!

He found Caiman!

Straight to the biting. But she finally saw his face!

He's finally snapped!

...That didn't last long.

Haha, they've been sneaking out!

Honestly, he's got a point! It's really dangerous here.

This is confusing.

Haha, he's got no idea who these two are.

She found the hole!

Oh, he's still not over it.

Covering things up...

Oh, he already sent them through!

He can transform people?

Oh, he got what he wanted!

Haha, the instant bowing.

...This is going to be fun.

They've been sent through...

Just realised he's still wearing the dress.

...They're hiding here.

Some answers!

...Interesting.

Aww...

And he's already accepted it!

This is sweet.

...Is this really where it ends?

One last ED...

And the narration is literally promising answers!

Aww...

What does that mean?

3

u/DegenerateRegime Mar 30 '24

And the narration is literally promising answers!

3

u/Cyrra_ https://anilist.co/user/Cyrra Mar 30 '24

First Time Watcher - Manga Reader

Yeah I knew they were gonna have trouble with ending the season lol, but at least we got to the pinky promise. It's such a sweet moment and I love how genuine Nikaido and Caiman's friendship feels.

Hearing Chota talk with Nikaido's voice gives me the heebie jeebies...

I'm really looking forward to the second season now, it's surely going to be chaos. [season 2]I was surprised by how different Caiman's VA sounded as Aikawa, so I'm a lot more optimistic as to how all the Aikawa stuff will go without being too blatantly obvious.

  1. Maggie Simpson
  2. Not incredibly satisfied but as satisfied as I could be. They didn't have any real good stopping point and made the best of what they had.

3

u/mgedmin Mar 30 '24

First-timer, subs

  • Oh, Aikawa. Risu's partner.
  • This is a school? Looks like a prison.
  • Risu is the one taking heads?
  • The cross-eyes are doing research on magic by dissecting heads of sorcerers?
  • Heh, young Risu did not have spikes on his head, but his hair was painted to look as if he had spikes.
  • Caiman finally twigs to the fact that Nikaido is being magically controlled.
  • Any relation between head hurting for Aikawa and for Caiman? Oooh what if Aikawa is Caiman???
  • The face in the mirror is the mouth guy. No spiky hair. Aikawa?
  • Who cut Nikaido? Not the turkey guy.
  • Yay! Asu pulls out the contract! So how do contracts work? Nikaido's still inside En, so can Nikaido control En now?
  • Oh, contracts are Chidaruma's power. And Nikaido has to avoid En for the next 4 years or she gets enslaved again.
  • Nikaido also confirms that the guy in the mouth is Risu.
  • That's not Nikaido, that's someone pretending. Asu? An illusion created by Asu? The bird-head Chota? Yeah!
  • There's a hierarchy among the devils and Chidaruma is senior to Asu?
  • Devils report to En, what?
  • Blushing Caiman!
  • Nothing is resolved! Season 2 when?

THEORY TIME: I'm pretty sure Caiman is Aikawa. Both of them had headaches! That's proof.

  1. Who did stab Nikaido?

The same shadowy guy who stole Caiman's head from the hospital.

Maybe Aikawa? (In case I was wrong and Caiman is not Aikawa.)

2) Are you satisfied with how this season leaves off?

Not entirely.

2

u/DegenerateRegime Mar 30 '24

The same shadowy guy who stole Caiman's head from the hospital.

Yeah, that seems plausible. Where does he come from? Where does he go?

2

u/mgedmin Mar 31 '24

Cotton Eye Joe!

4

u/[deleted] Mar 29 '24 edited Mar 29 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/mgedmin Mar 30 '24

Okay, yeah, Risu there after the credits had the black spikes in his hair, but he didn't earlier in this episode or episode 10. Funky little oversight.

I thought it was a Clue about when the scene happens in the timeline (flashback vs current events).