10 Second Anime - One Punch Man S2 - Episode 9

Saitama faces the monsters who injured the martial artists. The Monster Association tells recruits to go to Z City.

Episode 9 - "The Ultimate Dilemma"

Meh.

I had hoped that an anime adaptation of this part of the story of the manga might put in some original animation of the fight between Saitama and Goketsu or the fight between Garou and Watchdog Man, but no. The production staff continues their panel by panel translation to the anime. I can understand keeping the impact of Goketsu's head landing right in front of Suiryu after being sure that Saitama would die, but there wasn't much sense in just showing Garou's beaten form after he ran away from Watchdog Man. It's just another reminder of the uninspired art direction for this season.

Hmm.

King is full of wisdom about heroes, since his source is hero manga. Still, it's been a while since we've had a chatty Saitama. He's still bored and not feeling excited about anything, and the martial arts tournament, which he had hoped would spark some exhilaration in him, was another disappointment. There even strong monsters with martial arts skills, and they presented no challenge to the Invincible Saitama, as King calls him. King did provide some useful perspective on becoming the ultimate hero and the main point is that becoming strong is not the destination.

Saitama himself muses that he's forgotten why he became a hero. Well, he became a hero for fun, but got so strong that he wasn't having fun anymore. But a hero isn't just about being strong, although that's the part Saitama obsessed over. He needed to become strong to defeat monsters and save people, but along the way, he forgot that second part. So perhaps he can get that excited feeling again by becoming the best at rescuing people, which would require learning a whole bunch of new skills and how to use his immense strength. But first, Saitama needs to get out of the rut of just beating monsters, which has become a comfortable, if boring, place for him to occupy.

Well, he's not that bored yet. Not bored enough to take dancing lessons either. But he will play video games with King if he uses a handicap. No take backs!

Meanwhile, Garou is on the exact same path as Saitama with trying to become stronger by beating stronger opponents. He has an advantage that Saitama did not - there is an actual being that will almost always be stronger than he is and he's not trying to kill him. How many times will Garou face Saitama before it takes two punches to get defeated? We're not going to get that answer during this anime season, so that's something to look forward to for much later.

Heh.

No wonder Saitama is bored. He keeps hearing the same monster boasting before they all die by one punch.

At least Saitama is making sure Bakuzan doesn't hurt the martial artists any more than they are already.

Bakuzan recognized Saitama, but Saitama is bad with faces.

Ha. He's Saitama. A hero.

Saitama is being pretty chatty with Suiryu. He's saying all the stuff we've been hearing in his thoughts from the last 8 episodes.

Nice. Saitama gets his serious face on when he proclaims he's bored, which is why he wanted to see martial arts.

Another strong monsters? Where!?

Suiryu begs Saitama not to go. He still doesn't understand Saitama's scale of power.

That's so Saitama. "I don't really remember every single guy I punch."

Genos thinks he needs to help Saitama beat Goketsu. He should know better than that if Saitama is involved.

Martial artist and monster? Say no more!

Booms in the background and then plop! Goketsu's head back where he started.

Suiryu finally understood what a hero does, and he didn't want the first true one he met to die. No worries there, mate.

Was Goketsu strong? Saitama can't tell because he still took only one punch.

No more disciples for Saitama!

Ah. Puri Puri Prisoner is taking on the Free Hug monster. He's a hedgehog with spikes. This match up is just so perfect thematically for Puri Puri.

"Does he have to fight naked?" Yes, he really does.

Oh. We're watching this because there's going to be a confrontation with the monster who took Puri Puri's "friends" from the prison.

Saitama still being chatty, this time with King.

Saitama says Saitama things, "If you can't grow anymore, then you can't enjoy growing anymore either." King says to just grow in some other way than strength. Whoa, whoa, let's not be too hasty.

Saitama's not bored enough to think about his new hero path yet, but he will play video games with King. No take backs on the handicap promise! See, here's something Saitama can get excited about since he's trying to beat a stronger opponent.

Oh, there's Garou. He sees King and after getting stomped by Watchdog Man, he thinks he can take on the Number 3 pro hero.

One Kick! That's twice Saitama has beaten the hero hunter he wants to fight.

Also, King's luck super power is still working. Saitama beat another threat for him.

We're watching Sonic get recruited because we'll see those other ninja monsters go after Flashy Flash.

Sonic isn't going to eat that monster cell raw. How uncouth! And then he got diarrhea and obviously didn't turn into a monster. Cooking killed the cell, so naturally that wouldn't work.

Hey, Gorilla Cyborg is still around. He took out that monster gorilla. Now Zombie Man is interested in going shopping with him.

Next time, everyone from monsters to heroes are coming to Z City. Saitama is going to have some noisy neighbors.