Parasyte -the maxim-

Episode 23

Parasyte is doing it! After an excellent first couple arcs and questionable middle stretch, Parasyte is pulling itself together (no pun intended) for the ending. This episode was equal parts entertaining and smart, pulling off one of the best fights of the series while also neatly tying up some thematic and character journeys. It wasn't perfect, but it was solid entertainment with some actual substance to it, and that's all I really want from Parasyte. It's nice to see a good episode come together.

We started off this week with Shinichi in total fatalism mode, feeling nothing as he trudged towards his assumed death. Without Migi or Mitsuyo there to slap some sense into him, Shinichi fell into the mode of accepting “his time to die” - but as he approached Gotou, it was clear he still had some hope Migi might be alive. Though he couldn't fight for the sake of something as distant as the overall human race, Shinichi's dedication to his friend's life once again pointed to how human bonds are articulated on the individual, familial level.

After a failed first attack with Mitsuyo's cleaver, the battle turned into a game of cat and mouse, but this week's fight ended up being far more engaging than the last. The first improvement here was a result of Shinichi being alone this time - because Gotou couldn't actually sense him, there was a real sense of each side having their own uneven advantages in the fight. The second came from the direct addressing of my biggest complaint from last week - instead of us simply learning what Shinichi's plans were after he executed them, he verbally explained his moves before attempting them, which allowed the viewer to actually understand the stakes of the battle. And the third came from the visual execution. With only two episodes to go, it seems Parasyte is finally returning to the dynamic direction and strong animation that enriched the show's early episodes. All of Gotou's impacts landed with a sense of weight and fluid motion, Shinichi being tossed through the trees was articulated with a great energy and some nicely used smears, and even actions like Shinichi scrambling backwards in the dirt were lent personality and tension by his well-animated expressions and flailing limbs. This was a very engaging fight.

It wasn't all sunshine and roses, unfortunately. The biggest issue here was probably Gotou's dialogue - apparently not content with his B-movie villain act from the stakeout arc, he continued to ham it up through this sequence, tossing off wince-worthy one-liners like “A mere human challenge me?!” and “Why do you defy me?!” The pacing of this sequence also wasn't totally consistent - there were a couple moments of DBZ-style slow-time where Shinichi spent a good minute thinking to himself as Gotou walked three feet, which really didn't help keep tension high. And the fact that Shinichi's spirit guide through this sequence was Mitsuyo of all people also felt a little strange - we've only known her for half an episode, so it was kind of weird that Shinichi's strategies were being prompted by her instead of Migi. Having Migi guide his actions would also have lent more solidity to the “Migi has made Shinichi strong” plot thread, so this felt like a bit of an awkward waste.

Fortunately, the writing pulled together entirely once Migi burst the heck out of Gotou's arm. Gotou eventually being undone by humanity dumping toxins all over the earth was a pretty obvious touch, but still fitting, and Shinichi and Migi's subsequent conversation contained all the nuanced exchange of values I was hoping for. The turns started with Migi, who decided to spare Gotou out of a sense of familial attachment - a value he'd clearly adopted from his experience with humans. Shinichi then returned the favor, saying he'd spare Gotou because he “didn't want to impose human values on him” - a concession to the hypocrisy of his beliefs that Migi has been pointing out all along. His “can I say an organism has no right to live just because it's harmful?” didn't just reflect on Gotou - it's ultimately the show's strongest defense of humanity itself, a species that the show has consistently demonstrated to be harmful but which nonetheless deserves to live. And then Migi's “I hate humans who say they're doing things 'for the earth'” was the final kicker. In spite of all this high-minded rhetoric, as species we ultimately work to protect our own, and our empathy exists in order to save our families. Shinichi kills Gotou to protect his family, as any animal would. And life goes on.

Overall, this was a very impressive episode that ably matched the show's best prior material both in action appeal and thematic nuance, building on Shinichi and Migi's relationship in a way that felt natural while turning the page on the show's ideas about human and animal nature. Minor complaints about the fight aside, I really couldn't have hoped for a better conclusion to Gotou's story. It's great to see the show ending well.

Rating: A-

Parasyte -the maxim- is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Nick writes about anime, storytelling, and the meaning of life at Wrong Every Time.