Mr. Osomatsu

Episode 21

Fans who are feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of alternate universe material scattered throughout Mr. Osomatsu's second cour will be pleased to learn that both of this week's stories are set in the regular timeline. While not quite as ambitious in scale as other recent installments, episode 21 delivers consistent laughs and showcases the sextuplets at their absolute worst. Our latest visit to the Matsuno household aims to keep things simple—or whatever passes for “simple” in a show this crazy—but not at the expense of the comedy.

Aptly titled “Mahjong,” the first story finds the boys playing an intense game of late night mahjong after a powerful typhoon leaves them housebound. Throughout the match, viewers are shown each of the Matsuno's individual play-styles, which range from the wildly impractical (Todomatsu) to the downright confusing (Karamatsu, who also serves as this segment's narrator). Being familiar with the game isn't necessarily a prerequisite for enjoying this skit, but it definitely helps. A lot of the terminology and explanations found throughout the story are liable to leave the uninitiated scratching their heads. Fortunately, even if you've never heard of mahjong, you'll still get a kick out of the funny character moments and effective sight gags. (Osomatsu emulating Kaiji Ito and the boys creating a mahjong tile replica of Hijirisawa Shonosuke were among the best moments.)

“Godmatsu,” the second segment, begins with the boys discovering a seventh brother hiding in plain sight. As Godmatsu, the mysterious seventh Matsuno, explains, the sextuplets lose a little bit of goodness every time they do something awful—and he's the physical embodiment of that lost benevolence. True to his name, Godmatsu is everything the self-absorbed siblings aren't: kind-hearted, even-tempered, and incredibly generous. Although the boys are initially all too willing to take advantage of Godmatsu's kindness, they quickly change their tune when their parents and friends realize how much better he is by comparison. To make matters worse, their plot to brutally murder their new sibling causes them to shed even more goodness, thereby making Godmatsu stronger. However, after Godmatsu publicly gets busy with Totoko, the Matsunos combine their wickedness to summon the all-powerful Evilmatsu, an ill-defined malevolent entity who destroys Godmatsu as Totoko and their parents look on in terror.

I enjoy heartfelt episodes like “ESP Kitty” and “Jyushimatsu Falls in Love” as much as the next person, but Mr. Osomatsu is in top form when it does away with any semblance of schmaltz and embraces its inner jackass. The instant Godmatsu revealed himself, I knew it was only a matter of time before the boys started getting jealous, but the fact that they jumped straight to murder speaks volumes about how evil these little jerks truly are. Taking a life—in a cartoonishly gruesome fashion, no less—wasn't the Matsunos' last resort; it was their go-to.

Interestingly, the straight-laced Choromatsu let his guard down more than usual this week. His obsession with idols notwithstanding, he generally seems like the most functional member of the main cast. While he doesn't appear to have a specific career path in mind, he and Todomatsu are the only ones who have ever expressed a desire to work. Furthermore, his self-righteousness often prevents him from being quite as despicable as his brothers. Despite all this, episode 21 finds him cheating at mahjong, outright admitting that he doesn't want to be self-reliant, and embracing his brothers' collective bloodlust, definitively confirming that he was born into the right family.

From a subdued (by the show's standards) game of mahjong to a plot to murder a god-like entity, this week's Mr. Osomatsu jumps from one extreme to another. Although both segments are consistently entertaining, a rudimentary understanding of mahjong is sure to enhance your appreciation of the first story. If you're unfamiliar with mahjong rules, much of the humor will go over your head. As far as the second story goes, seeing the siblings summon a demonic force and commit murder proves that just when you think you've seen the Matsunos at their most vile, they manage to up their game.

Rating: B+

Mr. Osomatsu is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Amy is a YA fantasy author who has loved anime for two decades.