Mr. Osomatsu

Episode 22

With its second (but hopefully not final cour) approaching its conclusion, Mr. Osomatsu continues to bring the funny like a champ. Another solidly entertaining two-story episode, this week's installment may not forge any new ground, but it offers consistent laughs from start to finish—and really, that's the highest praise anyone can lavish on this series. With no cold open or post-credits stinger, episode 22 devotes the entirety of its runtime to telling two delightfully twisted tales.

As we've seen in previous installments, Todomatsu (and Choromatsu) longs to have a life outside of his siblings. So it should come as no surprise that he's not particularly keen on bringing any of them to an upcoming mixer, even though the shindig will be canceled if another male participant isn't found. After a bit of prodding from his bros, Todomatsu relents and agrees to make one of them his plus-one—provided they pass his rigorous interview process. However, things quickly go off the rails, with each Matsuno failing Todomatsu's test more spectacularly than the last. Jyushimatsu gets a raging hard-on upon hearing the word “mixer,” Ichimatsu once again shows off his penchant for public defecation, Osomatsu sexually assaults a cross-dressed Todomatsu, Karamatsu hams it up even more than usual, and Choromatsu thinks he's above the whole thing despite the huge disconnect between his words and actions.

Realizing that none of these bozos is fit for human contact, Todomatsu takes a soul-searching walk around the city and visits a temple whose patron deity is the God of Mixers. As this sunglasses-clad silver fox of a god points out, Todomatsu's refusal to make a choice stems from a deep-seated affection for his brothers, as choosing one would leave the others feeling rejected. Despite his initial determination to choose a male participant who wouldn't outshine him, Todomatsu ultimately invites Atsushi, a hitherto-unseen acquaintance who looks and acts like a slightly handsomer, better-adjusted variation of a Matsuno boy. Despite knowing he'd be upstaged by Atsushi, Todomatsu ultimately acted in the best interest of his brothers. We aren't often shown how much these boys care for another, and it's interesting to see the almost-normal Todomatsu of all people acknowledge that he doesn't want to hurt his zany siblings' feelings.

Tone and execution-wise, this segment is reflective of “Todomatsu and the Five Demons” and “Let's Become Independent,” though it's far from a rehash of either story. Even if it doesn't take the show to bold new places, I'm fine with another “Todomatsu is embarrassed by his brothers” story as long as it's funny. While “Five Demons” is the standard-bearer when it comes to stories of this type, “The Star of Hope, Todomatsu” functions well as both a companion piece and standalone episode. (Osomatsu and Jyushimatsu's attempts at winning the chance to attend the mixer were pretty darn creepy, though. In light of the rapey vibe he gave off, it's no wonder Osomatsu can't get a date.)

This week's second story utilizes another one of the show's familiar setups: the time-tested “Iyami can't catch a break” formula. After reacting to the Matsunos' drunken antics with his trademark “SHEEEH!,” the stick-thin Francophile catches the attention of an elderly martial arts master from the small nation of Akaatsuka (a reference to Osomatsu-kun creator Fujio Akatsuka). Believing Iyami to be the successor of the legendary Sheeeh Fist, the old man brings the toothy swindler back to his native country and helps him hone this fabled technique. It turns out Akaatsuka's current ruler has ties to a ruthless criminal syndicate, and the country will soon fall to ruin. However, in a narratively convenient turn of events, a martial arts tournament is held once every decade, and the winner is named Akaatsuka's next ruler. Initially disinterested in the political affairs of any country other than France, Iyami quickly changes his tune after becoming smitten with his master's cute daughter.

After a humorous subversion of traditional training montages, Iyami appears to be ready for primetime. Unfortunately, he's hardly a match for his towering, muscle-bound opponent. Just when it seems like Iyami's down for the count, the Matsunos (who bet a whopping 320 yen on his victory) do everything in their power to elicit his overblown surprise and unleash the true power of the Sheeeh Fist. Ripping up Iyami's bankbook, destroying his insurance card, showing him a Karamatsu photo book, exposing their genitals, and revealing that their friend's latest crush is married with children help Iyami gain the upper hand. Finally, Dayon arrives on the scene with a literal poo-poo platter, enabling Iyami to unleash the Final Sheeeh, resulting in the entire planet being vaporized.

Despite feeling rushed, this segment manages to get a few good jokes in. The boys' efforts to shock Iyami are particularly amusing. (Apparently not even Iyami can stomach Karamatsu's narcissism.) However, the idea that a pretty face is all Iyami needs (after being kidnapped no less) to agree to enter the tournament is a tired trope, especially when he assumes she'll be his “reward” if he wins. At least it pays off nicely when the Matsunos reveal her family situation.

Of all the show's supporting players, Iyami has consistently received the most focus—and for good reason. Not only are perpetually unlucky characters easy to build stories around, Iyami's a lot of fun to watch. His exaggerated body language and colorful manner of speaking are always good for a laugh, and his tsukkomi skills are easily on par with Choromatsu's. Even when the stories themselves aren't particularly clever, they're carried by Iyami's inflated reactions to the events unfolding all around him.

Calling Mr. Osomatsu's reality elastic would be an understatement. The same half-hour encompasses a relatively down-to-earth slice-of-life story and an overblown martial arts spoof that culminates in the world ending. Osomatsu fans will appreciate the show's penchant for broad comedic storytelling in episode 22.

Rating: B+

Mr. Osomatsu is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

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