Mr. Osomatsu

Episode 5

This week's Mr. Osomatsu showcases two starkly different tales. Where the first segment tells the series' darkest story to date, the second contains the show's first genuine attempt at schmaltz. Since episodes 2 and 4 were bookended by short skits, episode 5 is technically the first multi-tiered installment to devote the entirety of its runtime to two stories. As a result, both segments feel more developed than what we've grown accustomed to.

Entitled "The Karamatsu Incident," the first segment revolves around Chibita taking wannabe ladies man Karamatsu hostage. Tired of the Matsunos skipping out on bills at his oden stand, the tightly-wound pipsqueak holds Karamatsu ransom in an attempt to collect the brothers' outstanding tab. Unfortunately, with the brief exception of brains-of-the-group Choromatsu, none of the Matsunos can bring themselves to care about their brother's abduction. Not even Chibita's (empty) promise to murder his prisoner if the ransom isn't delivered in a timely manner manages to elicit anything resembling concern from the majority of the Matsunos. Although previous episodes characterized Choromatsu as the Matsuno clan's Meg Griffin, this story illustrates that none of the sextuplets are safe from their brothers' apathy and selfishness. Their deplorable behavior even horrifies kidnapper and would-be murderer Chibita, who releases Karamatsu and makes several bungled attempts at comforting him. When the protagonists are sleazier than the villains they're up against, you know you're watching a dark comedy.

"ESP Kitty," the second segment, finds Jyushimatsu and Ichimatsu enlisting the aid of Professor Dekapan. Since sullen loner Ichimatsu has an affinity for cats, he wants to be endowed with telepathy, which he hopes will enable him to communicate with his feline friends. However, when the portly professor attempts to inject Ichimatsu with a telepathy serum, the bespectacled cat the boys brought to the lab interferes, inadvertently being given ESP and the ability to speak in the process. Not only do ESP Kitty's newfound powers allow him to recognize the Matsunos for the self-interested cads they are, they reveal some profound truths about Ichimatsu's character. While past episodes have played Ichimatsu's perpetual "woe is me" schtick for laughs, this story reveals that his withdrawn nature stems from a lack of self-confidence and a deep-rooted fear of rejection. Although primarily comedic in tone and execution, this story has some effective emotional moments, and it's the first episode that's conveyed anything approaching sympathy for one of the sextuplets.

I found myself counting the brothers in the second segment and noticed there were always five of them. (Hint, hint.) I loved seeing that subtle touch pay off when a wounded Karamatsu appeared at the end of the episode and lamented the lack of attention paid to his plight in the previous story, especially considering how much attention his brothers pay to Ichimatsu's troubles. "ESP Kitty" follows a familiar formula—a stubborn loner comes to terms with his insecurities and acknowledges that he wants to connect with people—but subverts the message with a clever ending. Despite coming together to lift Ichimatsu's spirits, the boys left Karamatsu to fend for himself in the first half of the episode. The fact that the joke carries over into the subsequent segment makes it that much funnier.

Our weekly visit to the Matsuno household is always a treat. The brothers' personalities are becoming better-established with each new story, as their little world grows ever more expansive. Although we don't know exactly what to expect from one week to the next, we know we can count on a diverting half-hour.

Rating: A-

Mr. Osomatsu is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

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