Ajin: Demi-Human – #12

Synopsis: Episode 12

In a shattered building, dust is still unsettling from the commotion. Two groups silently stare at each other.

On one side, a lone, middle-aged man wearing a hunching cap.

On the other side, the members of the Special Assault Force, a.k.a., SAT. Roughly 50 members in total. Japan’s one and only police unit with real combat experience, making it practically the strongest army force of Japan. The team breaks up in several groups and hides behind rabbles, pointing guns at Sato.

The SAT members are clad in helmet and body armor made of special high-tech fabric. Sato, on the other hand, is in lightweight clothing. Noting the gap between the equipment, Sato looks slightly … ammused.

Impressions

In this episode, Japan’s finest force and Ajin teams brawl in full-on combat.
Ajins never die, therefore, the only way to beat one is to keep killing it. This unusual combat requirements drive the tension extremely high, forcing the viewers to fixate at the monitor.
SAT members focus on shooting guns at Sato to inflict lethal damages over and over. This tactic sounds simple but it proves to be quite effective. The SAT members successfully restrain Sato in the end; however, Sato is not an ordinary enemy. There is no way that this cunning, always-calculating rogue gets caught that easy. Of course he has a plan B in mind.
A sniper starts shooting at the SAT members from the roof top. The sniper is, of course, one of Sato’s allies. SAT quickly reassemble to fight back the sniper. Both parties demonstrate their thoroughly prepared plans and operations, and never budge each other. This is a fist-clenching, palm-sweating, adrenarine-flying war scene. You might feel short of breath, stricken with tension.

Keep killing Sato while transporting his body to the armed delivery van. That simple and clear Ajin strategy seemed to work in the beginning. But, the scenario soon gets complicated and derailed. I groan at this progress, what a frustrating situation.

Adopting computer graphics to illustrate the extreme war scenes is absolutely the right decision. Character movements are swerve, graphics flow with unprecedented impact and tension. That sticky glutinous blood, shifting dust in the air. Details like these come at us with amazing reality, contributing to make the presence of Ajin feel and breeze very realistic.

I dare say that the real protagonist of the show “Ajin” is not Kei Nagai. I want to say it is Sato. He is the reason why the story keeps going. He plans and caries out a massacre in order to demonstrate the power of Ajin. He faces the nation’s strongest army forces. After all, Sato is not just a regular Ajin – obviously he was professionally trained at some point in his life.

Sato can wipe out the nation’s finest combat force. His craftiness and high combat ability is just mindblowing. He takes advantage of his immortality in the battle, and the way he delivers is just nuts. For example, he shoots himself to create blood splatter, which obscures opponents visions temporarily. Normal human beings wouldn’t dare to try that, nor even come up with the idea. But Sato pulls it off with ease. He is not just an Ajin – he is a monster.

Sato seems to enjoy this fierce combat, which is another bone-chilling fact about this individual. When he comes around and resuscitates, he says, “Good morning.” For him, even a war seems to be just entertainment. In another scene he mutters to himself, “Man, I’m exhausted.” He sounds like he has just finished playing one session of sports or some kind. He is clearly having fun with this deadly situation. That’s who Sato is.

Meanwhile, Kei Nagai has been staying low, but he is about to discover that harm is on his way. Next round is the final episode, and I can’t help but anticipate what kind of ending awaits us.