Kill Blue Episode 2 Review: The Hitman School Anime Gets Serious Much Faster Than Expected

Credit:- TMS Entertainment

After I finished watching Kill Blue Episode 2, I realized one very important thing – this anime can get unpredictable at any time. From that quirky “hitman goes to middle school” premiere of Episode 1, this series suddenly became much more serious, and I honestly did not expect it that soon.

Episode 2 of Kill Blue actually took everything that I loved in Episode 1 – the awkward school comedy, the emotional undertones, and obviously Juzo’s action scenes – and it pushed the story further by introducing some actual conflict this time by focusing on another important character, Noren. However, I have to admit that even with that, the episode still managed to keep that weird, fun balance without losing its charm. Let me explain what actually happened in this episode.

Episode 2 Makes Noren One of the Most Interesting Characters So Far

At the start, the episode started with a calm school environment – we see Juzo is still struggling to adjust to his new school life. Although his classmates are trying to have some talks with him, like suggesting that he should stay more active in group chats and all. However, Juzo, being Juzo, still continues to be socially awkward most of the time, which is again, honestly, very much understandable because we have to consider that he is much older than these school kids.

That scene where he tries to smile and again creeps people out – it made me both laugh and cringe at the same time. Kotatsu, meanwhile, tries to calm Juzo down via that small spy device by telling him to focus more on his studies rather than thinking about the fact that he was turned into a kid.

And just when I thought that episode was leaning towards a more high school setup thing – we see Juzo getting a call from Eri, where she reveals that the wasps, which were responsible for Juzo’s transformation, were artificially created by a massive company named “Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals.” The story continues further by revealing another twist that Noren Mitsuoka, the daughter of Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals’ president, is actually in Juzo’s class? Yeah, I was not prepared for that.

Right from the start, Noren feels exactly like you would expect – a rich, untouchable girl who keeps everyone at a distance. She calls Juzo “creepy,” rejects him, and honestly, I could not even blame her for that. But then the episode changes my perception of Noren’s character when we see her working at a small ramen shop, and this is where I really got invested.

Seeing Noren working as a waitress there caught me off guard, just like Juzo. The explanation we received after that regarding her position and situation added even further layers of complexity and depth to her character. She is not working because she has to – rather, she chooses to. She wants to escape the expectations placed on her by her family and live a simpler life.

The thing that struck me most about her life was how she has been treated like an adult since childhood. Being constantly surrounded by people who saw her as a “future partner” instead of a kid explains why she is so guarded. Suddenly, her cold attitude makes complete sense to me. The next interesting revelation was her dream to eventually take over her uncle’s ramen shop and live life on her own terms.

This part of the episode felt much more grounded than the rest, especially in a show with such a wild premise, because it gets down to life, hardship, and what a lot of people actually want out of life. As far as Juzo’s part in this scene goes, it is interesting to see him in a role where he actually does not act like a hitman, or even an awkward school kid – he simply acts like a responsible adult giving advice.

And it is easy to see after that why Noren started to trust him, even if just a little. I think that this part of the Kill Blue episode – although perhaps it has slowed down a bit – is definitely the strongest part of the episode.

Kill Blue Episode 2 Reminds You Juzo Is Still a Hitman

Episode 2 of Kill Blue did not remain a quiet drama for long, as Noren was kidnapped right after that. The change in the story was so sudden, and it actually caught me off guard. From that point on, the episode goes full action mode. It turned out the kidnapping is connected to Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals and all the shady activities that Noren’s family is involved with.

Juzo from the Kill Blue anime. | Credit: CUE

Juzo steps fully back into his former identity, and it feels fantastic to see him in that role again. From tracking the van with his bullet tracker to climbing towers and moving through the city, all of these activities make you realize that he is still the legendary assassin underneath his middle school disguise.

The rescue scene was definitely the best part of the episode. Juzo takes down the leader and makes him unconscious with a clean headshot and then decides to fight the rest of them using non-lethal means. This is very important because it shows he is not mindlessly violent, but rather a controlled hitman.

Another thing I liked about Kill Blue Episode 2 was the way they handled his limitations. He is in the body of a child now, and you can feel that as he fights. He still has skills, but he really has to think and adapt as he fights now. This adds tension but does not make him look weak. Finally, the escaping via the ice trolley was really creative, and the way he disabled the van with tools rather than brute force was just really cool!

Kill Blue Episode 2 Balances Action and Character Perfectly

In this episode’s ending, we return again to a calmer tone, but it still feels meaningful. Noren wakes up thinking everything was a dream, but small details prove it was not. When she confronts Juzo while at school, I expected some type of emotional revelation – but no. Juzo avoids the question and changes the subject completely.

Noren and Juzo from the Kill Blue anime. | Credit: CUE

And then, in the most Juzo way possible, he asks for free food from the ramen shop. This moment exemplifies Juzo’s character. He saves someone’s life, but then goes back to thinking about ramen. The balance between drama and humor keeps everything light without diminishing the significance of what has just happened.

At the end of Kill Blue Episode 2, I am now convinced that Kill Blue is simply building towards something bigger – a real narrative, with a conspiracy behind it and characters with real depth. And if it continues to strike this delicate balance of action, comedy, and character writing, it may soon turn into one of the best anime series of the season.

Kill Blue is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.