Review: Darwin’s Game Episode 5 Best in Show

Quick Summary

In Darwin’s Game episode 5, “Aquarium,” Kaname Sudou, Rein Kashiwagi, and Ichirou Hiiragi prepared the hotel for Wang and his Eighth Clan’s upcoming attack. Before the battle began, though, they recruit one more member for their own clan. Ryuuji, the Machine Gun Guy, was at first completely uninterested in joining them. Then he heard Wang was coming, and he was all in. Just as they were about to deploy their defenses, Kaname received an SOS text from Shuka Karino, which he at first thought was a joke. How could the A-Ranked Shuka be in trouble? But as it became clear she was seriously in danger, Kaname ran to her aid. Can his clan mates get him to slow down enough to come up with a plan? Can Rein figure out what’s really going on? And is the true goal of this event gathering rings — or something more mysterious?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Best Moment in the Show

I had to admire Kaname’s thought process: Shuka asked for help? Shuka gets help! Obstacles be damned… Capture from the Funimation stream.

Kaname and Ryuuji were on their way to rescue Shuka, with a timid and trembling Sui in tow. As he rounded the corner to the steps that would lead them to the underground mall, Ryuuji skidded to a stop and said, “Shuka may be in more danger than I thought” (21:13). When Kaname came up beside him, he saw why.

The stairs were under water.

Kaname was shocked. This was absolutely not what he had expected. Ryuuji was even more shocked when Kaname put down his rifle and pulled off his shirt. There was no discussion. He didn’t try to reason it through. Kaname just knew that Shuka was in there. She had called for help. And he was going to go help her.

Ryuuji tried to talk him out of it and even reminded him that it wasn’t just water he would have to deal with. The water was the result of Sigil use. The attacker had to be nearby! But Kaname kept descending the stairs. The only real response Kaname gave him was to tell him to go back to the hotel if Kaname wasn’t back in five minutes. That, and to give his rings to Rein.

Ryuuji thought Kaname was a “dumbass” for diving in. Capture from the Funimation stream.

What I liked about this moment is that Kaname didn’t hesitate. I’m not sure even he knows what his relationship to Shuka is. But he knew he wasn’t going to let her drown all alone. In fact, he wasn’t going to let her drown at all if he could help it!

If I were in that same situation, I hope that I’d be brave enough to do what Kaname did. I’m not entirely convinced I would be! So for the duration of the series, I guess I’ll have to live vicariously through him.

What did you think of Kaname and Rein’s discovery that there’s something more than the rings in this event? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

Other Posts about This Series

Other Anime Sites

• Reddit: Darwin’s Game – Episode 5 discussion
• Believe in Geek: DARWIN’S GAME : AQUARIUM
• 100 Word Anime: Darwin’s Game Episode 5 Review

This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)

• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 1: First Game
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 2: Gemstone Mine
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 3: Ignition
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 4: Fireworks
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 5: Aquarium
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 6: Hardness
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 7: Eighth
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 8: Fragile
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 9: Head’s Up
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 10: Old One
• Review of Darwin’s Game Episode 11: Sunset Ravens