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Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11: They’re Bitey! And Dangerous!

Quick Summary of Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11

In Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11, “All It Takes Is For You To Be There SAGA,” Sakura woke up to a perfectly normal day. Well, at least it started normally with Tae chewing on her head. Then she discovered that she felt almost seasick. This being the first time she’d felt ill since becoming a zombie, she went to search for Koutarou. She couldn’t find him, but what she did find on the way might have been the biggest shock she’d received since realizing she was a zombie. 

Welcome to Our Review of Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11

Welcome to our collaboration review of Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11! Irina from I Drink and Watch Anime and I have teamed up to give you our reactions to the series that dares to go where no series has gone before.

As I’m writing this, I’m debating whether to close the windows and surrender to the air conditioner. Yesterday was so nice that my wife and I went for a walk around the neighborhood. Today? Well, we could try, but we’d need to take plenty of water. How’s the weather in Canada, Irina?

Kind of chilli. It was too cold for short sleeves today and I had to close the window last night if I didn’t want to go get extra covers. They have been promising like 30 degrees tomorrow. Well a bit less but with humidex. I looked it up, apparently that’s 86 F which is very hot. It sounds even hotter in F.

Opening Thoughts on Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11

I need some more emotional distance from this episode to say for sure. But this just might be my favorite episode out of both seasons. Given how much I like this show, that’s saying a lot! But that ending… That was something.

Irina, before we dive in, do you have any opening thoughts?

I might have gotten the Kleenex box out. 

This episode hits two dramatic beats in this episode. The first revolves around Franchouchou and reporter Ookoba. Setting up the first beat happened in the previous episode, when Ookoba confronted Kouratou and vowed to stop the manager from exploiting the dead idols. The second beat? The series has been preparing us for it pretty much since season 1, episode 1. I’ve thought of Fruits Basket being the series with the most raw emotional power. After this scene, I’m changing my vote to Zombie Land Saga Revenge.

Review of Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11

The Fall of the House of Zombie

Remember at the end of the previous episode? When it looked like the Earth had swallowed Zombie Mansion? Well, it didn’t so much swallow it as spit it out — as in, out to sea. Sakura awoke feeling sea sick because was, in fact, sea sick. The storm that had ravaged Saga washed the mansion out to sea. 

Fortunately, the current took them back to land, and they quickly excited to find they were on a Saga beach. I enjoyed Lily’s reaction: She expressed disappointment because she had hoped they’d wash up on a deserted island so they could have an adventure.

Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11: Lily really wanted to visit a deserted island.

Lily expressed disappointment that they hadn’t journeyed to a deserted island. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

None of them brought anything but the clothes on their back, except for Junko. She’d rescued her doll painting gear because she was afraid it’d be ruined if they got wet. Well, it’s a good thing she did, because the house collapsed. Did I say only the clothes on their back? They’d also taken the time to put on the Not Koutarou-Applied Makeup (NKAM), which would be important later. For now, though, they were in trouble — until some friendly neighbors invited them to the shelter.

Before we get into the shelter, did you want to say anything about the episode so far, Irina?

Effective Surreal Imagery

I really liked the image of their old mansion just sticking out of a river. It had a classical quality to it but was also sort of hilarious. It was some of the best compositions we’ve seen in this show, in my opinion. I wish they would have the chance at more surreal imagery. 

This strikes me as a rather odd thing to say about a Zombie Idol anime but there you have it.

The storm had not only devastated Franchouchou’s home. It had devastated all of Saga. Local authorities had turned a local mall into a shelter, and most of Saga seemed to be gathered there. Franchouchou immediately offered to help. They offered to distribute meals. They kept the kids entertained. Lily gave a wonderful rendition of the song she performed in episode 5. Lily also chased down Tae’s head when it decided to go on a solo rampage! Later, they gave an a cappella version of Mezame Returner!

Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11: Franchouchou tried to keep the displaced people entertained

Their performance of Mezame Returner helped the audience forget their troubles for awhile. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

The key idea here is that they didn’t just help. They threw themselves into it. And they made a huge difference. The kids quieted down and enjoyed the show. The parents had a moment to breathe. 

Franchouchou Unmasked!

Their performance came at a cost. Remember how they’d applied their own makeup? Well, it started to flake off. Junko came up with the idea to try to make clay masks, and they almost worked. They walked onto the impromptu stage in the parking garage, lit by a car’s headlights, with their painted clay masks. The kids thought they looked like dolls, and they thought they’d dodged a bullet. Then they leapt up to celebrate, and on landing, all of their clay masks shattered. There they were, standing fully illuminated, in all of their zombie glory.

I had no idea how they were getting out of this one. Saki didn’t, either. She confessed that they were zombies, and Franchouchou braced for scorn.

It didn’t come. Two of the kids said there was no way they were zombies. “They’re bitey! And dangerous!” the kids declared. The two kids put their heads together. Remember how I said this might be my favorite episode? Even before the ending that I’m dying to talk about, this moment was right up there. The kids said (17:04), “You’re not scary, so you’re not zombies. You’re… Franchouchou!” The entire audience took up the chant of “Franchouchou.”

I swear, my reaction was almost the same as Ai’s. She couldn’t speak. Tears started in her eyes. She finally recovered enough to joke that their attempt to make themselves look like zombies hadn’t worked, but when turned her back to the audience to look at her friends, she had to take a moment to compose herself.

Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11: The audience's support overwhelmed Ai

The outpouring of support from the audience overwhelmed Ai. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Franchouchou’s Touching Performances

Irina, what’d you think of that moment or its run-up?

I mean it was a great moment but I think the first performance hit me more. Or actually maybe the first one where the reporter was watching. He came to the realization that the girls hadn’t been forced into anything. In fact, not only did they genuinely enjoy performing, they also really wanted to make people happy.

Of course, I already knew that. I’ve been watching them for a couple of seasons now, I think I can confidently say that I know the Franchouchou girls very well. Talk about parasocial.

However, having someone else discover it kind of made me remember it? Does that make sense? Or maybe it was just proud mama feelings. You know, like yup, those are my girls, aren’t they great.  

That’s a great description — I kinda do feel like a proud papa. 

So, already I’m on an emotional high. Those aren’t illegal, by the way. At least not yet, so I’m going to enjoy the experience all I can! Anyway, Koutarou showed up after having run across the Prefecture. He brought makeup, and after good-naturedly bearing their complaints about having to make do without him, he carefully applied each of their makeup. As he did so, he talked of their plans to still put on the show. It struck me: He spoke quietly to them, and as he applied their makeup, his face was just centimeters from them. It was an emotionally intimate and trusting gesture for each of them. 

Koutarou did what he could to help Franchouchou succeed

This was a quiet, intimate scene for Franchouchou and their manager. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Sakura is Koutarou’s Everything

Maybe that’s part of why the next scene hit me so hard. Koutarou had finished their makeup, and he walked down the stairs on his way out. Sakura came to the top of the stairs, and she gave him a look. She looked hesitant, unsure of exactly what she wanted to say. She looked more mature and more beautiful than I’d ever seen her. It might have had something to do with the subtle back-lighting.

Whatever it was, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Koutarou looked at her, and the sight of her standing there blew his facade completely away. For just an instant, he was only a man so in love that he had gone to war with the fates to bring Sakura back from the dead. The memory of her funeral flashed through his mind, as well as the mangled envelope containing her audition. I think we already knew all of this, but the confirmation, the expression on his face, and the longing that expression held just blew me away.

In hindsight, I blame Fruits Basket. I still haven’t recovered from its eleventh episode, and then I see this. Everything Koutarou did, he did for Sakura. Sure, his work is to save Saga. But he’s living his life for Sakura.

What’d you think, Irina? Am I overreacting? 

I’m not sure. I haven’t watched the FB remake. I read the entire manga though. In fact I have it. The manga was pretty funny so I’m guessing this adaptation took some serious liberties. 

Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11: Sakura is everything to Koutarou

This sight of Sakura froze Koutarou in his tracks. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Koutarou’s Recovery and Journey

I like the “anyways, Koutarou just showed up….” as you put it. Very nonchalant.

I thought he was dead for half of the episode. Or that we were going to get a revelation that he was a zombie as well. I knew in all likelihood he would be fine and reunited with his group but a little part of me was anxious. Zombie Land Saga has something a little odd about it that made me think that they could just throw in a completely dramatic moment. The loss of their manager rallies the girls to give an absolutely amazing concert, which saves Saga. And then mabe in an epilogue we can see that he’s been brought back as a zombie at Sakura’s request. 

I had a whole storyline made up. That’s how worried I was.

I did like the fact that he put in crazy effort to find the makeup kit. That’s cool too. And I also liked the flash back although what hit me most was living Sakura saying arigato Inui. There was a lot of warmth in her voice. They must have been good friends.

That was an awesome moment, wasn’t it?

Koutarou’s Pledge to Sakura

At the end of the scene, Sakura managed to thank Koutarou for making her an idol. Her gratitude fired him up, because he said he wasn’t just going to make her an idol for Saga. He was going to make her an idol for the whole freaking planet. He told her he had what it takes, just as he had back in season 1, episode 11. And to help them reach their dreams, he told her that “I’m going to have it, eternally.”

Zombie Land Saga Revenge Episode 11: Koutarou is for Sakura.

Whatever it means to be “for” someone, Koutarou is there for Sakura. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Okay. Enough of that. Time to leave the scene behind! Irina, what’d you think of the episode in general? Any closing thoughts?

I’m not sure about favourite. I quite liked Yuugiri’s saga. And their redemption in the early episodes was pretty electric to follow. But I did like thi episode a whole lot. And I can’t wait to see how they wrap things up. At this point, even if no one shows up, it feels like they’ve won already.

They’ve really ratcheted up the stakes. I’m rally looking forward to it!

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