31 Days of Halloween - High School of the Dead - Episode 2 "Escape from the Dead"

Kohta is tripping balls.

When last we left our plucky survivors, Takashi had bashed in zombie-Hisashi's head in. Kids these days! Episode 2 picks up with Saya and Kohta trying to make their way through the school. They find the teacher's lounge has become a zombie festival. Saya tells Kohta to follow her if he wants to live. And who can say no to a domineering, pink-haired chick? Back on the roof, Takashi and Rei are trying to figure out what to do next. Takashi gets a cell connection to her father (a police officer), but he can't hear her. Then the cell service shuts down.

In the school, Saya persists in calling Kohta stupid as he speculate about what is happening and what they should do. Hey, pink-haired genius or not, that's just mean!

In the school infirmary massively endowed Shizuka is trying her best to treat the wounded. Well, she's trying to treat one wounded guy. She also says what's happening is just like a "George Romeo" movie (you can insert the sound of dismissive groan here). A horde of zombies breaks in and a random student dies trying to save her. Thankfully for Russ Meyer fans everywhere Saeko shows up and makes zombie mincemeat with her shinai. Saeko finishes off the random student (who has been bitten) in a surprisingly touching scene. At least, touching for a scene that ends with blood spray.

Shizuka contemplates the intersection of gravity and being buxom.

Saya and Kohta take refuge in the shop class room, where Kohta puts together a pretty awesome super-nail gun. Total McGuyver. On the roof, Rei and Takashi use a fire-hose to clear a path. Saya figures out that the zombies hunt by sound (she's smart...but still bitchy). Of course, after she figures this out, she yells at Kohta, attracting the hungry dead. In the eternal war between brains and the ball-busting instinct, sometimes the latter is just too strong.

After some more running about and zombie killing, the three duos meet up and decide to stick together, take a school bus and look for their families. But, first can they escape...the High School of the Dead!?!?

I guess we'll find out in the next episode.

Episode 2 fleshes out the other characters a bit more. We find out that Saeko is the captain of the kendo team and that Saya is in constant bitch mode. Wait, we knew that in episode 1 where she calls Takashi stupid, although she does say he is smart enough to know he is stupid. Nice. I think this character is based on one of my exes. Okay, to be fair, she does have a pretty epic meltdown at the end of the episode as the enormity of what is happening hits her. Can you detect that I like this character?

Sweet. Ass. Nail gun.

Anyway, there are some standout scenes. I like Kohta kit-bashing his super-nail gun. There are a couple of nicely animated action scenes. And there are a few moments of real emotion, particularly when Saeko compliments random infirmary student for saving Shizuka before caving his skull in. Don't get me wrong; this series is mostly about chicks with big boobs killing zombies. But, there is some care taken to develop the characters, to give them interesting back-stories and to construct interpersonal relationships that aren't just perfunctory.

Best lines of the episode: Saeko (after tearing Shizuka's skirt): "Your clothes of your life, which is more important?" Shizuka: "Both are!"

Kill of the episode: Saya power drilling the hell out of zombie.

Best fan service scene: Have to go with Shizuka tripping on a floor mat, leading to a close-up of her boobs jiggling.

Finally, the theme song "High School of the Dead" by Kishida Kyoudan & The Akeboshi Rockets rocks. Check it out below.