31 Days of Halloween - Highschool of the Dead - Episode 10 "The Dead's House Rules"

Kohta REALLY likes his gun.

After the last episode, which effectively combined decent action and character development, this episode is both busy and repetitive. It does show how dangerously disturbed everyone is becoming. It also indulges in some teen angst cliches, although that is to be expected. This is High School of the Dead after all.

It starts promisingly enough. One day after Takashi and Saeko arrive at Saya's home, Takashi and a nude Rei are in bed. Shizuka enters the room, hands covered in goo and starts massaging Rei's back. After the credits, Rei gets mad at Takashi because he used her "boobs to balance an AK-47." That's a pretty good reason. Takashi leaves the room and makes Saeko briefly uncomfortable by leering at her in a kimono.

Saya's mom knows how you make an entrance. With boobs. That's how.

Saya shows up, pissed at life in general and her parents in particular. She takes it out on Takashi, then stalks off to find Kohta, her preferred whipping boy. He's cleaning his guns in the garage. She explains to him how the urban infrastructure will soon be failing and even her parents' fortress-like compound will become untenable. Meanwhile, Saya's mom, Yuriko, tells Takashi of her husband Soichiro's plans to evacuate people out of the city, but only those who can survive.

Our heroes gather to discuss their options; either remain - and lose their autonomy - or head off on their own. While Takashi tries to be reasonable, Saya starts ranting about what a hard life she has, how tough it was being the daughter of rich, powerful people, etc. Takashi gets pissed and brings her to her sense with a dose of tough love, that involves violent shaking. Not cool, man, not cool.

At the appropriate dramatic moment, Saya's father returns home at the head of a supply convoy. One of his men who has been bitten. He's in a cage (why was Soichiro lugging a cage around with him?) and has turned into a zombie. Soichiro kills him, saying it his duty to put his former retainer (and friend) out of his misery. He also does it to make a point; that the zombies are not friends or family members any longer.

For some reason, this causes Kohta to have some kind of breakdown about the problems of using swords. Sure, why not. So he runs off, grabs all of his guns and then is confronted by an group of adults who want him to turn his weapons over to them. Given how unstable Kohta actually is, this might be a good idea. Meanwhile, Saya is telling Saeko how things have changed ("there are no more kendo tournaments and koi ponds"). Why doe s Saya think that no realizes this?

Kohta turns into a blubbering - albeit heavily armed - heap.

Soichiro finds his men about to beat up Kohta and take his guns. He asks what is going on and Kohta cries and says without his guns "they" will make fun of him again. Saya finally shows up and says that Kohta has been doing her father's job of protecting her.

The episode ends with one of Shido’s minions who has infiltrated the compound reporting that he will be welcome there. Back on the bus, Shido is overseeing an orgy. Because that makes perfect sense in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. The end.

This is a slow episode. In part, that's because a couple of new characters are introduced (Saya's parents) and have to be rapidly sketched out. Much of the dialogue is repetitious, particularly, Saya repeatedly explaining how "nothing is the same anymore." I think every gets that. Also, after seeing Kohta's behavior, I wouldn't want him to have a gun. For the most part, though, the problem with the episode is that nothing much really happens. No decisions are made and we learn nothing new about the characters, except the Saya hates her parents.

There are some good elements. The "coming of age" theme is brought to the forefront with our teen heroes thinking of returning to the zombie infested world (i.e., the adult world) to find their own way, to leave the literal and symbolic home and domineering parents. Also, the epilogue with Shido's Bus of a Thousand Delights is kind of disturbing. It's just a glimpse. But we see enough to know how this corrupt adult has assumed power; by allowing his charges to give into some of their baser impulses, as long as they follow him.

Best Line: After Saeko talks about the rarity of the koi in the pond at Saya's home she responds with, "So you're an expert in kendo and you have a part-time job at Pet Smart."

Best Kill: Kind of sparse this episode, but I do like the aftermath of Soichiro killing his retainer. The man's severed head floats in a fountain, staring at the gathered humans. There is a missed opportunity. It would have been creepier to have the head still animated, with eyes moving and mouth snapping.

Fan Service: There's not a lot in this episode. However, we do get a shot of Rei's bare behind. So, I consider that a winner.