Michelle Topham 
A Kaiju No. 8, Episode 3 recap as we learn how tough the Defense Force testing can be
The third episode of Kaiju No. 8 opens with Kikoru Shinomiya confronting Kafka Hibino about his kaiju odor.
Reno Ichikawa quickly distracts Kikoru, allowing Kafka to move his vehicle to a new parking spot by activating his kaiju hand and picking up the van himself.
Kikoru is puzzled by Kafka’s strength and vows to outperform him during the second phase of the anti-Kaiju selection test.
As the fitness test portion of the selection test’s second phase begins, we’re taken into a flashback where Reno and Kafka discuss the test’s structure, which includes both fitness and aptitude tests.
Kafka aims to excel in the fitness part but ends up performing poorly, especially compared to Kikoru, who then teases him for his lackluster performance.
Reno and Kafka then observe the other participants, with Reno pointing out the strongest candidates while stressing Kikoru is the one to watch.
Kikoru returns to belittle Kafka once more, but Kafka internally vows to prove himself, despite his fears of inadequacy and not being able to use his kaiju skills.
Reno then explains the second phase of the selection test usually involves kaiju clean-up duties, which they both specialize in.
But when they arrive at the second phase site, they meet Soshiro Hoshina who tells them their job is to find the kaiju within the urban training area and… neutralize them.
So much for the clean-up.
All of the participants are then equipped with Defense Force Kaiju combat suits that significantly enhance their combat abilities.
Kikoru demonstrates her superior unleashed combat power with an unheard of 46%, while Reno’s is only 8% and Kafka has the lowest in the group — 0%.
Despite some ridicule, Kafka and Reno decide to focus on supporting those with higher combat power to impress the observers.
As the test begins, however, Kikoru neutralizes two kaiju within just seconds while the rest of the examinees are still trying to find their first kaiju.
Kafka and Reno work together to target a yoju, with Kafka using his prior experience in kaiju clean-up to strategize their attack. He uses a stun grenade to disorient the creature, showcasing his knowledge and skills of individual kaiju.
As the extermination test continues, Kafka struggles with his low combat power but remains determined to contribute, but he is then side-swiped by another kaiju and viciously shoved into a wall.
As the examiners watching decide he may die if they don’t activate the protection shield, Kafka tries to stand up as he doesn’t want to fail the test.
It is then, right before the kaiju is about to eat him, Kikoru appears and annihilates the kaiju with three shots.
As she rushes away to kill more Kaiju, Hoshina, who is watching from the control room informs Kafka he may have several broken bones plus internal injuries, leaving Kafka realizing he may be eliminated from the exam.
At that point, knowing Mina is also watching him from the control room, he realizes he will never be able to stand by her side if he gives up now.
So he stumbles to his feet and, as he does, his in-suit unleashed combat power moves up from 0.00 percent to 0.01 percent.
Sure, it’s a teeny tiny improvement in power, but it’s still an improvement.
The episode ends as we hear Kafka saying “This time, I’m not giving up. No matter what!”
Overall, Kaiju No. 8, Episode 3 is well-animated, superbly written and acted, and gets viewers even more connected to the anime’s three main characters while also nicely introducing some of the new, and quite interesting, side characters.
RELATED: Here are the recaps for the first two episodes of Kaiju No 8 — Episode 1 and Episode 2.
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