Ranma 1/2 – Season 1 Episode 6 Recap & Review

Kodachi, The Black Rose

Episode 6 of Ranma 1/2 begins with Ranma (in his girl form) walking while eating dumplings. Meanwhile, a girl from another school meets with students from Ranma and Akane’s school. The students want to fight the girl. The girl attacks them with her ribbon but Ranma intervenes. 

Ranma tells the girl to stop. The girl fights Ranma and Ranma defeats her. The girl introduces herself as Kodachi and departs. Ranma checks on the students and learns they’re on her school’s rhythmic gymnastics team. The students and Ranma depart to the Tendo Dojo.

The students argue Kodachi will defeat them in their upcoming martial arts rhythmic gymnastics match, so they ask Akane to act as a stand-in. Akane accepts the students’ offer. Ranma (in his boy form) discusses Akane’s decision with Akane. 

Then, Ryoga (in his pig form) arrives. Akane refers to Ryoga’s pig form as P-chan and is unaware that P-chan is Ryoga. Akane struggles to practice for the competition. Ryoga departs to Akane’s bathroom. He jumps into a tub of water while Gendo is bathing. 

Ryoga returns to normal and departs. Meanwhile, Akane’s upset that she can’t pull anything off. Ryoga arrives and tells Akane he’ll help her out. After training, Ranma and Ryoga discuss Akane’s progress privately near a hot spring.

Ranma says he can’t stand watching this go down. Ryoga argues Ranma is jealous of Ryoga and Akane’s connection. He says he enjoys seeing him feel that way. Then, Ryoga hops into the hot spring and transforms into a pig. Meanwhile, Kodachi stands in front of Akane’s home. Kodachi wants to knock out Akane with her mallet.

Akane enters her room and looks up at the ceiling. Kodachi leaps toward Akane to attack her. Akane dodges and the two fight. During the two’s argument, Ranma and Ryoga enter Akane’s room. Before Akane can stop Ranma, Kodachi stops Akane. Kodachi claims Akane is a worthy foe. She says they can continue their battle later. 

Kodachi departs and Akane promises to defeat Kodachi. Kodachi is on the dojo’s rooftop. She attempts to flee. Ryoga and Ranma run past her. During this encounter, Ranma accidentally knocks Kodachi out with his water canister. Kodachi falls. 

Ranma saves Kodachi and Kodachi wakes up and looks at Ranma. Kodachi finds Ranma attractive. She shows him a bouquet of black roses. The roses explode. Kodachi tells Ranma that the bouquet was laced with a paralytic drug. With Ranma paralyzed, Kodachi tries to kiss him.

Akane arrives and stops Kodachi. Kodachi departs. Akane and Ranma arrive at school the next day. Kodachi attacks Akane. She tells her this is her way of greeting her. Then, Kodachi tries to chat with Ranma and Ranma attempts to flee. Ranma spots Tatewaki with red roses in the distance. 

Tatewaki wants to give the roses to Akane. Ranma attacks Tatewaki and Tatewaki wonders what he’s doing. Then, Kodachi hugs Ranma. Tatewaki looks at the two and tells Ranma he approves of their relationship. Ranma hurts Kodachi’s feelings. 

He tells Kodachi he’s engaged to Akane. Kodachi tells Akane they should hold a bet. Whoever wins in the upcoming competition can claim Ranma. Akane’s puzzled. Kodachi argues Ranma will be hers and departs. Tatewaki confirms that Kodachi is his younger sister. 

Tatewaki hands Akane the roses and wishes her the best of luck. Later, Akane trains for the competition with Ranma. Ranma doesn’t offer Akane much help. Akane wishes Ryoga were here to help her. Ryoga (in his pig form) arrives with goods. 

Ranma helps Akane with her training. While training, Akane trips and twists her ankle. Akane’s sisters help her. Kasumi tells Akane she may have to give up but Akane refuses. Akane tries walking but tumbles. Akane wishes she could find a replacement. Then, Akane and her sisters turn to Ranma. 

Ryoga arrives and splashes Ranma with water. The episode ends with Ryoga telling Ranma to prepare for training. 

The Episode Review

If Tatewaki wasn’t enough, now Ranma has a female who is after his heart. The amusing part is that Tatewaki and Kodachi are siblings. Many fans may wonder what’ll happen when Tatewaki and Kodachi uncover the truth behind Ranma’s transformative powers. 

The same can be said with Akane and Ryoga. Akane will likely give Ryoga a stern talking to once she discovers P-chan, the pig she’s sleeping with, is a man. Those moments are guaranteed to make many fans laugh non-stop. Comical possibilities aside, the chapter gives Akane a rival. 

Kodachi may be strange, but she’s no pushover. However, it’s unfortunate that Akane and Kodachi won’t clash in the competition. Based on Kodachi and Female Ranma’s battle at the start, fans already know who will defeat who in that competition. 

Nonetheless, we’re optimistic Rumiko Takahashi will have Akane and Kodachi compete in a future contest. That aside, this episode should entertain many viewers.