Ranma 1/2 – Season 1 Episode 8 Recap & Review

Darling Charlotte

Episode 8 of Ranma 1/2 begins with Akane skating at an ice skating rink. Then, Akane and her friends go somewhere to eat. Akane’s friends want Akane to join the skating club, but she’s unsure and looks at her soup. The soup’s ingredients remind her of P-chan (Ryoga’s pig form). Akane leaves her group to find P-chan. 

A girl finds P-chan on the skating rink and calls him Charlotte. Meanwhile, Ranma (in his boy form) chats with two male classmates at a restaurant. The boys want Ranma to give them information about Female Ranma. Ranma refuses. The boys pester Ranma more about it. 

Akane arrives. She wants Ranma to help her find P-chan. Then, the same girl who found P-chan at the ice skating rink enters the restaurant. Ranma notices the girl’s carrying P-chan and tells Akane. Akane confronts the girl. The girl tells Akane it’s Charlotte. 

The girl’s partner (Mikado) gives P-chan back to Akane. He tells Akane his female partner (Azusa) likes nabbing cute things. Azusa challenges Akane to a pairs skating match. If Azusa wins, Akane must give P-chan to Azusa. One of Akane’s friends tells Akane that Mikado and Azusa are known for being talented ice skaters. 

Akane accepts Azusa’s challenge. Mikado tries to kiss Akane, but Ranma stops him. Mikado tells Ranma the match will happen in one week. He wants Akane and Ranma to head to Kolkhoz High School when the time comes. Ranma, Akane, and their friends depart. 

Later, Ranma tells Akane he did what he did because he doesn’t like womanizers. Akane tells Ranma she could’ve dealt with Mikado herself. Akane and Ranma discuss their upcoming pairs skating match with Akane’s sisters. Then, Ryoga (in his human form) arrives. 

Ryoga wants to be Akane’s partner. Ryoga and Ranma challenge each other to an ice skating match to determine who Akane’s partner should be. Akane learns Ranma and Ryoga aren’t great skaters. Some time passes. Akane helps Ranma (in his female form) skate.

Azusa interrupts Akane and Ranma’s skating session. Akane lets go of Ranma to confront Azusa. Mikado saves Ranma from an accident. Before Mikado kisses Ranma, Azusa interrupts their session. Azusa tells Mikado the 100-man spar activity will begin soon. 

Mikado and Azusa fight 100 hockey players while skating. After that, Ranma and Akane learn that their match with Mikado and Azusa involves martial arts. Meanwhile, P-chan skates on the rink. Azusa grabs P-chan before Akane does. She places a collar on P-chan.

Akane grabs P-chan and tries removing the collar. Azusa tells Akane she needs her key to do so. Akane argues her team will win. Ranma almost tumbles but Mikado saves her. Mikado kisses Ranma. Ranma departs to the male’s bathroom. 

She jumps in a bathtub. Ranma becomes a boy again and promises to make Mikado pay. Ranma returns to the skating rink and destroys some of it with his fists. He wants to fight Mikado now. Mikado uses his Dance of Death technique to defeat Ranma. 

Akane picks up Ranma. She tells Azusa Ranma defeated Mikado despite Azusa claiming it was a draw. Azusa checks on Mikado and Mikado’s passed out. She and the others draw on him. Akane and Ranma return to the Tendo Dojo. Ranma confirms he hit Mikado 518 times while Mikado was using his Dance of Death technique. 

Ryoga (in his human form) arrives and tells everyone Ranma’s angry because he got kissed by a guy. Ranma heads somewhere alone. Akane arrives to treat Ranma’s wound. They discuss Ranma’s first kiss. Akane tells Ranma he shouldn’t let his guard down. 

Ranma pulls Akane close to him. The two back away from each other. After discussing things, they try to kiss each other. Ranma backs away. He suggests they save their kiss for someone they develop true feelings for. Then, Nabiki, Genma, and the others make their presence known. 

They want to watch our pair kiss each other. The episode ends with Mikado declaring that he’ll make Ranma pay for hurting him. 

The Episode Review

If the Kodachi situation wasn’t bad enough, now Ranma and Akane must deal with Azusa and Mikado’s antics. This episode was just as enjoyable as the previous chapter. Rumiko Takahashi finds a unique way to merge two athletic activities as shown with the last chapter’s rhythmic martial arts gymnastics event. 

This week, Takahashi combines martial arts with ice skating. Seeing Mikado and Azusa utilize skating techniques to defeat the hockey players was creative and fun. This chapter’s humor was wonderful too. Many fans will chuckle at the characters’ fumbles, arguments, and reactions. 

However, this episode truly shines toward the end. Fans can feel the tension behind Ranma and Akane’s first kiss discussion. Even Nabiki and the others wanted to see them smooch each other. Nonetheless, fans will be pleased with how well Takahashi focuses on Ranma and Akane’s affection for each other. 

But all in all, this was another satisfying outing from Ranma 1/2. Despite having great action and comedy, viewers can tell Takahashi brought her A-game with this tale’s romance. I’m excited to see what happens next.