Ranma 1/2 – Season 1 Episode 9 Recap & Review

I’ll Never Let Go

Episode 9 of Ranma 1/2 begins at Kolholtz High School. The Charlotte Cup is about to start, and Ryoga wants to participate with Akane. Then, Ranma arrives and splashes Ryoga with water. Ryoga turns into P-Chan. He tells Ryoga he’ll have to watch him compete with Akane. 

Then, Ranma visits Mikado in the boy’s dressing room. Mikado tells Ranma he wants to steal Akane’s lips by the end of their match. Ranma finds Mikado’s desires strange. We cut away to the martial arts ice skating rink. 

Ichiro shares intel about the competition, the competing schools, and the former champion. Azusa and Mikado enter the rink and the audience cheers. Meanwhile, Ranma tells Akane to stay away from Mikado. 

Ranma and Akane enter the arena and the match begins. Ichiro tells the audience whoever wins will claim P-Chan. Mikado attempts to kiss Akane, but Ranma prevents him. Ranma punches Mikado in the gut. Then, both groups confront each other. 

Ranma tells Mikado to leave Akane alone because she’s his fiancee. Mikado refuses. He claims he and Azusa are known as the Matchbreaker On Ice duo. Ichiro tells the crowd that Mikado and Azusa will use their Couple Crusher technique on Ranma and Akane. 

Mikado and Azusa use their Goodbye Whirl attack on Akane and Ranma. Mikado says every couple who gets caught up in this tactic has a fallout. Ranma refuses to let go of Akane. He slams into the barricade and protects Akane. 

Akane checks on Ranma and Mikado speculates Ranma fractured every bone in his body. Akane cries. Ranma stands up but his bones are fractured. Azusa looks at the crowd and realizes Ryoga’s gone. 

Ryoga, in his human form, is hiding somewhere. He’s waiting for his moment to shine. Mikado tells Ranma that he refuses to let him forfeit the match. He wants to steal Akane’s lips first. Azusa stops Mikado. She tells him she wants to find Charlotte (Ryoga/P-Chan). 

Akane stops Ranma from pursuing Mikado. She doesn’t want Ranma to overexert himself. Then, Ryoga turns the lights off and splashes Ranma with water. Ranma turns into a girl. Ryoga tosses Akane aside. He thinks he tossed Ranma away. 

Ryoga wanted to compete with Akane. While Ryoga and Ranma argue, Mikado ponders Female Ranma. Ryoga intervenes and trips Ranma. The audience complains because Ryoga and Ranma aren’t attractive enough. Kolholtz’s stylish club arrives with two booths. 

They escort Ryoga and Ranma inside the booth. The students apply makeup on them and change their attire. Ryoga and Ranma exit the booths. Before Ryoga and Ranma compete with Mikado and Azusa, Mikado confronts Akane.

Mikado apologizes to Akane. He tells her he’ll take her to dinner after the match. Ryoga tosses Ranma at Mikado. He tells Akane to skate with him. Azusa confronts Ryoga about his collar. She argues it’s the same as Charlotte’s.

Akane grows suspicious of Ryoga’s hidden identity. Ranma tells Akane she wants to compete. However, Akane tells Ranma to stay put. Akane asks Ryoga to come with her, but Ranma stops Akane. Ryoga agrees to team up with Ranma.

Mikado and Azusa use their Goodbye Whirl Attack on Ranma and Ryoga. Ranma and Ryoga suffer minor injuries. Enraged, Ryoga punches the ice rink. The ice turns into several platforms. Ryoga is concerned Akane will discover his P-Chan identity.

Ranma tells Ryoga to focus on the match. The episode ends with Ranma and Mikado’s group staring at each other.  

The Episode Review

Akane and Ranma’s match with Mikado and Azusa ended sooner than expected. However, there were glorious segments sprinkled throughout their match that will grip audiences. The intimate moments between Ranma and Akane will entertain audiences the most though. 

Seeing Ranma protect Akane from Mikado’s lips of doom was heartfelt. Fans will adore the subtle back-and-forth arguments between Ranma and Akane. It’s a great way to portray Ranma’s deep feelings for Akane and Akane’s interest in Ranma. 

Additionally, Mikado and Azusa are worthy rivals. Unlike past adversaries, these two feel like a formidable duo. It seems they have many tricks up their sleeves. At the same time, it’ll be interesting to see if Mikado and Azusa will lose now that the ice rink has been demolished.

 Next to having enjoyable humor and fine animation, this was a satisfying chapter of Ranma 1/2.