The most important event by far in Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 has been Isao Shinomiya’s death. The Director of the Kaiju Defense Force was the linchpin holding Kaiju No. 8‘s heroes together, so his death is sure to completely change the landscape of the series moving forward. However, killing such an important character so soon was a questionable choice for the anime because it overshadows other elements of the season and wastes much of Isao’s potential.
Had Isao not died, the reveal of Kaiju No. 9’s new abilities and Gen Narumi’s strength would have also been given a bit more room to breath. Fans don’t get a chance to linger on these thoughts before more blatant questions are brought up, though. Gen is the strongest person in the Kaiju Defense Force, but he barely gets the chance to prove that with the pacing of the season. His relationship with Isao is important to showing both of their strengths, but it’s hard to appreciate exactly how capable Gen is when he does little that compares to Isao or even Mina Ashido before this event.
Isao Shinomiya's Death Might Not Be a Bad Thing in the Long Run
Image via Production I.G.
Killing off a character like Isao isn’t actually a bad move for Kaiju No. 8. It provides an interesting change to the status quo, creates emotional dilemmas for several characters, and reasserts Kaiju No. 9 as a threatening force despite the introduction of new, strong characters. Isao was a stabilizing force for the entire country, not just the Kaiju Defense Force. Without him, the anime opens itself up to a new kind of conflict as Isao isn’t there to have the final say.
It isn’t Isao’s death itself that’s the problem so much as the timing of the event. The invasion in Kaiju Season 1 already threw the status quo up in the air. Not only was the main cast separated from each other, but Kafka Hibino’s secret was revealed. Isao is only introduced as a part of these grand changes that completely alter how Kafka interacts with everyone around him, including his enemies. The full consequences of the invasion don’t get time to settle before a whole new wave of change comes in. The anime doesn’t spend time exploring how Isao would approach having Kaiju No. 8 work for him in full.
Kaiju No. 9 is another issue altogether. He is already the most interesting antagonist from the first season. While Kaiju No. 10 comes across as more powerful, that power doesn’t make up for how clever and potentially devious Kaiju No. 9 is. Having Gen defeat Kaiju No. 9 expresses Gen’s power while still giving Kaiju No. 9 an out. Kaiju No. 9 has a complex overarching plan during this attack that concludes in him upgrading himself is a great use of the character, but it also reveals his hand earlier than fans needed to see it.
Kikoru Shinomiya Will Never Resolve Things With Her Father
Image via Production I.G.
The character most obviously affected by Isao’s death is Kikoru Shinomiya. One of the last things he was thinking about was his daughter and the way he raised her. While it was nice to get some insight into his perspective of Kikoru’s childhood, that information won’t affect the actual story going forward. As these were merely thoughts he had during his last battle, no other character has any insight on them and therefore can do nothing about them.
Kikoru will never have the opportunity to resolve her many issues with her father. She will never get to know why he raised her the way he did, even though she’s currently just repeating the pattern that he established for her. She trains through her grief because that’s what she’s always done. Sometimes characters don’t get to have closure, and they have to seek it through other means. In going after Kaiju No. 9, Kikoru will be able to find a way to make peace with her father’s legacy.
However, the two of them did have a very interesting dynamic that fans simply won’t get to see anymore. The two of them had tense interactions and were never shown trying to understand each other’s perspectives. However, most of their conversations that aren’t in flashbacks center around other characters, like Kafka. The fact that this anime is so fast-paced means that plenty of interesting character interactions have clearly been cut, and this is one dynamic that has suffered from that choice.
Isao Shinomiya Had a Vision for Kaiju No. 8
© JAKDF 3rd Division © Naoya Matsumoto/SHUEISHA
Isao had a vision for the Kaiju Defense Force and was willing to set aside tradition all to make it happen. He was a very pragmatic man who prioritized the tools to go after kaiju over the potential risks that these tools brought. Letting Kafka live was a part of that risk assessment. However, one of the things that Isao’s battle against Kaiju No. 9 revealed is that he was never going all out against Kaiju No. 8. Isao was willing to give Kafka the benefit of the doubt very early on.
Isao’s position is the only reason why Kafka got to live despite proving his humanity at the end of season 1. By the beginning of season 2, this matter appears to be completely settled. While Gen has something to say about the arrangement, he wants the power that Kafka has, too. As a result, this conflict is settled once Kafka gets himself under control when he fights the Kaiju No. 9 clone. Though Kafka feels some conflict about this after Isao’s death, the anime doesn’t really lean into the consequences of Isao’s death in this case.
Isao had enough sway in the Kaiju Defense Force to completely defy every other voice in the organization to keep Kafka alive. He held enough respect that none of the other members even complained about him exerting this power. However, that shouldn’t have been enough to sway all of them. Isao’s death should mean that these complaints come back to the forefront, especially with how Kafka failed to save Isao. The anime just treats this like the matter was settled and done with.
Gen Narumi Has to Live Up to Isao's Expectations
Image via Production I.G
Gen is quite a lot of things when he’s introduced. He is the First Division captain. He’s the strongest member of the Kaiju Defense Force. He is now in charge of both Kafka and Kikoru because they have the potential to be powerhouses on his level. He’s the newest goal that these characters have to aim for. However, he was also quite close to Isao. This is a relationship that is mentioned when Gen sees Kaiju No. 9 turned into Isao. It’s something that the next episode briefly explores, but it’s not something that fans will get to see in real time.
The development of Gen and Isao’s dynamic is something that will now have to be relegated to flashbacks. Gen has made the choice to continue building on the foundations that Isao set up, but fans don’t get to see why he would until after he makes that choice. Gen’s division was shaped by Isao to be powerful, and that structure is one that Gen must defend. While this goal and Gen’s relationship give him an interesting place to start with Kikoru, it doesn’t fully make up for the lack of screen time he gets with Isao before Isao’s death.
Isao’s death is more tragic in retrospect than it is in practice. Fans don’t get to spend nearly enough time with the character. He’s a very complex individual with relationships that affect the entire cast in some way or another. However, many of these facts are told and not shown. Isao’s perspective is only a priority during the moments before his death. This battle shows off his inner monologue and lets him use the power he had been holding back, but it’s hard to appreciate either fact when they don’t amount to anything. Isao’s all don’t give him a victory or save anyone, and that’s just another reason why his death happened too soon.
