Trouble Rains Down!!! / Amazed In A Maze
Shutaro makes a dramatic entrance to Tomobiki High School in episode 3 of Urusei Yatsura.
Shinobu chases Lum and Ataru because she’s tired of Lum’s affection toward Ataru. Shinobu throws a desk at Ataru but breaks a window instead. Everyone notices a strange parachute outside and decides to investigate. One of the students notices Mendo clinging to the desk Shinobu threw. His grandfather and henchmen ask Mendo if he’s alright while aboard the family’s jet. ..
Mendo: I don’t care what you think, Shinobu. You can’t be interested in me because I have jets flying over my school. Get lost!
Mendo flirts with Shinobu and Ataru starts to jealous of their exchange. Lum introduces herself to Mendo and tells him that she’s married to Ataru. Mendo’s disgusted by that thought and starts critiquing Ataru’s looks. This initiates an argument between him, Lum, Ataru, and Shinobu.
The minutes later, Ataru’s homeroom teacher announces that they’ll be holding elections for the new class president. Mendo declares his run for candidacy. He plans to punish slackers in his class with the most brutal punishments possible. Although everyone isn’t on board, Mendo says he’ll make females exempt, angering his male classmates.
Male classmates of Ataru, disgusted by his proposal to call dibs on all the girls in his class, band together and aim to have Ataru run against Mendo in a competition to declare the winner. After giving their proposal about a competition to decide the winner, their homeroom teacher asks the class to decide on a winner. Unfortunately, Mendo and Ataru reach a stalemate, and Mendo suggests a competition to declare the winner. ..
Shutaro tries to kick off the event by initiating the rite of challenge involving throwing a glove at their opponent. However, Ataru dodges and annoys Mendo. Mendo chases Ataru to the school’s rooftops while Lum spies on them from the skies. Mendo throws the glove at Ataru, but Lum protects him. Shutaro then challenges Mendo to a duel with an apple as their weapon. Lum watches from above as Mendo takes aim and shoots the apple off of Shutaro’s head with a cannon. ..
Lum tells Ataru that she challenged him to a duel, infuriating him. Mendo challenges Lum and they fight, with Mendo winning. All his classmates arrive and Ataru tells them he came out victorious. Ashamed for losing against a fool, Mendo plans to end his life. As he prepares to die, Ataru cheers about his victory while everyone else tries to back Mendo out of the act.
Mendo is seen meditating in his family’s garden while thinking about Lum. Mendo runs into Lum at school, and she pushes him away for getting in the way of her search mission. Near a ballpark, Ataru asks Shinobu if she likes Mendo. ..
Shinobu confirms that she has developed feelings for Mendo because he is more handsome, wealthier, and kinder than Ataru. Mendo and Lum arrive, engulfing them in his parachute. Lum finds Ataru, and he finds Mendo atop Shinobu, which angers him. Shinobu departs the scene full of glee and love. Ataru leaves the area with Lum following close behind. Mendo discovers that he has fallen in love with Lum after Ataru and Lum depart.
The group attends a field trip in the forest. The teacher wants everyone to establish camaraderie with their classmates and lets them loose. Ataru’s upset that Lum decided to tag along because he wanted to get more intimate with Shinobu. Mendo approaches Lum and asks if she’d light to go sightseeing in a nearby cavern.
Shinobu and Mendo join Lum and Ataru as they explore a cave in search of a way to get alone time with each other. While exploring the cave, Mendo nudges Ataru’s shoulder and suggests they split up. Mendo catches onto Ataru’s scheme but decides to play along.
When they reach a split path, the two conduct their plan. After Mendo shuts his flashlight off, they all scramble to find each other in the darkness. Mendo and Shinobu stumble upon them as Shinobu clings to Mendo. The four decide to head further into the cave, and Mendo’s shown badmouthing Ataru for his mistakes.
Mendo and Ataru’s plan again goes wrong, and everyone is scrambling to find each other. Mendo discovers he’s no longer with Shinobu but with Ataru, and the two spooks each other. The two decide to look for Lum and Shinobu. Mendo reveals the truth about his brave bravado and tells Ataru he can only act fine when women have their eyes on him. He suffers from nyctophobia and claustrophobia.
Mendo screams in fear as they enter the dark cave. Lum and Shinobu arrive and Mendo puts on a brave act by pushing Ataru into a nearby wall. However, Ataru covers their eyes and Mendo’s illness begins. The four continue their journey through the cave with the flashlight going out for real this time. Lum uses her electric powers to help them find Ataru, but they are unsuccessful.
Lum unknowingly sets off a rocket, causing a massive explosion in the cave. Their teacher and classmates notice them from afar. Everyone but Shinobu bickers with each other. The episode concludes with a brief view of another alien spacecraft. Inside, a mysterious-looking female rests in a container.
The Episode Review
Mendo’s introduction was quite impressive. He had some quirks, but his interactions with Ataru, Shinobu, and Lum caught my attention. It’s refreshing to give Ataru more competition and Shinobu a new love interest to impress. Since episode one, I’ve wondered why Shinobu didn’t move on and flock to another male.
This episode showed that the other male classmates are not very helpful or valuable. They all turned to Ataru for help in defeating Mendo in the election, which shows how weak-willed they are. Mendo gives Shinobu and Ataru more goals to work towards, and I’m excited to see what mischief he’ll get up to with our cast. ..
Episode 2 of the anime series “Kemono Friends” had some funny moments, but the overall plot felt less believable. For example, Shinobu and Mendo’s plan to get alone time with each other’s girlfriends was funny, but it didn’t make much sense. Lum’s powers were also a bit strange in this episode. ..
Lum could’ve easily brightened the caves with her electricity at any moment. There were other sprinkles in both segments where Mendo was slightly annoying with his crying or astonished replies. Besides those instances, these episodes served as a solid introduction for our rich boy, Mendo. Based on the cliffhanger, it appears our cast will be meeting another alien female.
In this episode of “Lumineers,” Mendo is back and he’s as entertaining as ever. Hopefully, the new girl is just as entertaining. ..
