War and rumors of war shake the world of One Punch Man, and the time has come for strategy. From the halls of the Hero Association to the fighting pits of the Monster Society, everyone analyzes the fallout from the last battle and considers the next move. For the stingy old men who represent the side of law and order, this means classifying Garou as a Dragon-level threat. For the armored team they have assembled, it means rescuing the son of the top donor. For the Gyoro Gyoro and his deranged followers, that means attempting to recruit a reluctant Garou. For Tatsumaki and the Heroes, it means throwing their weight around, asserting their own importance and skills. For Isamu, it means locating the villains’ lair. For Puri-Puri Prisoner, it means swearing to avenge the deaths of the guards of the same prison that keeps him captive. And as Fubuki discovers, for Saitama, King, and their friends, it just means playing video games and chilling on the tatami. At least Genos and Silverfang are recovering from their last battle, but our bald protagonist doesn’t have that excuse. After some back and forth, he decides to go out and maybe punch Garou if he’s lucky. He says he’ll also buy napa cabbage on his way back.

So, parody is not my favorite kind of humor. It is no surprise, then, that One Punch Man happens to be Not My Kind of Show^TM, and I’ll confess I mostly stared blankly at this episode, more or less like our hero. But I have a friend who loves Saitama, and putting myself in his shoes, I’d say the show is keeping up with its tone and signature moves and making promises for this season. A storm is rising, and everyone here will be part of it. The world feels alive, with all the factions plotting, and Garou just surprised that he made it. No exterminating punch this episode (sorry!), but stakes are introduced and all the pieces are put across the board. The clash is coming. The contrast between the general turmoil and the relaxed atmosphere at Saitama’s headquarters is conveyed effectively. Genos remains sincere and oblivious to social cues, Fubuki cannot believe her eyes or ears, and the One Punch Man cannot take the threat seriously. The only really sour note is a ridiculous dominatrix villain who barely has any clothes on. Oh well. The Monster Association is appropriately repugnant, totally deserving of the Saitama treatment. If you love OPM, here’s more of it. For my part, I’ll just wish you well.

One Punch Man Season 3 is available on Hulu (or Crunchyroll in some regions).