Dandadan episode 12: Jiji and Okarun compete for Momo's heart as season 2 is perfectly set up

As the final episode of the smash-hit Fall 2024 anime series, Dandadan episode 12 was expected to wrap up season 1’s major plotlines while setting up the sequel series. Officially released on Thursday, December 19, 2024, the season 1 finale did just that, setting up the second season to dive right into the next arc’s action.

Dandadan episode 12 also provided a satisfying end to Taro and Hana’s plotline, the last unresolved thread from season 1’s events that could reasonably be resolved by its end. Overall, it’s a conclusive installment that is as well executed and excitingly produced as every episode before.

Dandadan episode 12 sets up already announced sequel with a perfect cliffhanger

Brief episode recap

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Dandadan episode 12 began with Momo Ayase, Ken “Okarun” Takakura, and Jin “Jiji” Enjoji asking Seiko Ayase to keep Hana at her house. Turbo Granny was upset at being lumped in with Hana in these discussions as it was revealed Taro returned to the school happily after knowing Hana was safe. He intended to sneak out at night to see her before returning to the school by the next morning.

Seiko eventually agreed, as it was revealed Taro didn’t have Okarun’s kintama after all. Jiji then praised Momo and Okarun’s powers while wishing he had something of his own. He then went to help Momo set up the table, pulling lint out of her hair in a romantic scene. An embarrassed Okarun did the same thing after musing on his love for Momo, but this eventually led to Jiji and Okarun doing a sort of singing competition with each other.

Dandadan episode 12 saw Seiko reveal Momo would be staying at Jiji’s house over the weekend, which initially bothered Okarun. However, when Momo said she wanted to invite him, he no longer had any issues. Focus then shifted to a group of students at Momo and Okarun’s school, patrolling it at night when no one else was there. This led them to see Taro running through the halls, terrifying them as he jumped out of the window to see Hana.

Taro and Hana's tale is brought to a satisfying end in Dandadan episode 12 (Image via Science SARU)

However, he was hit by a truck along the way, left lying in shattered pieces but still seemingly alive. Momo was outside waiting with Hana for his arrival, encouraging her that he would show up. Despite the horrific accident he endured, he eventually arrived to see her, leading to a romantic embrace just as the sun rose. As this happened, the focus shifted to Jiji, who had been up all night due to being haunted by a terrifying spirit.

Dandadan episode 12 shifted focus to Momo, Jiji, and Okarun on the train to Jiji’s house. However, as Momo and Jiji discussed their childhoods, Okarun felt jealous and ridiculed himself for being so immature. He tried distracting himself but was unable to get over Momo and Jiji bonding so well. He tried to get her attention by discussing the tsuchinoko, leading Jiji to explain his village has a legend of a giant snake and a shrine for it called Tsuchinoko Shrine.

Jiji eventually made a joke that got Momo’s attention again, forcing Okarun to steer the conversation towards another cryptid. However, Jiji became genuinely interested in this, which led to Okarun and Jiji starting to form a genuine bond. Jiji called Okarun his friend, which the latter eventually accepted. Okarun even wished Jiji wasn’t so nice, as he began to appreciate him as a person and friend.

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Dandadan episode 12 saw the trio arrive in Jiji’s town, centered around hot springs. Several people from the shops smiled at them and watched as they walked by, but they did so in an unnerving manner. After a long walk up steep stairs, they finally arrived at Jiji’s house but didn’t notice anything off at first. As they entered the house, it was revealed that all the townspeople were now in the woods nearby, stalking the trio.

The trio inspected the inside of the house but still found nothing; it was to the point Momo began watching television out of boredom. As Momo theorized that the spirit was hiding from them, the shadows of those watching from the woods were shown to have gotten closer to the house. After saying they’d have to wait for the spirit to show up, she decided to go to the hot springs, leaving Jiji and Okarun behind.

Dandadan episode 12 then saw Jiji and Okarun play soccer, which the former was much better at than the latter. Jiji then asked Okarun point blank if he was in love with Momo, which shocked him as the focus shifted to Momo, wondering how they were doing. As it was revealed she was being watched, Jiji and Okarun discussed their feelings for Momo, which eventually turned into a competition between them about who loved her more.

Despite competing for Momo's heart, Jiji and Okarun grow to genuinely like each other in Dandadan episode 12 (Image via Science SARU)

In an attempt at victory, Okarun almost brought up the time they accidentally kissed but decided against it. The men watching Momo joined her in the hot springs while Okarun and Jiji continued fighting over Momo. As they did so, Jiji and Okarun realized the former’s house was much bigger on the outside than inside. The two explored the house as Momo was joined by the five men watching her.

Dandadan episode 12 saw Jiji decide to bust through a wall that seemed to have a room behind it. The men then began approaching Momo, clearly with sinister intentions. As Jiji and Okarun busted through the wall, they found several talismans on layers of walls, one after another. As this happened, Momo was grabbed by one of the men and pushed underwater, while Jiji and Okarun discovered a room filled wall-to-wall with talismans as the episode ended.

In summation

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While Dandadan episode 12’s primary focus was on setting up the sequel, the first half of the finale episode resolved season 1’s few lingering plot points satisfactorily. Likewise, the second season is set up to waste no time starting its next arc, which should be immediately action-packed based on the finale’s closing events.

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Edited by Joseph Brogan