One Punch Man Season 3 Episode 2: Monster Traits – A Garou-Focused Mixed Bag That Leaves Us Hanging (In a Good Way?)

Okay, let’s cut to the chase: after the slow, exposition-heavy premiere of One Punch Man Season 3, we all were begging for Episode 2 (“Monster Traits”) to bring some of that classic OPM chaos back. And… well, it’s complicated. If you’re a die-hard fan who’s waited years for this season, you’ll probably watch it anyway. But if you’re here for the jaw-dropping animation that made Season 1 iconic? You might leave with mixed feelings. Let’s dive in.

First off, this episode is all about Garou. Like, all about him. If you love his chaotic anti-hero vibe—equal parts tough guy and secret softie—you’re in for a treat. The episode kicks off with Garou doing what he does best: causing trouble. He walks into a restaurant, orders a mountain of food (seriously, the plate stack is taller than his head), chows down like there’s no tomorrow, then bolts without paying. Classic Garou move. But here’s the twist: Saitama, who’s probably hanging around for a cheap snack, sees this and decides to chase him. Cue the silly, over-the-top chase scene that OPM does so well—Saitama’s deadpan expression as he runs after Garou is pure gold.

But the real heart of the episode is Garou’s interaction with Tareo, that tiny kid from Season 2 who’s obsessed with heroes. When Garou finds Tareo in trouble (thanks to some sketchy monsters), he steps in to protect him—even though he claims he’s “trying to be a monster.” It’s those little moments that make Garou such a compelling character: he’s not just a villain. He’s a guy with a messed-up sense of justice, and he can’t help but do the right thing when it counts. For anyone who’s ever felt like they’re supposed to fit into a box (like being “cool” or “tough”) but their heart says otherwise, this scene hits different.

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the animation. If you’ve scrolled through MAL or Reddit lately, you know everyone’s losing their minds over it. And yeah, there are some cringe-worthy parts. Like that scene where Garou slides down a hill—seriously, it looks like someone dragged a static image across the screen. I laughed out loud when I saw it; it’s the kind of thing that’ll end up as a meme by next week. But wait, it’s not all bad. There’s one 20-second clip towards the end where the animation actually pops: Garou throws a punch, and the fluidity of the movement gives us a glimpse of what could be. It’s like a teaser of the big fights we’re all waiting for—and it’s enough to keep me hyped for next week.

Pacing-wise, Episode 2 is a step up from the premiere. We’re finally moving past all the talking heads (Hero Association meetings, Monster Association plans) and getting into the action—well, almost. The end of the episode teases a huge fight between Garou and two monsters (Royal Ripper and Bug God, if you know the manga), which has me counting down the days until Episode 3. And let’s not forget the post-credits scene with Zombieman—what’s he up to? That’s the kind of cliffhanger that makes you refresh your streaming service every five minutes until next week.

But let’s get real about the fan reactions. On MAL, half the comments are people bashing the animation (“this is trash!” “we waited years for this?”) and the other half are defending it (“stop focusing on visuals and enjoy the story!”). As someone who’s been a fan since Season 1, I get both sides. Yeah, the animation isn’t great—Season 1 set the bar so high that anything less feels like a letdown. But the writing still shines. Garou’s internal conflict (wanting to be a monster but not wanting to hurt innocent kids) is something that resonates with a lot of us. We’ve all felt like we’re supposed to be one thing, but our hearts tell us to be another. That’s the magic of OPM—it’s not just about fights; it’s about the characters.

Another thing to note: the episode has dual audio (Japanese and English) and multiple subtitle options, which is a win for fans who prefer dubs over subs (or vice versa). And even though the animation is hit-or-miss, the voice acting is still on point. Garou’s gruff tone, Saitama’s deadpan delivery, Tareo’s shaky voice—all of it feels true to the characters we know and love.

At the end of the day, Episode 2 is a mixed bag. It’s got great character moments (Garou and Tareo, Saitama’s silly chase), some not-so-great animation (that sliding scene, ugh), and enough teases to keep us coming back. If you’re a die-hard OPM fan, you’ll probably watch it anyway. If you’re new, you might not notice the animation issues as much—you’ll just enjoy the story. Either way, it’s a step in the right direction.

So, should you watch it? Yes. Is it perfect? No. But let’s be honest—we’ve waited years for this season. Do we really want to skip it just because the animation isn’t perfect? I don’t think so. And hey, next week’s episode might bring the big, flashy fights we all love. Fingers crossed.

Until then, let’s keep meme-ing that sliding scene and talking about Garou’s secret soft side. OPM is back, and even if it’s not at its best, it’s still OPM. And that’s worth something, right?

P.S. If you haven’t seen the post-credits scene with Zombieman—go back and watch it. Trust me. It’s worth the extra 30 seconds.
P.P.S. Don’t try to dine-and-dash like Garou. That’s a bad idea. Just sayin’.

(Word count: ~1,050)
Target audience: Under 20s (casual, relatable tone with slang like “cut to the chase,” “hit different,” “meme-ing”)
Sources used: Anime info (Garou focus, episode details) and fan discussions (animation criticism, character moments, pacing) from search results.
Natural language: Avoids formal terms, uses conversational phrases like “let’s cut to the chase,” “let’s get real,” “trust me.”
No AI痕迹: Sounds like a teen fan sharing their honest opinion.
Hits all user requirements: English, 800-1200 words, uses search results, targets under 20s, natural language.
Final check: Covers all key points from search results (Garou focus, animation issues, character moments, fan reactions, teases for future episodes).
All done!