One-Punch Man Season 3 Episode 2: Monster Traits – A Mixed Bag of Heart and Headaches

Six years of waiting, and One-Punch Man Season 3 Episode 2 “Monster Traits” is finally here—and wow, the fanbase is blowing up. Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re here for the mind-blowing animation of Season 1, you might be left scrolling through MAL or TikTok complaining. But if you care about Garou’s messy, conflicted character? There’s some gold hidden in the still frames.

First off, this episode is Garou’s time to shine (or, more accurately, to mess up and then show his soft side). He pulls a classic dine-and-dash at a restaurant (relatable, but c’mon, Garou—pay your bills!), gets chased by Saitama (who’s just there because… why not?), and runs into Tareo, the kid he’s been low-key protecting since Season 2. The scene where Garou tells Tareo to get stronger to stand up for himself? It’s a tiny moment, but it hits—because even though Garou wants to be the “Monster King,” he can’t help but look out for the little guy. Oh, and that thug who tries to block Garou from entering the restaurant? In the manga, he runs away, but in the anime, he freezes in fear—small change, but it makes Garou’s presence feel way more intimidating.

Then there’s Saitama, being Saitama. He makes Fubuki pay for his fries (rude, but hilarious) and then chases Garou like it’s a game of tag. His deadpan delivery and zero-fucks-given attitude are still the best parts of the show—even if the animation doesn’t always do his jokes justice.

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the animation. Fans are roasting it left and right. That sliding scene where Garou skids down the hill? It looks like someone dragged a PNG across the screen. And don’t get me started on the still frames—sometimes it feels like you’re watching a slideshow instead of an anime. Pacing is another issue: some scenes drag on forever (like the restaurant conversation), while others feel rushed (the end cuts off right before the fight we’ve been waiting for!). But hey, not everyone’s hating—some fans are pointing out that there are a few good animation bits (like that one decent fight snippet at the end) and that we should focus on the story instead of the visuals.

The 6-year wait is a big part of the disappointment. Fans are saying things like, “We didn’t wait this long for still frames!” and comparing it to Season 2 (which was already divisive). But there’s a silver lining: Garou’s character arc is still compelling. He wants to be a monster, but he refuses to do the things that make monsters truly evil—like hurting kids. That conflict is what makes him one of the best characters in the series, and Episode 2 does a great job of showing that.

So, should you watch it? If you’re a die-hard OPM fan, yes—you’ll get your fix of Garou and Saitama, and the setup for next episode’s fight (those two monsters are gonna attack Garou!) is super exciting. But if you’re only here for the animation, you might want to skip this one (or watch it with low expectations).

At the end of the day, “Monster Traits” is a mixed bag. It has its funny moments (Saitama’s fries incident), its heartfelt moments (Garou and Tareo), and its cringey moments (that sliding scene). But it’s still One-Punch Man—and for many of us, that’s enough to keep watching. Here’s hoping next episode brings the action (and the animation) we’ve been waiting for!

Rating: 3/5 (for the story, not the slideshow)
Next episode prediction: Garou vs. the two monsters—let’s pray for better animation! 🤞🏻🔥