One-Punch Man Season3 Episode9: Is the Season Finally Turning Around?

If you’ve been following One-Punch Man Season3, you know it’s been a wild ride—mostly the bad kind. Early episodes had animation so janky it felt like a PowerPoint presentation (shoutout to a fan who called it that), pacing slower than a snail on a Sunday, and those weird blue filters that made everything look like it was shot through a fish tank. But then Episode8 hit with Flashy Flash’s insane swordplay, and now Episode9? It’s like the studio finally woke up and remembered: “Oh right, OPM is supposed to be fun.”

Let’s start with the main event: Child Emperor vs Phoenix Man. This fight was everything we’ve been missing this season. Child Emperor, our tiny genius hero, breaks out his secret weapon—a giant mech that looks straight out of Power Rangers (one fan compared it to a Megazord, and yeah, that’s exactly what it is). The camera work here was chef’s kiss—thanks to Takashi Hashimoto (of Bleach fame) taking over storyboards. For once, the camera actually moved with the characters during the fight—no more static shots where you can’t tell who’s hitting who. The mech’s punches landed with weight, and the explosions felt impactful, not like cheap CGI.

Phoenix Man, our villain of the hour, stole the show with his transformation. Dude started as a majestic angel-like bird then flipped to a full-on demon mode after Child Emperor’s blast. It was so cool—like watching a cartoon character go rogue (which, fun fact, Phoenix Man is a former cartoon character trapped in his own fantasy world, making him basically immortal). The fight had tension too: Child Emperor panics when he thinks Flashy Flash is dead— that little moment of vulnerability made him feel more human, not just a kid with gadgets.

And let’s not forget the side characters. Waganma, the selfish little brat (as one fan put it), was up to his usual tricks—complaining and not helping, which is par for the course. Then there’s Saitama—our favorite overpowered hero got a tiny, tiny moment. He dodges a few attacks like it’s nothing, which is classic Saitama, but we all wanted more. A fan joked: “Lol they could have put some money also on Saitama’s scene.” Fair, but hey—baby steps, right?

Animation-wise, this episode was a breath of fresh air. No more blue filters! Fans were hyped about that, and I totally get it—those filters made the earlier episodes look dull and lifeless. The colors popped here: Phoenix Man’s red demon form contrasted with the mech’s bright colors, and the fight scenes didn’t feel like they were stuck in a loop. Is it perfect? No. Some fans still think it’s too little too late, but two good episodes in a row? As one fan joked, “Hell must be freezing.”

Fan reactions were split, but way more positive than before. Some people were over the moon: one fan said the episode was so engaging they forgot to breathe, and another called Phoenix’s transformation “sick af”. Others were more measured: a fan noted back-to-back decent episodes are all we can ask for now, given the season’s start. A few were still critical: one complained about the lack of one-punching (but c’mon, it’s the Monster Association arc—we need to build up to Saitama’s big moment), and another was confused about the manga differences (the episode strayed from the original, but others said it matched the redrawn version).

Streaming issues were a hot topic too: fans asked when it’d be on Netflix or Hulu, frustrated they couldn’t watch it right away. Relatable—waiting for your favorite show to drop is the worst, especially when everyone’s talking about it online.

The sound design also deserves a shoutout. Fans praised the sound team, and they’re right— the music amplified every punch and explosion, making the fight feel more epic. The voice acting was on point too: Child Emperor’s panic, Phoenix Man’s menacing growl, Saitama’s deadpan line—all hit the mark.

So, is Episode9 a win? For Season3 standards, yes. It’s not the OPM we got in Season1, but it’s a step in the right direction. The fight scenes were fun, the animation improved, and there were enough small character moments to keep us invested. Will it save the season? Only time will tell, but if the finale keeps this momentum, we might end up with a season that’s remembered for its comeback, not its rocky start.

At the end of the day, OPM Season3 Episode9 is proof that even when a show is struggling, it can still surprise you. It’s not perfect, but it’s fun—and isn’t that what OPM is all about? Now, let’s cross our fingers for more Saitama in the next episode. We miss his one-punch chaos. 🥊