Tougen Anki [Season 1 Episode 21]

Tougen Anki Episode 21: When Drama Fizzles and Villains Burn Bright

Let’s cut to the chase: Tougen Anki Episode 21 is a messy mix of hype fight scenes and face-palm-worthy drama—exactly the kind of episode that makes you yell at your screen one minute and lean in the next. For fans who’ve stuck around this long (shoutout to the hatewatch crew), it’s another reminder why this show feels like a rollercoaster with a few loose bolts.

First, let’s talk about the good stuff: Shiki’s underdog energy. The guy’s basically running on fumes and Oni blood, yet he charges into a bullet storm like he’s got a death wish—and honestly? It’s kind of iconic. “I give Shiki credit for having the balls to fight in that state,” one fan summed it up perfectly. Studio Hibari’s animation shines here, turning every dodge and counter into a heart-pounding moment. You can almost feel the adrenaline as he weaves through gunfire, proving that even when the writing stumbles, the action never does.

Then there’s Shinya’s exit. Oh, Shinya—you slimy, manipulative jerk. His death? Chef’s kiss for anyone who’s been waiting to see him get what’s coming. “You know, it’s kinda refreshing to see a villain dying kicking and screaming like that,” a viewer noted, and they’re right. Lately, we’ve gotten used to villains going out with a poetic monologue (looking at you, Demon Slayer), but Shinya? He goes down kicking, screaming, and fully unrepentant. No sad backstory (okay, there was one, but who cared?) could save him from Jin’s well-deserved bullet. “Good riddance,” another fan cheered—and honestly, same.

But let’s get to the elephant in the room: Shiki and Mikado’s drama. If you’ve been watching, you know these two were supposed to be BFFs—until Mikado found out Shiki’s got Oni blood. Now they’re on a roof, yelling at each other like they’re in a bad rom-com breakup. The problem? Their friendship feels about as deep as a puddle. “Them (and the show) trying to portray this as some massive ‘My BFF childhood friend betrayed me’-type of betrayal just adds to the disconnect,” one fan ranted. And they’re not wrong—these two met like, twice. It’s hard to buy Mikado’s “I’ll never trust you again!” schtick when their entire bond boils down to a single hangout session.

Worse, the conflict feels forced. “God, I am so over media where a massive problem could be solved with a single simple conversation but the other side ‘refuses to listen’ just to create tension,” another viewer groaned. Mikado’s refusal to hear Shiki out makes zero sense—especially since Shiki’s been defending him this whole time. It’s like the writers took a page from the “How to Manufacture Drama” handbook and cranked it to 11. Even the most die-hard fans are tired of it: “They keep prolonging this cringe drama and falling off between Shiki and Mikado to the point that it drags the show down,” someone complained.

And let’s not forget the characters. Twenty-one episodes in, and do we care about anyone besides Shiki? Barely. “22 episodes in we still don’t really like or care about any of the characters,” a fan admitted. Shiki’s goofy charm carries some scenes, but everyone else feels like a cardboard cutout—especially Mikado, who’s basically a walking “angry friend” trope. The villains aren’t much better: Shinya’s backstory was supposed to make us sympathize, but it just made us roll our eyes. “Did anyone feel bad for Shinya? Just like Tsubakiri, I felt nothing, good riddance lol,” summed up the general vibe.

But here’s the thing: even with all its flaws, Tougen Anki Episode 21 has moments that make you keep watching. The fight scenes are flashy, Shinya’s death is satisfying, and there’s a weirdly addictive quality to the chaos. It’s the kind of show you hate-watch because you’re already invested—sunk cost fallacy at its finest. “We’re 22 episodes in, so of course we’re gonna finish the damn thing,” one fan laughed.

At the end of the day, Episode 21 is a microcosm of Tougen Anki itself: it’s got potential, but it’s held back by lazy writing and underdeveloped characters. If you’re here for the action, you’ll leave happy. If you’re here for deep storytelling? You might want to look elsewhere. But hey—at least Shinya’s finally gone. Small wins, right?

Now, let’s just hope the next episode stops dragging the drama and gives us more of Shiki being a chaotic legend. Fingers crossed. 🤞