FIRST REACT to Chainsaw Man as a Literature PhD | 1x4

Añadido: 2026-06-06

[00:00:00]Hi, my darlings. I'm Sophie darling and welcome back to the channel. If you're new here, hello. My name is Sophie and I have a doctorate in literature, which means I get way too emotionally invested in the shows that I'm watching. So, if you're looking for a reactor that likes to discuss symbolism, themes, and character development, then you're definitely in the right place. So, why don't you hit that subscribe button so you never miss a video. Today, we're reacting to episode 4 of Chainsaw Man.

[00:00:27]And if power is not rescued, I'm going to be really sad. And if anything bad happens to Meowi, I'm going to also just completely stop watching cuz I can't I can't watch this. If Meowi isn't saved, they have to save the cat. Denji has to succeed. But Denji is making a name for himself. We learned in the last episode that names have attachments. So the more feared the name, the more feared the devil. So it's kind of insinuated that the hope is that Denji as Chainsaw Man will become more renowned and more and more devils are going to be scared of him, which probably will have the impact of reducing their activity because they kind of don't want to run in to Denji.

[00:01:21]And they may target humans less because Denji is kind of protecting humans. So they might go, "Oh well, if I attack a human, Chainsaw Devil might show up and then it's game over for me." But we've already lost, well, we haven't lost Potcha. Potcha is in Denji's heart. It is the core part of him, but we don't see Potcha as like a physical thing anymore, which is really sad. So, I kind of don't want to go through the same sense of loss by seeing Powet not get Meowi back because Mowi means everything to her. She's never not had someone love her unconditionally. Everyone runs away from her. They're scared of her. So, to have this like little creature that just loves her for who she is, isn't scared of her, doesn't run from her, must mean everything. And I can completely understand why she loves Meowi and prefers cats over humans because I mean, same. But without further ado, we're going to jump in and hopefully Denji is successful and Meowi is fine because again, if Meowi is not okay, I'm not watching anymore of Chainsaw Man. I'm done.

[00:02:40]Jesus Christ.

[00:02:43]She is a devil, but like still she's an absolute menace to society.

[00:02:57]But it just goes to show how much Meowi means to her. I know she doesn't eat Meowi because Meowi is scrawny and she's fattening him up so that he's something she can eat. But she does genuinely grow to love and bond with him.

[00:03:18]Even when he is fat, she doesn't eat him or harm him.

[00:03:27]>> It's not only a cat.

[00:03:32]cuz it's everything.

[00:03:34]I'm going to cry.

[00:03:37]>> Yes. Oh, power.

[00:03:44]It's not foolish.

[00:04:06]Oh, Meowi.

[00:04:11]Okay, he's fine.

[00:04:14]Denji.

[00:04:16]Oh, they're both okay.

[00:04:19]Oh, I'm so glad.

[00:04:24]>> Oh, I'm so emotional over this.

[00:04:29]boobs.

[00:04:35]Like, I don't understand the fascination, but okay, whatever. Floats your boat, Denji. Oh, I'm so emotional.

[00:04:44]I'm so glad that power gets me back.

[00:04:50]Oh, >> you may fondle my chest. It's very formal. He looks like he doesn't even know what to do.

[00:05:17]What the [ __ ] is that?

[00:05:25]What the actual [ __ ] I did think initially it was going for Meowi and I was like, I swear to God if we went through that emotional roller coaster only for Meowi to be eaten by another devil, I'm going to [ __ ] lose it.

[00:05:39]Because just seeing how much Power Resists that urge, that love for blood, because she begins to find a new recognition that the blood is warm, but it's also comforting when it's inside something that reciprocates love to you.

[00:05:56]It's not just about sustaining herself anymore. It's not about sating that hunger. It's about that love and connection she feels to this living furball. And as a cat owner, I completely get it because I would die for my cat. I would I would sacrifice numerous people for my cat. That's how much I love my cat. So, I'm completely with power. And that's why I was getting so emotional because I was like able to put myself in her shoes that if that was me and my cat, I would completely understand that like sense of desperation and fear and anxiety that you'd never see them again, never be reunited with them. And just the fact that she's almost confused by these emotions. She's telling herself, "It's just a cat. One life isn't better than another life. So why am I so like worked up over it? Because it's not just a cat.

[00:06:54]It's everything to her. It's connection.

[00:06:56]It's filling this hole that she likely didn't know that she had. People won't go near her because she's a devil. They run from her. She hides in the wilderness. She's on her own. The only thing she has is her love for blood. And that's why she's obviously killing all these animals. She's a menace. But to have something love you unconditionally in turn is such a powerful thing and it's so potent that even she doesn't quite understand it because it's a very human emotion and she's a devil. Well, she's not a devil, she's a fiend, but it's kind of the same thing really. So, you know, she's like, "I don't understand why I'm feeling the way that I'm feeling." But I think we as humans, we do understand that feeling because when you have a pet, unless you're a psychopath, you would do absolutely anything to ensure that that animal was safe, sound, and unharmed. So yeah, I just love how there is such emotional depth to Power, but also just within the first sort of two minutes of the show, I'm already like getting myself worked up and crying over the idea that she doesn't get to see her cat again, that something might harm her cat because I can just connect to it on a human level.

[00:08:25]>> Well, you're not coping a feel now.

[00:08:29]Why is it got tits?

[00:08:40]Does he have the energy?

[00:08:52]Oh, she's like, "You killed my boyfriend.

[00:09:06]Uh, then it's not going to happen.

[00:09:18]>> It's like an earthworm mixed with a cow.

[00:09:20]It's got udders. I don't like it.

[00:09:29]She's like, "I just found my man again and then you killed him."

[00:09:35]So, time to die.

[00:09:43]>> I think it's deeper than that, though. I think he doesn't want to admit to himself he genuinely does care about people and humanity.

[00:09:54]I don't think he just does it for degenerate reasons. I think that's part of it, but there's obviously a deeper reason.

[00:10:24]As if your dream wasn't [ __ ] you know, it's a noble dream. It's not a noble.

[00:10:34]>> Oh, [ __ ] hell, Danji.

[00:10:46]Well, you can join your man.

[00:10:56]He's like, "Let me just have my dreams.

[00:11:18]This is like a fever dream.

[00:11:26]>> I do love Genji, but it's kind of true. Like his dream is just to live a simple life, a normal life like any teenage boy. So, I get why he's pissed when people kind of put it down as not being noble, but he's like, "Look, I didn't have a childhood or like a proper dream before now, so like give me this chance."

[00:11:50]My god, they're both [ __ ] insane.

[00:12:03]What the [ __ ] is happening?

[00:12:07]Oh, >> but if he dies, then power meowi will die.

[00:12:23]Okay.

[00:12:29]What?

[00:12:41]What? That was cool as [ __ ] but also like, huh? They showed up. Teamwork makes the dream work.

[00:13:03]He's like, "I just want to puddle chick for [ __ ] sake."

[00:13:12]And let her keep me.

[00:13:31]Yeah, I'm curious about that, too.

[00:13:45]What? So every time he wants to use the fox devil's ability, he has to sacrifice a part of his body in the process.

[00:13:58]>> He's not going to say anything, Dora, because it means she'd die in the process because she just wants to live her dream.

[00:14:31]He did say that.

[00:14:36]Don't say anything.

[00:14:41]It's like give me an apple for [ __ ] sake.

[00:14:47]>> See, you care too, Aki, because you wouldn't come up with this idea of keeping it a secret.

[00:15:06]See, like if you didn't care about them though or think that they were beyond the ability to empathize with humans, you wouldn't be offering this deal.

[00:15:21]He doesn't want them to be disposed of.

[00:15:33]Every dream is valuable, even if it means fondling tits.

[00:15:39]You know, that's the thing. His dream might be simple, but it doesn't mean it's not any less important.

[00:15:52]Let her go.

[00:15:55]Cutie themed.

[00:15:57]Does she have a crush?

[00:16:04]>> I feel like he says this, but his attitude is probably going to change because why would you I know he's saying, but like we need to put them to work because they're useful. But I think there's more to it than just that. I think he does realize that they're not these monsters that he's made them out to be in his head. Hence why he was having these thoughts about all the people wanting to thank Denji for saving them. He realizes there's more to it.

[00:17:09]I did say were they not going to get in trouble for going against regulations last episode. So Why do I feel like he's going to be penalized?

[00:17:26]>> See, I said there's more to it than just they're useful [ __ ] >> You have I think he finds himself liking them. They might be stupid and a brat, but I think he finds them endearing. He sees the human side of them, which is why he's kind of like, this conflicts with my perspective of devils and fiends.

[00:17:53]He looks really good with his hair down.

[00:18:08]It's all peaceful and tranquil, and I feel like it's not going to be like that for much longer.

[00:18:17]I'm waiting for the calm to be disrupted by Dunie showing up or something.

[00:18:28]The ideal morning bar the cigarettes.

[00:18:32]Ideal.

[00:18:36]Oh, Denji's already back. I thought Denji was still recovering.

[00:18:48]Oh, I like his hair down.

[00:19:04]He's like a little house husband.

[00:19:09]>> This is power.

[00:19:16]She's moving in.

[00:19:23]>> I knew the piece was going to be disrupted somehow.

[00:19:36]Oh my god.

[00:19:40]Oh, he loves her. He's bizotted. At least she gets a bit more freedom. She gets to live a bit more of a normal life.

[00:19:51]It's power.

[00:20:00]She's like a like disgusting.

[00:20:13]You need to babe.

[00:20:24]>> Even Denji's pissed off. He's like, "Respect the house that we live in."

[00:20:34]You did the same, though.

[00:20:38]Not to the same level, but you were still a disruption on poor Aku.

[00:20:46]>> [ __ ] Devil. Oh, fond all time. He forgot a what if he's not able to actually do it because he didn't realize she'd actually let him like the reality overwhelms him.

[00:21:16]>> I feel like he's going to pass out.

[00:21:24]No more, no less.

[00:21:44]He's like, I don't actually know what to do now.

[00:21:49]>> Poor Denji.

[00:21:52]>> Oh, this is a very power focused outro.

[00:21:57]>> I love Power. She's adorable.

[00:22:01]Heyo.

[00:22:04]nurse power kind of fits with the vibe though of Denji being like she's an angel.

[00:22:14]>> It's almost like this is Denji's eyes staring at power imagining her.

[00:22:32]This is such a cute outro.

[00:22:47]>> Just gets more and more unhinged.

[00:22:51]Yay. I really like that outro. I think that's my favorite outro so far. I did really like outro number one and I know I haven't posted it because there's actually no animation. It is just the song, but the song's really cool and it's on my Spotify playlist. So, I did really like the song, but in terms of animation, I think this is my favorite one. There is 100% a depth to Chainsaw Man. It very much gives this impression that Denji only does this in so far as he can cop a feel, but Denji is far deeper than just that. He is a typical teenage boy and you have to remind yourself of that. Teenage boys are horny degenerates at times which is just natural because of their hormones. But yeah, Denji I kind of can't criticize. I find it funny and amusing because it is just very sort of reflective of a boy of that age. But there is definitely more to it than just him wanting to cop a feel. I think there is at the root heart of it a care and empathy for humanity and wanting to help others. I don't think he does it solely because it's seen as being the right thing to do. I think he does it because he genuinely does care about the people around him which emphasizes that he is a strong character. To care about humanity when you have seen the worst of it shows that Denji is a lot more forgiving than most would be. He doesn't harbor a hatred or a rage towards society in general. He genuinely wants to live a simple dream, a simple life, and will do anything to achieve it. But at the same time, he is willing to help those in need even when he doesn't have to. He doesn't have to help power, but he chooses to. And I know it's seen as, oh, he wants to do it because he wants the copper field and it's part of his dream. Yes, to an extent. But I think that ability to be able to recognize P's emotions, to be able to understand what she's going through because he felt similar to when he lost Potched shows that he does actually care about people in general. I don't think it is simply to do with this dream. That's a part of his motivations obviously, but I think the other part of it is that we can't overlook that he genuinely does want to help those around him and does see the good in humanity. I think if we just simplify it to Denji wanting to achieve his dream at any cost, we lose the human aspect that still exists within Denji because Denji isn't just a devil. Denji is also a human. So we need to look at it as Dungeie is the perfect combination of human and devil because he still has those human attachments, those emotions that want to be a part of this society as well as this aspiration to achieve his dream of living a simple normal life and not wanting to let Potcha down because Pocha gave him this second chance. Potcha said, "I'll give you my heart if you show me your dream." So, I think they work together rather than seeing it as, oh, well, he's only doing this to fund his dream. He doesn't actually care about people. I think if we remove his genuine care and chalk it solely up to him wanting to achieve this dream, we lose the human aspect of Denji, which is such an important part of who he is as a person. So, I think they work together.

[00:26:34]They're a joint process. This care for humanity, this ability to empathize with people and want to help them, but also this desire to achieve his dream.

[00:26:47]They're not removed. They're not contradictory to one another. They work together. So I don't think we can solely see Denji acting as a degenerate to achieve his dream and doesn't care about people because again that would just ignore the displays of genuine empathy that he does show. And the fact that people are wanting to thank Denji goes again to show that he went out of his way to help those in need. He didn't have to. That's the thing. I know there could be the argument that he's only doing it because it's right and if he wants to achieve his dream then he has to protect people. But quite frankly, he doesn't actually have to help people in order to achieve his dream. He just needs to destroy the devils. He doesn't actually need to protect the humans in the process of doing that. So the fact that he goes out of his way to protect them from the devils that are trying to massacre them shows that he does have a fundamental care for humanity and the people around him. I think again this part of Denji, this ability to connect and empathize is a core part of who he is and works in coalition with his want to achieve his dream at any cost. I don't think they work against each other. I don't think they contradict one another. I think they're very much integral to who Denji is as a person. Again, this degenerate side of him is just teenage boy. But I do wonder at times if this is maybe a trauma response because he's very hypersexualized for someone so young.

[00:28:32]And I know it is as well that he's a teenage boy and there's hormones, but I can't stop thinking about episode one when we learned about Denji's background and him having to take on the debt that his father had racked up. The man that was essentially charging him said that he should go and [ __ ] himself out. And that makes me fear that he has done something like that because we've already seen that he sold one of his testicles. He sold a kidney. He sold an eye. He wasn't beyond doing whatever it took to get money to pay off this debt so that he could eventually start living for himself. And because he's so obsessed with the idea of sex and having a girlfriend and also wanting love and connection and warmth, it makes me wonder if he's had experiences in the past that were traumatic that he's wanting to reconfigure those instances into something more positive that he has control over because past experiences weren't that way. which is why he's so fixated on this idea of love and companionship and having a girlfriend and also the sexual nature that comes with that. But it's reconfigured almost as in it'll be loving and warm and comforting and it'll make all his dreams come true and everything will be right with the world. And that screams to me that he's not had a good experience in the past. And potentially that's why he's so fixated on maybe trying to correct the trauma or trying to replace the trauma with more positive affiliations. There's just something very obsessive that kind of makes it feel like it's not quite natural at times. There are times where you're like, "Okay, yeah, typical teenage boy."

[00:30:33]And then there are other times where it's like this feels not quite normal in the sense that it's like he's compensating for something or it's behavior that is learned behavior because he's been subjected to maybe advances from older people when he was younger. We don't quite know if he ever did [ __ ] himself out, but considering the fact that he did sell aspects of his body, it wouldn't surprise me if it then went on a sexual level, too. If he's willing to actually give parts of himself away, then I wouldn't be shocked if he actually sold himself intimately, which is just horrific to think that he went through that. and also offers a whole new dynamic as to why he wants to create a loving connection with someone.

[00:31:28]Because if he has done that, it will have scarred him in a way to associate sex almost negatively in that the person is going to mistreat him or the person is going to be cold and distant and unkind and he doesn't want to experience that. He wants to experience sex in a more positive way. I don't know. I hope we do kind of learn a bit more where this overtly sexual nature comes from. I think some of it is hormones. Some of it is him just being a teenage boy. I think another part of it could be hypersexualization because hypersexualization and trauma is a way of trying to regain control. It's a way of trying to rewrite what happened to you by engaging in sexual behavior because your previous connections with sex were not positive. They were abusive. So, it's a way of trying to correct the narrative, but at the same time, it can be more damaging, especially if it doesn't live up to the expectation. But I'm glad that Power is getting a bit more freedom. She's not living at the offices anymore. She's not under that curfew. She is under Aki's curfew essentially because Aki is now the lead for the two of them, but she is getting to live more of a normal life.

[00:33:02]She is kind of like an overgrown toddler, though, growing vegetables, not wanting to bathe, not knowing how to use the toilet properly. But then again, she's a fiend. She isn't really human, so she doesn't get it in the same way.

[00:33:17]But Mowi is safe. Mowi is okay. Mowi is back with her living in the flat. And you know what? Thank god Aki is such a nice person that Aki took on Meowi as well. Was like, "Yep, cool. I guess Power is going to live here, but also we're going to have a cat." And it was so funny seeing Denji being really sort of annoyed by Power's behavior when he was very similar in not being overtly respectful of Aki's apartment when he first moved in, but now he's like, "How dare you? You're not treating this place with the respect that you need to be treating it with."

[00:33:57]It's hilarious because he's got so used to this life now that he's not willing to do anything to risk it, which means he's playing along with Aki's expectations for keeping the house in order. But it was so peaceful and calm that I was like something is going to ruin it. Initially, I thought it was going to be Denji cuz I thought Denji was still in the hospital. But no, it was power. But this little unit is going to be very fun to watch, especially because we are seeing this change in Aki. It's even noted, you're more flexible than usual. And yeah, I get the point that he's making is why would we exterminate those that could be of use?

[00:34:42]And yeah, what they did was stupid, but there is a level of rationality to them both that there is a way of coming back from it, especially if Denji isn't going to actually admit what happened because he's protecting power. And I think Aki sees this side to them, this care for something other than themselves, that it kind of contradicts Aki's view that all devils are monsters and solely focus on consuming humans and destroying humanity. Especially now that we know he has a connection with this fox devil, but it is purely so that he can borrow its power. But in borrowing its power, he has to feed it parts of his body.

[00:35:25]Hence the bandages on his arm, which is wild. But we are seeing a change in Aki too. That Aki is beginning to kind of understand that there is more to it than he realizes, which is why he was having flashbacks to those that have been involved with the Bat Devil's attack and how they wanted to thank Denji and show their appreciation. they're not scared of him because of his willingness to help them to keep them safe. And I think Aki is sort of realizing maybe I'm being a bit too harsh. And Denji is completely right in that just because his dream isn't seen as being noble in the eyes of those that want to save the world and destroy all devils so that everyone can be living in harmony and peace. And you know, just because it's not to that extreme doesn't mean that his dream is any less noble or not worth pursuing. Considering everything that Denji has gone through, Denji is fully within his right to simply want to live a normal life and have that be his dream. And Potcha saw this dream as noble enough to want to give his heart to Denji. So, I think Denji finally kind of calling Aki out on it. Just because our dreams aren't the same doesn't mean mine is worth less than yours is a sign of progress. That he's finally owning to the fact that his dream is important to him and that's all that matters and [ __ ] what anyone else thinks. He's not going to be made to feel like his dream is of less value because it doesn't meet someone else's expectations. It is funny though that they were having this dream battle and it was like if you lose you lost to the dream of copying a field. That was so funny. Also, the devil designs are unhinged and insane and it feels like I'm watching a fever dream. But again, I just love Chainsaw Man. The depth, the emotional connectivity that I have to these characters, especially Power and Meowi. I want nothing but the best for all of them. And yeah, I'm very excited to see how Aki copes with these two overgrown toddlers in his apartment and having to essentially become their de facto parent. Poor Aki. He's never going to know peace. This is it. His peaceful life is completely over because these two are just going to turn it upside down. Thank you so much for watching. If you enjoyed this react, please consider liking, subscribing, and leaving a comment below to help boost this video into the algorithm. And until next episode, bye.