In a highly controversial turn, Megumi Tadokoro—after a brief, off-screen victory against the Noir chef Huang Zuiwang—is pitted against Asahi Saiba. Predictably, she is defeated rapidly, which many fans felt did her character growth a massive disservice.
The episode sets the stage for the final selection rounds, including a clash between Erina and Takumi Aldini. Critical Analysis
The episode reveals that Erina has been forced to face a relentless gauntlet of "revenge matches" against Noir chefs. This is later revealed to be a scheme by her mother, Mana Nakiri , the WGO Bookmaster, who is searching for a "new taste" to cure the curse of the God Tongue. Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara Episode 9
The reception of this episode reflects the broader "train wreck" sentiment often associated with the final season.
Mana’s backstory highlights the God Tongue as a curse rather than a blessing, leading to her physical collapse and abandonment of her family. In a highly controversial turn, Megumi Tadokoro—after a
“I was on board with this season being a send up of itself, but then this episode came in and did best girl Megumi so dirty... she gets done in by the show's worst character in a "battle" lasting all of 30 seconds.” Reddit · r/anime · 5 years ago
A major complaint was the "trash" treatment of Megumi. After seasons of development, her pivotal 1v1 match was almost entirely skipped, and her defeat by Asahi felt like a forced plot device to hype a villain many found "creepy" and unearned. Critical Analysis The episode reveals that Erina has
Critics from The Cinemaholic and community forums noted that the episode felt like a "speedrun" or a summary of several episodes. The reliance on panning and zooming instead of fluid cooking animation became increasingly noticeable.