Zombie Sagashitemasu Ep.03 - What? Natsuki? Natsuki! That cliffhanger there is...

Episode 3 of #Zombie Sagashitemasu completely took me by surprise with a full-blown cliffhanger that will have serious repercussions on the dynamics within the group. After the Mikazuki incident, I was sure that more deaths would occur, but I assumed the main team was going to be mostly safe.

Turns out I was wrong: in order to save Yuu from a zombie attack, Natsuki jumps in and gets bitten instead. Aki quickly severs her entire arm, but the situation is far from resolved as the episode cuts to black right on this scene. I assume amputating the arm will be enough to keep the infection from spreading, but how is Natsuki going to contribute to the group now?

I will miss watching Natsuki using her bow, she was the best of the main cast in my eyes.

Not complaining about Aki, but she's sort of too weird to be attractive. Wonder why she can smell the zombies...

She was their driver and their archer, neither of which she can do without her arm. She'll be a liability to the group going forward, so what is the endgame here? Will she transition into a pure support role, or simply return to the village altogether? It would be sad not to have her around, as I really liked her role as the straight man playing off Aki and the others.

The series continues to subvert my expectations; it can go on for minutes with lighthearted comedic banter, only to abruptly switch gears and showcase the grim dangers of this post-apocalyptic world. None of the main cast members ever fully experienced what the world was like before the outbreak, which is probably why they seem so aloof in the face of danger.

Their core motivation for leaving the village seems surprisingly casual: on paper, they wanted to help Aki find her father, but what they really wanted was probably an escape from the monotony of living in an isolated village hiding from zombies. To their eyes, the outside world must look full of possibilities.

The group's destination is Tokyo Tower to find Aki's father, who went missing long ago. I'm still unsure how they expect to wander over there and magically find him, but I suppose that stems from their naive understanding of the outside world. Remember, Tokyo Tower sat at the heart of a massive metropolis, so who knows how many zombies are lurking there...

She never even considered the possibility of her father still being alive, but alas I don't think that's likely...

Picked this from the OP as it'll be the last time we see Natsuki full armed. Sad day for the world!

The next episode will be all about the aftermath of Natsuki's injury. Yuu will almost certainly feel immense guilt for putting her in danger, so drama will definitely take center stage. The question remains whether Natsuki stays with the group or bows out here. I'm leaning toward her staying, but it wouldn't be the first time this series has surprised me...