The following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of Chainsaw Man, “Meowy’s Whereabouts,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Chainsaw Man, apart from Denji being a one-man army, is the quaint cast he’s surrounded himself with. He’s crushing on his boss, Makima, in the Public Safety Unit, as they plan to rid Japan of demonic devils, while his other superior, Hayakawa, thinks Denji is a liability and even a pervert.
Admittedly, Hayakawa is right because Denji just isn’t focused on the job, which is now even more difficult with him getting a hot-headed partner in Power. She’s a devil-hybrid as well, but given how she lunges into battle, there’s a high chance she could lead to other hunters killing them, or devils getting the upper hand in battle. Well, the equilibrium in Denji’s life has shifted slightly with Chainsaw Man claiming a key victim — right after its most sentimental arc.
Chainsaw Man’s Bat Devil Kills Power
In Episode 3, Power tricks Denji into hunting the Bat Devil that took her pet cat, Meowy. She knocks him out, though, wanting to offer Denji as a meal so she could get the kitten back. It’s part of a deal the Bat made with her, but as it starts to feed on Denji, it’s repulsed as it didn’t expect his hybrid blood to taste so awful. Enraged, it devours Meowy and then, with Power shocked over how she’s feeling this loss, it eats her too.
This infuriates Denji because while he’s upset that he was almost sacrificed in a sinister betrayal, he didn’t want to lose Power. As much as he sexually objectifies her, part of him is emotionally attached. It’s why Denji morphs into chainsaw-mode and engages the Bat; this leads to Denji eventually cutting the Bat open in a brutal battle in the city, attaining revenge for Power and Meowy.
Chainsaw Man’s Power Is Similar to Denji
What makes Power so sympathetic in Chainsaw Man is her tragic background. As a devil, she fed on livestock and such, deciding she’d save the kitten and fatten it up to eat someday. However, she grew attached as she was alone in this life. It’s quite similar to Pochita, the devil-dog who bonded with Denji, saving his life and making him this weapon of mass destruction. Simply put, their pets made them better people, bringing out their humanity more.
In Pochita’s case, from the pooch’s words, it wanted Denji to use the power it’s sharing to carve out a dream life, taking him away from the poverty he was entrenched in. But for Meowy, a cat that couldn’t talk, the wide-eyed stares, purrs and cute fluffiness won Power over. It made her less of a monster, which is why she’s willing to break Makima’s rules and stab her partner in the back. The kitten, like Pochita, is family, but little did she know they’d both pay the ultimate price. Ultimately, Denji sees himself in Power, feeling the hurt, which is why he goes into berserker mode to create his most gruesome kill yet.
