Ep 5. Kill the Dream

The show Akame ga Kill! follows a group of trained assassins known as Night Raid, led by the charismatic Najenda, as they fight against the corrupt government of the Empire. In season 1 episode 5, titled "Kill the Dream," the team's newest member, Tatsumi, learns that sometimes even the purest dreams can lead to tragedy.

The episode begins with Tatsumi training with one of his fellow Night Raid members, Akame. As they spar, Tatsumi expresses his excitement to be fighting for a just cause and bringing down the corrupt Empire. Akame warns him not to get too idealistic, as their job as assassins often requires them to take lives in order to bring about change.

Meanwhile, the Empire is still reeling from Night Raid's recent successful mission, causing some of the higher-ups to grow increasingly uneasy about their power. One such person is Dr. Stylish, a mad scientist working for the Empire who is obsessed with experimenting on humans. He devises a plan to capture Night Raid's members and use them as test subjects for his twisted experiments.

Back at Night Raid's hideout, Tatsumi meets Mine, a sharpshooter who is initially cold towards him. However, as they spend more time together, Mine opens up about her own past and her reasons for fighting against the Empire. Tatsumi is shocked to learn the extent of the corruption within the government and becomes even more determined to see it brought down.

As Night Raid prepares for their next mission, Tatsumi is assigned to take out an Imperial officer named Liver. However, when he arrives at the site where the officer is located, he is surprised to find that Liver is actually a young boy. Tatsumi hesitates, unsure if he can bring himself to kill a child. But when Liver reveals his true colors and attacks Tatsumi, the young assassin is forced to defend himself.

The fight is intense and emotional, with Tatsumi struggling to come to terms with the fact that he may have to kill a child in order to carry out his mission. As they battle, Liver reveals his own tragic backstory and the reasons behind his loyalty to the Empire. Tatsumi begins to see the human side of his opponent and starts to question whether his actions are truly justified.

In the end, Tatsumi must make a difficult choice: does he follow through with his mission and kill Liver, or does he spare the child and risk the consequences?

"Kill the Dream" is a poignant and powerful episode that delves into the complexities of morality and the sacrifices that must be made in the fight for justice. As Tatsumi grapples with the weight of his actions, viewers are forced to confront their own beliefs about what is right and wrong. With stunning animation and gripping action scenes, this episode is a standout in an already impressive series.