**Season 2, Episode 12:** ***"Think Outside the Box Time"***



I just wanna preface this entry by giving a shoutout to the user [Phanimations](https://www.youtube.com/@Phanimations) for making [an amazing video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64ZjFXrFBqE) covering the most important plot point of this episode. He explains the given concepts and their related themes a lot better than I do, so definitely give it a watch if you're interested!



The infamous domain math problem was the final obstacle that Gakushu and Karma had to deal with to determine who would take 1st place in the entire school this time around, as well as settle the beef between their educators. And true to their individual perspectives, their methods for solving the conundrum were different. In Gakushu's case, he calculated his domain with the brute-force approach that he's been so used to, metaphorically and tactically going in guns blazing to claim every corner of his cube to establish his domain. He may have asked the E-Class to respectfully defeat him and his classmates, but that doesn't mean he still won't do his damndest, even if it means doing things the way his father taught him. But in Karma's case, his epiphany made him realize that outside of his own cube, there's an infinite number of cubes just like his, with a singular atom at its center, and quarters of similar atoms only being visible at every eight corners. And it was thanks to being with his second family at E-Class that he was able to have this newfound perspective. When you're a genius like Karma, it's very easy to acknowledge the lack of talent in others, and conversely, in yourself. But getting to witness the wide spectrum of unique talents that each of his classmates has shown really gave him a new outlook on the concept. As represented by the infinite lattice where he and his rival are having their final academic showdown, there's a bigger picture of individuals where their talents can have a profound effect on the adjacent. Realizing that he and his classmates are all in that same boat allowed him to reach the simple answer in due time. To put it simply: one genius viewed the corners as enemies, while the other viewed them as friends. Matsui absolutely cooked with this scene, showing a formidable math problem as the climax of the exams, and relating its solution to the show's themes of different educational approaches and how one of those approaches arrived at the elementary solution just by acknowledging that there's a whole world out there. This was definitely one of the highest points for Karma's character, considering how much he's grown and recovered from his first-term finals flop. He really won by metaphorically and literally thinking outside of the box, and that just further cements himself as this series's best character\~



With Karma stealing 1st place from Gakushu, Korosensei basically won Kunugigaoka's educational war. And as you can imagine, his opponent wasn't really taking the loss well. Seeing the A-Class get thoroughly and truly humbled by their downfall to the point that they *want* to be demoted down to E-Class to learn their methods must've absolutely ravaged Gakuho's pride. In that moment of weakness, the bastard even laid a hand on his own son in front of all his friends, but the smugness in his smile despite his injury says it all: that his father's educational approach has been defaced, and that's enough to satisfy him. And because the principal is only petty as hell, he brings out the big guns in the form of demolishing the Class 3-E building and hitting his rival with the ol' pink slip... until he reveals that *he* will be trying to kill him this time around. Now, Korosensei has to deal with a rigged competitive examination, with brain-racking questions and a lotta explosives. It's honestly terrifying the lengths this man will go to firmly establish his teaching philosophy as the industry standard. His plans of just straight up eliminating the source of his problems and further expanding his outreach with the prize money on his said problem's head practically spell out his intentions. But behind all that Machiavellianism BS... is just a broken man who doesn't want to repeat his biggest failure. But for the time being, this war has now gone into overtime...



Only 2 weeks left 'til the new movie drops! And the end of this really fun rewatch is also soon drawing to a close! So as always, I'll catch y'all tomorrow for the conclusion of Korosensei and Gakuho's rather bitter rivalry!



*14 days left.*

Rewatching Assassination Classroom before the new movie drops (Day 34)