Ep 8. Family

Brandon and Harry are laying low, away from all the gangs, and building up their power base from scratch. They're recruiting new members, acquiring resources, and trying to keep their heads down in the process. Meanwhile, Maria is growing increasingly restless and dissatisfied with their current lifestyle, and her questions about their direction and goals are starting to cause tension between her and Brandon.

Complicating matters further is the arrival of Big Daddy, the ruthless leader of the Sweeper gang. He's taken a liking to Maria and wants her to join his ranks, but Brandon and Harry aren't willing to let her go without a fight. The resulting conflict forces them to confront the question of what it means to be a family in their line of work, and whether loyalty and affection can or should overcome ambition and self-preservation.

The episode is a showcase of the show's strong writing and character development, as well as its exploration of themes like family, loyalty, and power. Brandon, Harry, and Maria are all given time to shine, and their relationships with each other are shown to be complex and layered, with plenty of history and emotional baggage behind them.

The action scenes are also well-done, with some tense and exciting moments as the characters face off against Big Daddy and his gang. The show's use of different styles of animation, including CGI and hand-drawn, adds to the intensity and variety of the action.

Overall, "Family" is a standout episode that further cements Gungrave as a must-watch for fans of anime, action, and drama. It's a thoughtful and engaging exploration of the human side of organized crime, and a tribute to the power of chosen families in the face of adversity.