Ep 5. The Stranger

Shinichi wakes up from a nightmare about his encounter with the Parasyte Ryouko Tamiya. Meanwhile, a new Parasyte attacks a young man, taking over his body and killing his girlfriend. The Parasyte, who is named Hideo, used to be a timid and polite person before the takeover. He then starts to kill people using his new abilities.

Shinichi and Migi become aware of Hideo’s presence, and they try to track him down before he causes more harm. During their pursuit, they run into Goto, another Parasyte who is different from the others Shinichi has encountered so far. Goto appears to have multiple Parasytes fused together and is capable of speech unlike the rest of his kind.

The episode follows the hunt for Hideo and the encounter with Goto. It explores how Parasytes continue to adapt and develop new skills while also questioning the concept of humanity. Hideo's backstory shows how a Parasyte could have once been a human with emotions and introspection, raising the question of how much influence the host's original personality has on the Parasyte's behavior.

The episode also introduces a new character named Kana, a classmate of Shinichi who has a strange ability to sense the presence of Parasytes. She becomes interested in Shinichi, and the two start to develop a relationship. Kana's unique ability adds an intriguing element to the story and raises questions about the nature of intuition and perception.

Overall, this episode offers a compelling mix of action, character development, and philosophical themes. It advances the plot by introducing new Parasytes and characters while also delving deeper into the world of the show. The Stranger provides a strong example of what makes Parasyte: The Maxim such a captivating and thought-provoking series.