Synopsis
Tokyo's subway system collapses inward as Terra Worm, a featureless, eyeless kaiju of enormous mass, rises from the earth's mantle directly beneath the city center. Buildings tilt. Streets split open. Entire districts begin to subside.
Meanwhile, in an emergency government briefing room, Dr. Kenji Yamada presents his first official report on the Rooster Phenomenon. His colleagues are skeptical. His data is irrefutable. His conclusion — "we should do nothing and let the bird handle it" — is not well received.
Outside, the bird handles it.
Key Moments
Dr. Yamada's Briefing
The episode intercuts between Rooster's underground battle and Yamada's increasingly desperate PowerPoint presentation. Every time an official dismisses the rooster data, the screen cuts to Rooster doing something that renders the dismissal absurd.
The Core Fight
Rooster follows Terra Worm into a magma-adjacent chamber. The animation team renders the heat shimmer and lava glow beautifully. Rooster appears unbothered.
The Finishing Move
Rooster discovers Terra Worm's single vulnerability: its core is essentially a very large egg. He sits on it. It hatches. Whatever emerges, Rooster defeats it too. He emerges from the ground outside City Hall covered in volcanic ash.
Episode Notes
- Runtime: ~22 minutes
- Dr. Yamada becomes a recurring character from this episode onward
- The "Rooster is basically a geological force" theory originates from this episode's fan discussions
- Terra Worm is the first kaiju defeated by indirect means (sitting rather than striking)
Reception
Episode 4 introduced the series' most beloved human character in Dr. Yamada. The dual-track storytelling — absurd bureaucracy vs. absurd combat — was cited as the episode's structural highlight.