Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!” actually gives us a resolution to the cliffhanger of the previous episode. Yes, Yachiyo returns from her involuntary stay in space. However, she finds that so much has changed since she was in space that she basically becomes a teen rebel against it all. Fortunately, a certain helpful tanuki girl is here to save the day…and their hotel to boot.

Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!”: Details in Brief

Both Yachiyo and Ponko look…different in this episode.

Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!” is the eighth episode (you can read my reviews of Ep. 1, Ep. 2, Ep. 3, Ep. 4, Ep. 5, Ep. 6, and Ep. 7 here) of this postapocalyptic sci-fi comedy-drama anime series. Uniquely, this anime is an original series, not adapted from any manga. 

CyberAgent is producing the anime, with CygamesPictures (Manaria Friends, Brave Bang Bravern!, The Summer Hikaru Died) as the animation studio behind it. Crunchyroll is the company licensing it for its global debut, as well as the company streaming it. Kana Shundo is the director behind the anime, with Shigeru Murakoshi as the writer.

Synopsis

Alas, the ruined cityscape will be even more ruined by the end of this episode.

Alas, Apocalypse Hotel is still an ongoing anime series. In fact, Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!” made its debut on May 27, 2025. Thus, you all will get the official synopsis of this episode from Crunchyroll to give you all a taste of the story without too many spoilers below:

Alas, Apocalypse Hotel is still an ongoing anime series. In fact, Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!” made its debut on May 27, 2025. Thus, you all will get the official synopsis of this episode from Crunchyroll to give you all a taste of the story without too many spoilers below:

Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!”: The Good

Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 "Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!" screenshot 1
This scene is as bizarre as it looks.

The story is why I’m such a huge fan of Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!”. Not least of which because of just how mind-bogglingly insane it is. It runs the gamut of genres from military fiction to…shonen and mecha action? It’s all just so bizarre, and yet it all makes a great deal of sense in-universe. Mostly. Kind of. At the very least, it’s amazingly entertaining to watch the missiles fly and the beautifully animated explosions blot out the scenery in an anime where you normally wouldn’t be expecting that sort of thing.

And yet, it’s not just mindless action for its own sake. It’s all in service of an amazingly heartfelt story. At the heart of this episode’s story is a conflict between Yachiyo (voiced by Saho Shirasu) and Ponko (voiced by Sumire Morohoshi), and the feelings of obsolescence the former feels in light of the latter’s success. It’s also a story with some wonderfully sapphic undertones here as both Yachiyo and Ponko end up venting and confessing to each other. What they confess to each other about is something you’ll have to watch yourself for, but let’s just say that it makes my yuri senses tingle like crazy, and I’m all for that. Especially since I would never have anticipated just how yuri the anime is becoming as Yachiyo and Ponko move closer and closer together in their relationship, and especially due to Ponko’s character development. Literally, in this case. And no, I won’t say anything more until you watch this episode, as it’s part of the spoilers.

Of course, it’s all made better by the shockingly amazing animation from CygamesPictures. Made all the more shocking by just how quiet this postapocalyptic anime has been for the most part. It’s almost like the silence of death is being replaced with the loudness of life and love…or something like that. Either way, those explosions are so gorgeously animated that I’m giving them a kudos for it.

Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!”: The Bad

Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 "Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!" screenshot 2
PSA: Uncontrolled re-entries are a very bad thing.

Alas, if you’re not fond of mood whiplashes, then Apocalypse Hotel Ep. 8 “Discipline with a Fist! Reconcile with a High Five!” might not be for you. It whips back and forth between insane action and heartfelt drama like a seesaw. That sort of whiplashing might not be for everyone, no matter how good the action is. Especially if you like anime with a consistent tone.

Aside from that, you might desire more of that action. If that’s you, then might I suggest watching Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Kaiju No. 8, DDDD, DAN DA DAN, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II, Zenshu, Blue Box, Solo Leveling, and/or Black Butler. Those anime should have more than enough action in them to satisfy any action junkie until Apocalypse Hotel surprises us with more insane, off-kilter action.

What did you all think of this episode of Apocalypse Hotel? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.