A major complaint was the "trash" treatment of Megumi. After seasons of development, her pivotal 1v1 match was almost entirely skipped, and her defeat by Asahi felt like a forced plot device to hype a villain many found "creepy" and unearned.
“I was on board with this season being a send up of itself, but then this episode came in and did best girl Megumi so dirty... she gets done in by the show's worst character in a "battle" lasting all of 30 seconds.” Reddit · r/anime · 5 years ago
In a highly controversial turn, Megumi Tadokoro—after a brief, off-screen victory against the Noir chef Huang Zuiwang—is pitted against Asahi Saiba. Predictably, she is defeated rapidly, which many fans felt did her character growth a massive disservice. Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara Episode 9
The reception of this episode reflects the broader "train wreck" sentiment often associated with the final season.
Mana’s backstory highlights the God Tongue as a curse rather than a blessing, leading to her physical collapse and abandonment of her family. A major complaint was the "trash" treatment of Megumi
Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara (Season 5) Episode 9, titled serves as a polarizing midpoint for the series' final arc. While it successfully deepens the lore of the Nakiri family, it has faced heavy criticism for its breakneck pacing and the sidelining of fan-favorite characters. Key Plot Developments
Critics from The Cinemaholic and community forums noted that the episode felt like a "speedrun" or a summary of several episodes. The reliance on panning and zooming instead of fluid cooking animation became increasingly noticeable. she gets done in by the show's worst
“Mana's deal is an interesting view on the whole god tongue thing - so far it has been treated as a blessing, but super tasting has its drawbacks. Shame it came along Asahi and his dumb plot.” Reddit · r/anime · 5 years ago Shokugeki no Souma: Gou no Sara - Episode 9 discussion