EPISODE CONTEXT

Sitting at the season's midpoint, episode 5 functions as a critical bridge between the devastating fallout of the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation and the conflicts still to come. The chaos and losses of the first four episodes give way here to alliance-building and character redefinition, establishing the new power dynamics that will drive the season's second half. This is where the board resets — don't skip it expecting filler, because the relationships and organizations formed here are foundational to everything ahead.