EPISODE CONTEXT

Arriving at the two-thirds mark of the season, Episode 8 marks a clear structural shift—after the team's competition arc culminated in Episode 7, the series opens a new 'Battle Arc' that reframes the stakes from group achievement to individual expression and rivalry. This episode introduces dance battles as both a narrative device and a proving ground for On and Iori's evolving skills. It lays essential groundwork for the rivalries, stylistic exploration, and character confrontations that will drive the final stretch of episodes toward the season's climax.