Thunder 3 Episode 5 ‘REBELLION’ Delivers Heavy Drama and Introduces Tashiro Suzuka

Summer anime Thunder 3 aired its fifth episode, titled “REBELLION,” on August 5, 2026. Based on the manga by Ikeda Yuuki, which ran in Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine from 2022 and concluded in June 2026, the series was nominated for the Next Manga Award 2022. The story follows the “Small 3″—Tezuka Pyontarou, Azuma Tsubame, and Ochanomizu Hiroshi—as they search for Pyontarou’s kidnapped sister, Futaba.

Spoiler Warning: The following contains details from Episode 5. Proceed with caution if you have not watched it.

Episode #05 “REBELLION”

College student Segami Teiichi finds himself at the headquarters of “Rebellion,” a human resistance group fighting back against aliens. There he meets the beautiful Kisaragi Mio and the imposing Yamamoto Yutaka, who show him a massive arsenal of weapons, including machine guns and alien combat suits. Yamamoto explains that he and “Genius”—the indispensable Kyouji—acquired the gear. Both Yamamoto and Kyouji are former SAT officers, while Mio served in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. Overwhelmed, Segami sweats and mutters, “I’m just a karate guy.”

Meeting the Small 3

Leaving the Rebellion office, Segami looks up at an alien aircraft flying overhead. Suddenly, a trio straight out of a manga—the Small 3—appears before him. “That’s it! That’s the same plane! It took Futaba!” they exclaim. Noticing Segami, they ask, “My sister was taken by that plane… Do you know anything, mister?” Above them, an F-15 fighter jet engages the alien craft.

A Fighter Pilot’s Resolve

Pilot Yamashina, who had never had a girlfriend, met a plain-looking woman named Kana at a mixer. They bonded over the movie Planet Wars, quickly grew close, and she became pregnant. They decided to marry. But one day, Kana’s car was crushed by an alien tank. Filled with grief and rage, Yamashina pilots his F-15 and, with tears in his eyes, rams the alien mothership.

Onlookers shout, “The Self-Defense Force rammed it!” and “A suicide attack!” Viewers were stunned, commenting, “If someone you love is taken… you can’t forgive that…” and “Was he able to strike back?” Segami, witnessing the scene, is deeply shaken.

A Call from Home

Just as Segami promises to take the Small 3 to the Rebellion office, his phone rings. His mother’s scream delivers a devastating blow: their house was destroyed by aliens, and his father, who resisted, is… Segami recalls his father’s words: “I realized recently that every person in the world is the protagonist of their own story.” He breaks down in tears.

Tashiro Suzuka and the Shibuya Mission

The next day, Segami brings the Small 3 to the Rebellion office. There, he reunites with Tashiro Suzuka, the prettiest girl in his high school class—and famously busty. “She’s the kind of person who makes everyone feel good just by being alive,” the narration notes. In high school, she once asked him, “Is it true you do karate?” (That was their only conversation.) Their eyes meet briefly, but she doesn’t seem to remember him. “Of course she wouldn’t,” Segami sighs.

Suddenly, a subordinate of the Rebellion owner makes a major announcement: “Tomorrow, we will execute the Shibuya Mission. The reward is 200,000 yen, with a bonus for each alien taken down. Participation is voluntary. Meet here at 4 PM tomorrow. A bus will take us!”

Segami’s eyes widen. “Shibuya Mission? Wait, tomorrow? Fight aliens… for real?” Meanwhile, the Small 3 are told by Yamamoto to come back in three days. Looks like manga characters aren’t considered combat-ready.

Fan Reactions and Voice Actor Comments

The episode’s relentless twists—the pilot’s suicide attack, Segami’s resolve, the Small 3’s encounter with Rebellion, and the appearance of classmate Tashiro Suzuka—drew strong reactions online. “A nonstop series of incredible events, I’m just amazed!” one viewer wrote. “This was a pretty heavy episode, weighed on me, but still interesting today,” said another. “It shows how easily daily life can be destroyed without mercy,” commented a third. “Seeing the Self-Defense Force ramming, is everyone starting to rebel against the aliens?”

After the broadcast, Otoha-otoha-, who performs the ending theme “Shururerira,” posted on social media: “My emotions are completely shattered. ‘Shu-ru-re-ri-ra’? No way, this is no time for that! But the urgency in the voices and sound effects in the anime was intense. Next week, that character appears—looking forward to it.”

Hirose Yuuki, voice of Tashiro Suzuka, wrote: “Episode 5 was one of my favorite stories in the original manga, so it hit me hard. Tashiro Suzuka has appeared! Next time, the battle between humans and aliens finally begins. I can’t wait.”

Maekawa Ryoko, who plays Kisaragi Mio, expressed concern for Segami: “This episode hurt my heart during recording. Mio senses Segami’s change… Even in times like this, the Madonna’s charm is incredible. He’s going to fight tomorrow—what will happen to Segami?”

Wataya Miho, who voices Segami’s mother, also commented: “The story moved dramatically, and I held my breath each time. The painful scenes were too harsh… What will Segami do now?” Wataya previously played the beautiful woman Makino Reika, who was waiting for an elevator in an earlier episode.

Staff and Cast

Thunder 3 airs every Wednesday at 24:45 on Fuji TV’s +Ultra and other channels. Streaming is available worldwide exclusively on Netflix.

(C) Ikeda Yuuki / Kodansha / “Thunder 3” Production Committee