SANDA Episode 8 really pushes the romance aspect to the forefront in the series, which is something we haven't really seen before. Kazushige Sanda makes himself vulnerable in what we've seen so far, which is a significant moment when juxtaposed with past characterizations. Science SARU's adaptation of Paru Itagaki's dystopian Christmas story reaches a tipping point where a collision between hormones and heroism is present in the worst sense of the term.Niko as seen in SANDA Episode 7 (Image Source: Science SARU)SANDA Episode 8 is set to air on Saturday, November 22, at 1:53 AM JST. If you're an international viewer, that's Friday, November 21, at various times. The release of this episode keeps the anime's timely airing once a week without skipping or delaying.SANDA Episode 8 will become available shortly after its airing in Japan on various streaming platforms internationally. SANDA streams on Amazon Prime Video in most territories. Subscribers can access the episode with English subtitles within hours of the Japanese premiere.What Can You Expect from SANDA Episode 8?SANDA Episode 8 will take us back to the fallout after Santa's showdown with Namatame, and Santa gets away with the help of Fuyumura. Meanwhile, children's wishes weigh heavily on Santa's heart. He feels guilty about not fulfilling Namatame's wish and decides he has to try and become better and stronger, even if it means going against his original Christmas spirit.Santa Claus surrounded by the murderous class students (Image Source: Science SARU)Things will get interesting when Kazushige Sanda immediately decides to grant Niko Kazao's wish. But then Niko springs an unexpected complication by asking for a kiss. Sanda gets so flustered by this, he almost whips back into Santa in front of Niko. This almost changes everything he worked for.This episode should highlight the conflict of Sanda, who lives two lives. It's already a challenge making Santa-like choices while having the experience of a normal teenage person. It complicates things even further when a romantic aspect is included.What Happened in SANDA Episode 7?Niko and Sanda inside the mysterious class (Image Source: Science SARU)Episode 7 was really important as it was basically a setup for the conflicts going on. The episode started with Ayama suggesting that they should end their friendship in order to protect Sanda from Principal Oshibu's increasing suspicion. Oshibu suspects links between Ayama, Fuyumura, and Santa Claus, but not Sanda as of yet, noticing possible relationships between students with the Santa figure.The episode centered around Sanda and Nico encountering troubled students at the school's sub-basement. This classroom consists of children who murdered adults. These students exhibit very disturbing behaviors and have an unhealthy obsession with Santa Claus.When Sanda comes back in his older version of Santa (kind of sixties look), the students shockingly ask Santa to cut off his thumbs so they can use them as toys. This horrific moment shows how the rigid and oppressive systems of the school have transformed and really altered the kids' minds.Even when they're doing unsettling things, the episode shows that these messed-up kids are stuck under the same authoritarianism. The leader highlighted that the heavy boots they made all students wear act the same way as prison shackles. The adults running the academy want obedient and compliant children, not individuals who think for themselves.SANDA Episode 8 will bring elements of emotional weight and tension. Sanda's romantic issues bring on added complications, making it harder for him to protect children from adult oppression.