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This episode is based off of the events in chapter 35 of the manga.
The opening is a abit different. Marller's sleeping in a coffin was originally taken from chapter 29, and she sleeps naked. In the manga, this chapter follows the events of the aftermath of the Lord of Terror, and go directly into Marller returning from recuperating from the trauma. With lightning bolts and storm clouds, she descends upon the hapless Megumi Morisato, and forces her into a contract.
The opening isn't bad, but Marller's little crayon interpretation of the events that have passed are new and cute. But the beginning of this episode is more or less new material, up until the point Marller confronts Megumi.
Marller didn't originally follow Megumi back to her apartment. Also, Megumi originally yelled out "RAPE!" when Marller corners her and traps her. The dialouge is a little different, but the scene itself has underwent little drastic change.
Marller, as Megumi, originally ruffles through some clothes before the Earth Spirit notices that it's not Megumi. Marller originally turned the Earth Spirit into a pseudo Sonic the Hedgehog-rat stuffed toy, while in the anime it is now simply a teddy bear.
The sequence of events here is altered slightly. While Belldandy and Keiichi were discussing the test drive, Marller was busy summoning Senbei the Demon. Also, Keiichi was less than sure what the heck he was test driving in the manga, but seems to know what's going on in the anime.
Megumi's Out of Character behavior wasn't emphasized in the manga, and wasn't noticed by anybody. Also, Megumi's afternoon classes were never mentioned in the manga. Senbei's actual self-introduction and Marller's faith in him in the manga aren't all too emphasized, but Marller isn't bothered by Senbei's diminuitive size.
Senbei was actually about to demonstrate his powers on Marller, until she pointed out that his target was "over there". Unfortunately, while she meant to point to Keiichi, she pointed out Aoshima. The anime makes Senbei choose Aoshima as a target automatically.
Aoshima originally just struck Tamiya, not both Tamiya and Otaki. The explanation of the law of finite happiness is more or less the same. Hijiri's appearance is new.
The conversation about the tea stalk is moved up. Belldandy and Keiichi were originally on the race track, right before the test drive when they talked about it. Megumi acting all weird to the two is more or less new material, since here in the manga she originally takes Belldandy away to confess "her" feelings for her. Belldandy's reaction to Megumi's feelings is the usual... "I love everybody, but I love Keiichi most of all!" After that, they go directly to the Sora incident.
Belldandy's jealousy storms don't appear until chapter 57, but I personally thought this was a fantastic way to introduce it somewhat earlier into the series. Sayoko's blushing face gives away the feelings she'll eventually have.
What I really wished would happen though didn't come true. In the manga, Belldandy originally defends Keiichi's character when it came to Sora's incident, Belldandy does a really crappy job of trying to vouch for his character. "Keiichi's telling the truth, Megumi! He doesn't have the guts to do that! Ah? I mean, I mean... My Keiichi isn't enough of a man to... Um... let's see... I meant, I mean..." Giggle, giggle, snort. (In the Nekomi Kodai translation, Belldandy says "That's right! Keiichi-san is...not that courageous! Ah... I mean... Keiichi-san is... not that effective!")
Come to think of it, in the manga we actually get an eyeful of Sora's panties. That's absent from the anime.
Originally, it's Aoshima who comes in and notices the leaking gas. This is absent from the anime.
They originally test drove a four-wheel truck, but in the anime it looks like they modified and fozed up the three-wheeler they drove a while ago. The rest of the episode is more or less unchanged form the manga.
Well, in the manga, we found out that the water heater went out at Sayoko's house, and we get a view of her naked back. Absent from the anime. Keiichi and Belldandy's talk is new to the anime as well.
What I'm appreciating about the anime interpretation of Belldandy and Keiichi's relationship is that in the manga, Belldandy was always mega-perfect in everything. Well, okay, she still is, but you'd expect her to be full of grace, forgiveness, and everything. In the anime, Keiichi's aspects of grace and forgiveness are allowed to shine forth, and it's a great mutual relationship the two have.
This episode, in my opinion, was done very well... especially compared to some of the more liberal adaptions we've seen in previous episodes.
It looks like the next episode will cover chapter 49 of the manga.