On the surface, there's not a single thing wrong with this episode. Let's run down a few of the key aspects:
It heavily features Chōpper, one of my favorite characters in the entire series.
It shows Chōpper being successful, letting him excel on his own and take the spotlight.
Chōpper gets time to actually be a doctor, an aspect of his character that feels like it has been increasingly left behind over the years.
The primary villain, Queen, is one of the best new additions to the cast in Wano's rogue's gallery and he's always electrifying on screen.
The animation is terrific and the stakes are clear and immediate.
We get a satisfying conclusion – or something approaching one – by the end of the episode, a rarity in such a long arc.
So… why did it all feel a bit meh?
This week's entry is a prime example of how Wano fatigue can lessen what would otherwise be a great episode. This “outbreak of ice oni weapon in the midst of the battle” narrative thread isn't the b-plot of the Onigashima Raid, or even the C-plot. It's one of half a dozen simultaneous battles happening across the structure, literally and metaphorically happening beneath a titanic struggle that will set the stage for a new era. This is also a plot thread that has been unfolding for weeks (months? I can't even recall) amongst all the other things going on in this battle. So despite having good execution and commendable production values, I just can't bring myself to feel much of anything for what's going on in this episode. I wish I didn't feel that way.
Train to the End of the World and Voice Actor Radio are getting a lot of love these last few weeks! Discover which other series stand out in our weekly user rankings!― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these rankings...
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James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY.― Yatagarasu Gets Violent! James and Lynzee discuss the latest episode of Yatagarsu, in which Wakamiya plays his hand to find out the truth behind his older brother's scheming to obtain the throne. Plus, GoHands keeps making anime, and we don't know WHY; Hunter x Hunter manga is on its ...
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The Code Geass creator discusses his new project with Web3 company Azuki, Enter the Garden, and his hope that this new path could help the medium evolve.― Los Angeles-based Web3 anime-styled brand Azuki and advertising conglomerate Dentsu debuted the first nine-minute episode of their joint anime endeavor, Enter the Garden, on April 30. The episode, which has already racked up a quarter of a million...