Castling is a special type of chess move. When castling, you simultaneously move your king and one of your rooks. The king moves two squares towards a rook, and that rook moves to the square on the other side of the king.
Have you guys been looking forward to our next Promised Neverland discussion? I know I have. Talking things over with Crow is always really fun and interesting. On top of that, this series is certainly generous with the potential material. I feel like we go through almost an entire series’ worth of topics with each episode. For once, that’s not a bad thing.

If you remember, ad I’m sure you do, last episode ended on an epic cliffhanger with Norman pointing to Ray as the “traitor”. An of course, Norma’s always right. I feel like my brain still refused to accept it for a good minute. It’s like the show has already conditioned me to refuse the simplest explanation even if in retrospect the narrative hasn’t exactly done twists so much as simply shocks. Situations are often unexpected but not because we were lead to believe something else, simply because this particular fictional universe is very high drama.
That distinction — shocks versus twists — might be this show’s distinguishing characteristic! Well, that and dynamic and flawed protagonists as well as dangerously intelligent and dangerously unpredictable villains! Oh, this is Crow — I’m in bold this week.
That opening scene with the clock ticking and rapid succession jumps between the two characters was a fun, tension adding, directorial trick. Cheap but effective. In general, I feel the direction took a lot more risks this episode and I liked it. Did you?
Evaluating direction isn’t my strength, but to the extent I understand it, I think you’re right. It’s like the show’s gaining confidence in its voice. There were some relatively straight forward shots, like closeups of Norman and Ray as they realized something (I’m still not sure exactly what!). There was a shot of Ray, leaving the room after the first scene, framed by the doorway at the top of the stairs, as if the camera were on a landing between the first and second floors. It was simple, elegant, and it capture his loneliness that Emma was able to articulate later on.

The first half of the episode was basically one long expo dump with Norman and Ray having this almost quippy, slightly antagonistic chat in the room. I see your Buffy parallels here. Although the conversation was much more stern in tone, there was something in the quickfire delivery and unspoken implications that was very reminiscent of Buffy dialogue.
Now, if we can just get Anya to sing her song about bunnies being the villains… I think Gilda could pull it off! But now I’m sad thinking about Conny’s bunny, which makes me remember Conny…
Also, I was on the edge of my seat. I was watching two (only two) familiar characters talk to each other in a closed bedroom with nothing else at all going on, and I was on the edge of my seat. This is when you know you got your exposition right!
I think this proves your point about direction. I felt breathless during this scene, too, as if either Ray or Norman might do anything — explode into violence, transfer into an alien — anything! Good dialogue, well delivered, with effective pacing. That’s a heavy load for exposition to carry!

I have to say, Ray may be an informant, but can we really call him a traitor when he’s been doing this for 6 years? He’s gathering intel as best he can to formulate an escape plan. The boy’s no hero, but he’s merely trying to survive.
Also, if I remember correctly, they’re all 11. Which would mean that Ray found out the truth (that they were all destined to be butchered) and was trying to navigate this dangerous world all alone since he was 5 years old. Somehow, it’s difficult for me to blame a five year old in this situation.
I might have to quibble with “the boy’s no hero.” Fighting alone, well behind enemy lines, without a break, without assistance, from the time he was five? That’s why I adored Emma’s reaction…
The conversation leaves with vague results. Ray is still adamant about not destroying their chances by trying to do too much. Norman agrees in principle but is morally and mostly emotionally torn at the idea of going against Emma’s wishes. And an unsteady truce is formed.
What did you think of Ray’s grudging disgusted look and Norman’s attempt to hold back laughter? I didn’t know what to make of that…

You know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. If anything, this turn of events makes me more likely to trust Ray than before. Of course I have this super weird hang up about not trusting Norman. It may be the white hair.
Right at the end of this extended opening arc, it seems that both Norman and Ray realized something pretty big. It sort of bugs me that these little kids are so much smarter than I am but I’ve learned to accept it. I really wish they would have told us what Norman figured out though. It seemed big!
I’m listening to Neil Gaiman narrate The Ocean at the End of the Pond. (great book) I’ve come to accept that when it comes to a lot of topics, kids are smarter than me! Yeah, Norman’s laugh put me on edge, too. I’m beginning to suspect that we’re only watching the outer edge of the crazy — or maybe a meta representation of it…
Ray’s interaction with Mom was one of the best scenes so far. Mom is a formidable foe but because of the construct of the story and the necessity to keep up the pretense of unity, we have not seen her actually clash with anyone except Krone and let’s face it, at the time Krone was hardly even worthy of the title of opponent. Mom and a forcibly relaxed Ray made for a much more interesting back and forth. I look forward to seeing more mind games.
Watching that scene, I had to wonder: which one of them really has the upper hand? Ray mentioned that Mom only gave him older models of things. What if they weren’t representative at all? The show has me so paranoid that I wonder if Mom’s put the pieces in place so their escape attempt is actually part of their shipment protocol! Kinda like a Hunger Games sorta thing…

We finally got to see that Norman is in fact human and that the situation is getting to him. That nightmare was just great. It was also a nice, visually interesting sequence that put the stakes into perspective for the audience. It was a bit on the nose (a lot of the directing is unsubtle in the series), but I don’t mind that too much when the storyline has a lot going on.

The episode then cleaned up the intel by bringing Emma into the loop. I’ve said this before but Emma is not exactly as straightforward as she plays it. Of course she immediately forgives Ray, of course she gives this compelling and heartstring tugging speech about him no longer being alone. But she let her mask slip for a split second there and we saw it.
She might be the most intelligent one there.
You saw it too, right Crow? That moment when Emma realized that Ray had probably at some point sacrificed members of her precious family, and willfully decided to brush the realization aside and ignore everything it implied. The second when her mind was telling her that if he’s capable of throwing the kids to the wolves once, he could do it again, and she chose to take the risk but pretended not to understand it.
I know you loved the scene between Ray and Mom, but this was my favorite scene in the episode. You could just see her mind connect the dots — and I think she connected more than she spoke of. She has this gestalt perspective that lets her assemble the big picture with only tiny disjointed parts.
I think you hit the nail on the head — she knows who Ray is. She knows how he thinks. She’ll go along for now, but she’s on guard. What more? She’s confident she can make it work.

Finally we looped Don and Gilda back into the action. As the other two oldest kids in the place, they have the greatest odds of survival, but I’m not so sure the have the nerves required. This might be where Norman’s (somewhat kind) lie may really cost them dearly.
By not telling Don and Gilda that Conny is already dead but still conveying the great danger everyone is in, they have effectively put a ticking clock on everything and are encouraging Don and Gilda into action.
Talk about being damned if you do and damned if you don’t…

Basically, Gilda and Emma have been observing Mom (enemy recon) and have realized that she disappears somewhere at the same time every evening. Ray comes to the natural assumption that she must be checking in with however she reports to.
Moreover, a discrepancy in the dimensions of the rooms and hallway has lead Emma to conclude the whereabouts of a secret room next to Mom’s bedroom. Naturally, this seems like a place that should be investigated but the kids want to play it slow. Not take any more unnecessary risks at this time.
Not all the kids that is. Determined to save Conny, Don storms off to immediately find this secret room while Mom is away. After some prodding, he and Gilda do manage to discover a decoy bookcase with a locked door behind it.
Their hearts were in the right place. Their minds, though? Let’s just say as bright as both of them are, they don’t hold a candle to Emma, Norman, or Ray. I just hope they don’t have to pay the ultimate price for their mistake!

As usual with this series, I had not realized that this was the end of the episode. Well not this of course. Before that someone had to be slowly opening the door to Mom’s room in time to catch them both red handed and potentially doomed. And you thought last week (or every single week so far) was a cliffhanger!
That’s how I guessed it was over despite it seeming like 10 minutes. I was like, “Dang, that’d make a good cliffhanger… d’oh!”
Also, no Krone at all this week?
She’s still sulking, and it takes time to stitch her doll back together! Interesting point, too, how Ray says mom brought Krone in to watch over him for failing to keep Emma and Norman away from the gate…
So this is it for this week. I’m sure I’m not the only one who can’t wait for next week. Please feel free to catch up on our past episode reviews in the meantime:
- The Promised Neverland Episode 1 – 45,000,000$
- The Promised Neverland Episode 2: 121045
- The Promised Neverland Episode 3: 181045
- The Promised Neverland Episode 4: 291045
and of course – I got a few more caps for you guys!
I rush home to watch this every week and I’m never disappointed. I hope it keeps up with the high tension.
Me too!
Another anime I plan to binge rather than watch ep by ep.
Hmm that may be interesting. So far I’m inclined to say I personally enjoy it more peicemeal but a binge should be quite the experience
We both made Chess references haha.
I love the take on Emma’s reaction, I hadn’t noticed that at all. It’s easy to think she’s oblivious until you start noticing these small details.
I’ve been sticking to chess titles. I wonder how long I can keep it up
I always look forward to these posts! Another job well done!
I don’t know if either of you have read the manga (I have so I know what’s happening), but from reading these weekly, I can’t wait for your discussions in the coming weeks! I always think “Oh, do they know? Are they figuring it out alongside the characters?” TPN has problems like most series, but overall it’s fairly well done. I’m curious what you’ll think as we get closer to the end of the season!!
Bravo!!!
I read the first volume only and the show has gone past it now so I’m blind. I don’t think Crow has read any of the manga at all
They’re SOOOOOOOOOOO cool! One time I tried to start a weekly comic for the comic INSPIRED by a “manga” clip we read in class. That was before I moved to Jerome and I was in 7th grade. I’m surprised I still have it even after the move!
I enjoyed this week’s episode, just not as much as the others. It felt like a lot of standing around talking. The first conversation took almost 10 minutes alone.
And I felt that Ray’s evil face was a little too Krone-like. I still can’t wait for next week to see who’s behind the door!
You seem to think like Karandi on this one. I loved the talkin. I like talkie animes in general
I love the talking and am a massive fan of awesome dialogue. I just felt like the balance wasn’t quite there in this episode. It’s only a minor criticism. I still love the series.
I LOVE ANIME!!! I’m too young to drink though. I’m not really interested in drinking either. Wine’s bitter and I have the same taste as my father about beer. I’m only 14 so I’ve only taken SMALL sips.
Juice is fine
Yeah, my favorite beverages really are Jarrito’s Fruit Punch Soda, Cream Soda, Rootbeer, Horccata, one of those Guava drinks (I obviously don’t know what it’s called), Dr. Pepper, Grape Soda, Grape Juice, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Pepsi. I also like the regular milk at home, water depending on the place and temperature, and chocolate milk as long as it’s not Trumoo milk. I like all sorts of things but I obviously don’t like EVERYTHING, I don’t think anyone does.
Sorry, sometimes when someone says something, I talk about something quite different that my brain links me to.
I’m not sure what Don and Gilda were trying to accomplish. If Mom’s not in her office, isn’t she pretty much exactly behind that door? In any case, I suspect Krone’s trying to spy on Mom, too, and that’s who opens the door, which would complicate things because the enemy of my enemy is someone I could use.
The three way between Emma/Norman/Ray is interesting, and all of them seem to know it’s interesting. Norman’s the best strategist, but Emma’s probably the best judge of character among them, and she definitely has the strongest conviction. That makes her sort of predictable, but that also means she doesn’t have to outsmart anyone. She really does have a lot in common with Gon, doesn’t she. Happy-go-lucky exterior, but very perceptive and it’s better not to make her angry.
The pendulum scene is exactly what I hate, hate, hate about the show (motion sickness); full-screen mode to windowed mode –> look at corner of screen to see when it’s done.
As it stands Ray is the one with the most information which in this situation is an incredible advantage
I thought the exact same about Emma/Gon!
I honestly wasn’t aware you could get motion sickness from 2D, before seeing your comment on a previous post! What do you think would’ve happened had you kept watching normally during that scene?
I also get motion-sickness but the only GAMES I’ve gotten it on are 007, Minecraft ( when I look at cobblestone), and I also get motion-sickness a lot when I am in the car looking at a screen or sometimes a book. I’m getting better at controlling it though. At least now, I don’t feel so alone in this case. My family thinks I’m crazy.
It was much worse as a kid. I couldn’t even ride in a car without getting sick. Luckily, I’ve calmed down. Some older 3D games trigger me. Newer games usually have adjustable panning speed, which helps. One game I couldn’t play even for 15 minutes was Dragon Age (I don’t remember which one; and I didn’t try any other) on the PS3. The camera swerved horribly.
Motion sickness doesn’t actually depend on 3D so much, as it does on camera panning speed and rotation. The pendulum scenes are especially bad, but the show is also troubling when it moves slowly through corridors. The effects are: first dizziness, and then a growing sickness in the upper lung area. If this goes on for long enough I can retain a lasting headache (but scenes in this show don’t tend to be long enough and I look away before I have to anyway).
I feel so bad for you. It sounds really annoying
I also feel bad for you, Dawnstorm.
I found the direction a little less interesting this week then it has been and Ray’s expressions during that talk with Norman kept distracting me from what was being said. I still enjoyed the episode but it didn’t quite hit the mark the way the first couple of episodes did for me.
I liked it more and the over expressiveness didn’t bother me. I loved the camera angles