The Promised Neverland Episode 7 – Prophylaxis

Prophylaxis is a key concept of positional chess. It is a move, or sequence of moves, to deal with an opponent’s plan before it starts. Sometimes one can completely stop the threat; sometimes one just makes the plan relatively harmless.

You make me wish I had studied chess instead of learning just enough to get slaughtered in the one college tournament I entered… Oh, this is Crow, and I’ll use the bold font this week!

I must say, I really look forward to this show each week. It’s one of the few seasonal series I’ve watched that I can honestly say I can never wait until the next episode. If this was all out – I probably would have binged it in a day or two.

Even though so far it’s brought a heck of a lot more questions than answers, it doesn’t bother me. For some reason I am confident that The Promised Neverland does know the answers and will eventually share them with us, unlike let’s just say…BoogiePop. What do you think Crow, are we just being led astray?

Remember Lost? It was a television series back in 2004. It was famous for coming up with all these outrageous ideas, stunning plot twists, and inscrutable characters. But early on I suspected what the writing team eventually admitted: They had no idea where they were going.

We might be wrong, but I see every sign that this writing team knows precisely what they’re doing. And they’re really good at it!

We start things off with Sister’s offer. A very uneasy alliance to say the least. None of the reveals here were particularly surprising to me. I had always assumed that the caretakers were former farm kids and although I hadn’t thought about them having a kill switch, it fits perfectly with the universe we’ve come to know. It does bring up a question I thought of later, but we’ll get back to that. I think this opening scene served largely to show us that Krone isn’t as far gone as we may have thought.

I must say, there were a few moments during her speech where she seemed quite wistful. Sister isn’t dumb and she may not be entirely crazy, but she’s quite broken. I don’t think she ever reconciled herself with the reality the way Mom has (or even Ray…)

That lack of acceptance means she could never adjust her thinking, and it really showed later in this episode! She should not have been caught like she was!

The following scene had the kids reassess their situation. Once again Norman did his super wizkid act, seeing through Krone’s intentions (i.e. that she doesn’t have authority or credibility to turn them in so she’s looking for proof), while Emma was a tower of strength and Gilda showed timid caution. But did you see Don ask that super fair strategic question? Nevermind if they can trust Krone, do they even need her? Can they simply shut her out. It’s a great question and no one else asked. Go Don!

Now that they’ve showed they actually trust him, he’s finding his footing. I like how he’s developing.

This show is starting to make a habit out of leaving things unshown… We had Norman’s laugh and realization last time, now Emma’s favour. Emma asked something out of Gilda and Don she didn’t want Norman to hear. That is so out of character. Any idea what it might be?

I’m guessing it’s something Emma, Norman, and Ray can’t easily do. They know they’re under enhanced scrutiny. Something to help get the kids ready? Unobtrusively gathering supplies? And as I watched the scene, I wondered if she didn’t want Norman and Ray to know, or if she and Norman and Ray had arranged for that moment? As a demonstration of trust in Don and Gilda? But using a falsehood to demonstrate trust seems counter productive. I guess all that’s a fancy way of saying “I got nothing!”

I got to say there was some interesting CG this episode. The panning shot in the hallway as Emma and Norman gor the Sister’s room. Later the distorting close up on their faces as Sister closes in on them. The episode also used out of focus shots i a large number of scenes. I think this may be thematic. Things are getting murky… Maybe not. Anyways, not a bad way to spruce up visuals in another dialogue heavy episode.

Also, when Sister Krone approached them, did you see how they had to crane their necks father and farther back as she got closer! That really emphasized how tall she was — and how small they were.

It was a great way to add to the atmosphere.

Unlike the opening scene, the conversation in Krone’s room was a treasure trove of information. But not exactly in what she said. I want to go through these with you, so please put up with me for a bit.

It’s a pivotal scene, so please take your time! I think the scene need a lot of unpacking!

I realized in the middle of the scene that something had been bothering me since the beginning. Actually, it was Krone’s use of the word “Headquarters”. This implies something limited. It’s not a country she didn’t talk about the Capital, the Palace or City Hall. It’s not a word usually associated with political leadership. She also didn’t talk about a Cathedral or Temple or anything that would give the idea of a religious or spiritual place. A headquarters is usually reserved for specific organizations with some type of mission, and more often than not competition or even adversaries. We use it for companies, armies, thieves guilds….Maybe I’m making way to much of these, it was a translation after all. Still it stuck with me.

I had assumed it was corporate, but now you have me wondering! Just what are these demons?

The second unspoken revelation was that humans not eaten do exist. They make the clothes and bring materials. There was those books last week so we kinda had an inkling. Great revelation but the real question is why. Why are there free humans that exist, that the kids could just mix with? Why would those humans help the “demons”? (Krone seemed quite amused at the word). This doesn’t quite mesh with the idea of a world so overrun with monsters that the only way the can even get delicious delicious huma flesh is to grow it themselves… I figured there were breeding grounds but whole industries. Uncontrolled enough that 12 year old kids would go unnoticed?

Did you notice Sister Krone said that the humans were considered more or less their equals (“equal standing”)? That just reinforces the questions you just asked. It’s almost like the kids in Grace Field, Plant Three, are behind enemy lines, and the human nations are trying to give them aid.

There’s something so mundanely farm-like about the phrase “Grace Field, Plant Three” that’s chilling.

My farm knowledge is limited…they sounded like sects to me.

That’s even worse!

And here’s the last one, the one that was actually from the opening scene but only hit me at this point, after I started wondering about the free humans… Why does Sister have a kill switch? Why would they care if a single Mother or sister escaped? Why would they care if dozens did? If the world is hostile and inhospitable to humans, that will already be a deterrent to most, and who cares about the few exceptions? Unless the world isn’t that difficult to survive in… And the “demons’ ” numbers are too small for more direct patrolling… Maybe?

That’s another thing that made it seem like the kids are in a prisoners of war camp (but are produced by breeding instead of captured). The demons don’t want anyone escaping to tell the human nations what’s up? All conjecture, of course…

And who’s this “Him” that Sister Krone mentioned? What’d you think of Sister Krone’s diabolical laugh before she schooled Emma and Norman on the art of deception — and showing them how far they were from mastering it?

Oh yeah another puzzle for us…assuming we can trust a word Krone says. This is kinda the thesis of the episode…

And at this point we catch up with Ray and Mom. I like Ray, and I’m pretty sure Isabella does too. He was quite endearing with his excitement over the camera. Even though he just wanted it as a tool, he’s still into it like any kid would be.

Did you find that as heart-breaking as I did? I used to tear into cameras and radios and engines when I was his age. We shared a curiosity that made me nostalgic — until I remembered he’s about to be shipped out.

I am weirdly attached to Ray. For some reason I want to comfort him most. Maybe because he was carrying the burden by himself for so long.

At the end of this scene, Mom crosses off a date in the calendar and says “Well now, I think it’s about time”. Who was she talking to? Ray was long gone and there was no indication anyone came in. She was looking at the camera. Was this a sudden 4th wall break for no reason?

I wonder in retrospect if it had anything to do with the letter Isabella handed to Sister Krone?

I thought about that too. Still weird of Mom to talk to herself…

Sister isn’t dumb but she underestimates her opponents.

Fatally, I think. And speaking of the letter Isabella handed her, did you see Isabella’s expression? Is she as cold as ice and hard as steel or what? Dang, I’d hate to play poker against her!

Oh Mom remains one of the most threatening antagonists I’ve seen in a long long time. She might be on par with Griffith. That’s saying a lot.

I’m not sure who the kid that interrupts Krone is, but they should leave him behind. He is DEFINITELY going to slow them down…

On a Christmas tree, he likely would not be the brightest bulb or LED.

OK well now the show did it again – WHAT’S IN THE NOTE!!!???!!! AND in the letter from “Headquarters”. GWAHHHH tell me!!!

Did you see what Sister Krone did when she saw the letter opener? Did she try to defend herself? Preemptively try to disable Isabella, since she’s so much bigger? No. She winced and closed her eyes, waiting for the fatal strike. Isabella is flat-out scary!

So um, there’s only 5 episodes left. Either that’s gonna be one smooth escape or everyone’s gonna die real quick. Or we are looking at season 1 of more… The manga is ongoing and there’s at least two season’s worth already published so… Thoughts?

There’s no way they can resolve this in five episodes, and just from a business perspective, they’d be foolish to artificially cut this short. They have to see it through to the end, so it’s season 1 of x, isn’t it?

Or what if it’s like Gray’s Anatomy, where they periodically bring a new class of kids in to replace those who didn’t make it? Each successive class gets closer and closer to escape… I’m not sure my heart could take it!

What’s amazing to me is that the writers have been able to maintain the level of tension — with so little action! I was on the edge of my seat after Sister Krone found the note under Ray’s bed. And we didn’t even find out what it said!

Good stuff…

Very good stuff!

• The Promised Neverland Episode 1
• The Promised Neverland Episode 2
• The Promised Neverland Episode 3
• The Promised Neverland Episode 4
• The Promised Neverland Episode 5
• The Promised Neverland Episode 6

And here are a whole bunch more pictures for you!