I will be updating you all on my blog scheduling changes for the summer season tomorrow but in the meantime, here’s first try at a brand new episode review template. I’m trying something to help me keep my thoughts focused and keep the posts from going out of control by adding headers… Let me know if you have any suggestions!
And now, on to the show! Here we go with Dr. Stone, episode 2:
What I thought Would Happen
The first episode of Dr. Stone actually did a fantastic job setting up the premise and universe so we had a pretty clear idea where we were heading. Since they had just figured out how to reverse the petrification process, I thought they would start waking up people. Potentially hi-jinks would ensue.
What Did Happen
Well call me miss Chloe cause that is exactly what happened! With a few extra details. Naturally Taiju wanted to wake up his long lost love first but due to some conveniently timed lion attacks they ended up thawing that teenage strong man Taiju had spotted, Tsukasa. Thawing is not the right word. I realized watching this scene that we also saw dogs not being affected by the “stoning” last episode. Is it just birds and humans that got turned into statues. If so, why? And why isn’t my man Senku asking this question.
Long Story short Tsukasa is really strong, Really really strong and he’s going to take care of the hunting and fishing from now on. But Senku doesn’t seem all that thrilled about it. It’s going to be trouble if a guy that strong gets mad…
What About the Characters
Newcomer Tsukasa is still a bit of a mixed bag. At first I thought he was redundant with Taiju’s character but he actually turns out to be there to bring some potential conflict and menace which is a good thing. Unfortunately he is similar enough to Taiju that now, Taiju’s role has been reduced to comic relief. LOUD comic relief. I can’t say I’m thrilled about that. Taiju wasn’t a great character but he was pleasant and I enjoyed him a lot in episode 1. He got a little grating here. Tsukasa could still go either way. His ominous turn in the very last seconds of the episode was a bit too obvious for my tastes but I like the idea of adding in someone with a differing point of view to the mix.
Senku remains my type of character and right now he is carrying the show as far as I’m concerned. I was under the impression that the title Dr. Stone referred to him so it was fun to find out it was actually soap.
What I Liked
I continue to like the premise and the science. The chemistry throughout the episode was fairly solid. Also as I mentioned, Senku’s character is fun and manages to somewhat balance out the other two.
I know the art style here is hit or miss for some people but after seeing it again this week, I have to say I enjoy it. I’m also digging the “earthy” colour palette. I feel like if this had played during the winter season instead, I would have appreciated it even more for those lush sun-drenched scenes.
What I Liked Less
Maybe it’s because I had enjoyed that first episode so much and was waiting for this all week that I ended up disappointed. Honestly, this week’s Dr. Stone just didn’t do it for me. There is still a lot to like about this show and it is unmistakably well made but the humour didn’t land in my opinion, the loudness of the characters was cheap and Tsukasa isn’t interesting enough (yet) to focus so much on.
I might go as far as saying this is the Friday show I enjoyed the least this week. Bummer!
Closing Thoughts
A dip in episode 2 is hardly going to make me give up on a series. Basically, this week’s Dr. Stone leaned hard on the shonen tropes I tend to enjoy the least but that doesn’t really take anything away from that amazing premise which is what I appreciate the most about the show.
I’m hoping we are still in the establishing episode and the first one is more illustrative of what the series will look like overall.
Mood: Cautiously Optimistic
I forgot to watch the show. Not a good sign.
I do really like the art, with the exception of the character designs. Otherwise, the show’s a little disappointing.
I’m cautiously optimistic which is essentially my motto
I like the new format — particularly “What I thought Would Happen” flowing into “What Did Happen.”
I hope having a template helps you as much as mine help me! Focus can be cool.
So far it really has. I wrote 3 reviews in roughly the same amount of time it usually takes me to write one because could clearly concentrate on one point at the time!
Brings new meaning to “I got stoned and I missed it”.
Taiju’s constant yelling was my only problem with the episode and it’s a small one because he wasn’t the focus. The tension between Senku and Tsubasa is great to watch.Loving this adaption.
I’m interested to see what will come next
Taiju did get sidelined a little, but I like that three people in and they already have a disagreement. It makes you wonder how many more problems they will run into as they revive people.
And you have to think that the power to revive people in the first place is going to be an issue
Oh yes, particularly when breaking the statue makes revival impossible (and a lot of statues are just broken by the elements and time). There’s definitely going to be some issues as more people come into the equation.
Nice episode review!! Yeah the humor is a bit cheap, but it still makes me smile. I think Tsukasa is really interetsing tho.
when I’m in the mood for it, it makes me giggle too