Dr. STONE S3 9 – [Beautiful Science]

Welcome all to another week of Dr. STONE! Apologies for the delay on this one, I had to get the seasonal preview out as well. Anyways without further ado, lets dive into the episode!

Overall I thought this was a great episode. A good mix of both Dr. STONE’s unique brand of comedy and its more serious narrative. The best example of this of course being Ginro. At the best of times he’s this stupid wreck of a human, a complete coward who look for any opportunity to get out of work and escape responsibility. It makes for some amusing jokes at times. But seeing him struggle with that as he’s confronted by Kinro’s statue, his desperate attempt to escape carrying him on his back before resolving not to run not because it’s the right thing but because he cares specifically for his friend. Mmm, it’s just good shit. Dr. STONE really sold his “Coward that does what’s necessary” energy. Think of him like Zenitsu from Kimetsu no Yaiba, but much more narratively compelling and much less annoying.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S3 9 – [Beautiful Science]”

Dr. STONE S3 8 – [The Trump Card Aboard the Science Vessel]

Welcome all, to another week of Dr. STONE! This week we meet our major antagonists, figure out their relationship with the island, and most of all see the petrification device! So without further ado, lets dive in.

So lets start with the big reveal this week: The petrification device. Dr. STONE has long hinted at this, and we’ve long had theories about it. What could cause all of this? How does it work? And while we haven’t gotten those answers just yet, we have finally seen it. And with that, we’ve also started to learn how it works. About its limited ranged and indiscriminate nature, like a grenade. How, despite its fantastical effects, it isn’t fantasy. This isn’t a spell. As Senku put it, it’s not magic because it has rules. And if it has rules, then it’s a science. And if it’s science? Then Senku can’t lose, because science is his everything. I really like this, I think it takes a fantastical McGuffin that’s always existed and demystifies it a bit. It really feels like Dr. STONE is finally progressing that overarching plot. I like that.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S3 8 – [The Trump Card Aboard the Science Vessel]”

Dr. STONE S3 7 – [Ray of Despair, Ray of Hope]

Welcome all, to another episode of Dr. STONE! This week we reach the island, meet the locals, and get absolutely rolled by an unknown force. What? Oh, the last one? Don’t worry we will get to that. Now lets dive right into it!

Starting off, this week we finally reach the island! Dr. STONE walks us through a whole introduction for it, from the basic geography to local tensions. Of course part of this is introducing us to some locals and their politics. Setting up the main conflict of the arc. However more then that, what Dr. STONE does is completely shatter our expectations of what’s going on here. It makes it clear that, whatever you thought, this place isn’t just going to be a simple walk in the park with some stone-age yokels. And personally? After the slower first half of the season? I find this to be a welcome change of pace. Mostly because of the mystery of petrification.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S3 7 – [Ray of Despair, Ray of Hope]”

Dr. STONE S3 6 – [Treasure Box]

Welcome all, to another week of Dr. STONE. This is a a pretty straightforward week, so let’s make it quick and jump right in, shall we?

The big topic of this episode is Soyuz. Not the ship, the person. Don’t remember them? Well don’t worry, they are new, just introduced this week. Now is that so bad? No, it’s perfectly fine for Dr. STONE to introduce new characters, it did it with Ryusui and I’ve come to like him. The only weird thing about it with Soyuz is how he is introduced as having always been here, living in the village with everyone after being found on the beach while young. It’s a bit strange for none of our main cast to have asked why he doesn’t have a name before now, you know? That aside, he got a fair bit of focus for his introductory episode and I think he works. Only time will tell if he becomes likable or not.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S3 6 – [Treasure Box]”

Dr. STONE S3 4/5 – [Eye of Science/Science Ship Perseus]

Welcome all, to an incredibly late double feature of Dr. STONE! I have no excuses, I just sort of forgot to watch last weeks. I’m sorry. But you don’t pay me so you aren’t my boss, so take that! Jokes aside, I do apologize for the delay on this. As the only writer left on this site, I have to keep the legacy going. So let’s get back on schedule!

Now before we get to deep into the episodes I want to start with my major apprehension about the season. What these two episodes opened my eyes to is just how much content there is in this arc and just how much Dr. STONE will have to cover this season. Not only do we have to do all this prep-work to get to the island, we then have the entire island story itself. With a short 11 episode season, so only 6 episodes left, I just don’t see how Dr. STONE can cover all of that. Which means that, more then likely, we’re going to get a cliff-hanger ending right as the main conflict starts. Will that end up fine in the long run after all the seasons are out and you can jump straight to the next one? Probably, sure. But in the now? I’m concerned.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S3 4/5 – [Eye of Science/Science Ship Perseus]”

Dr. STONE S3 – 3 [First Contact]

Welcome all, to a tremendously late episode of Dr. STONE! Apologies for that, the usual excuses hold, I’m just incredibly busy. Without further ado though, lets dive in!

Starting off, the sound design in this weeks episode was nothing short of fantastic. In particular the bit with the radio static and the Morse Code at the end, with the music fading out and the ominous sound taking over, absolutely sold the scene. As good as it is though, this really shouldn’t be surprising. While Dr. STONE has never been the best looking show, it’s always sounded pretty good. From Tatsuya Katou and Hiroaki Tsutumi’s OST to Jin Aketagawa’s sound design, Dr. STONE has always had a very strong audial identity. I’m really glad to see that continue to hold true as the series moves into this more mystery focused direction. It’ll certainly benefit from it if the series can keep it up.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S3 – 3 [First Contact]”

Dr. STONE S3 – 2 [Desire Is Noble]

We’re back everyone! Welcome to the first (new show) post of the Spring season! I give to you Dr. STONE, what is in my mind the best series Weekly Shonen Jump has had in years. We have a lot to catch up on so lets dive right into it.

Right off the bat, Dr. STONE kicks off the season by asking what it is the drives science. Senku’s answer, as per the episodes title, is greed. Desire. The idea being that this greed, this desire to know more, do more, have more, is what drives us to discover and create new things. That it’s noble! Of course this is meant to endear us to Ryusui. To take what is arguably his worst character trait, his blinding greed for all things, and portray it as something positive. Personally? I’ve never thought it worked. Ryusui always came off as someone who only stuck with everyone else because Senku was the clear path to global domination. I mean, the dude is the smartest person alive and reinventing society every day. It doesn’t matter how greedy Ryusui is if he doesn’t have some way to accomplish it. Maybe this adaptation will help though.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S3 – 2 [Desire Is Noble]”

Dr. STONE S2 Anime Review 65/100

Dr. STONE returns for a 2nd season! If you haven’t read it yet you can find my review for the first season over here. If you already have or just don’t care then welcome to Season 2, Stone Wars. Produced by TMS Entertainment and directed once more by Shinya Iino with the original story by Riichirou Inagaki and original art by Boichi. This is the premier non-battle-battle Shonen except this time with more… well, actual battling. Interested? Then lets jump right in and Warning: There will be spoilers.
Continue reading “Dr. STONE S2 Anime Review 65/100”

Dr. STONE S2 – 11 [Prologue of Dr. STONE]

We did it everyone, we made it to the finale of Dr. STONE S2! It was a bumpy ride no doubt, but Senku and Tsukasa managed to finish strong. And with a season 3 already on the way the ride doesn’t stop here! So without further ado, lets jump into it.

First and foremost lets talk about what’s to come next, both in and out of the story. With a Season 3 already announced, Dr. STONE is about to really expand the scope of its story. From science vs strength, Naturalism vs Modernism, to more of a science fiction mystery about discovering the source of the petrification. For me this is nothing but a good thing as it is here that Dr. STONE really finds its stride. Not only do the conflicts change to better support the science focus, it also allows the series to explore a wider variety of science topics. For many though I can see this shift to being more adventure focused as a bad thing. We no longer have a main villain, a driving antagonistic force. But as a long time fan of the series I can only ask you give it a shot.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S2 – 11 [Prologue of Dr. STONE]”

Dr. STONE S2 – 10 [Humanity’s Strongest Tag Team]

Ding dong the witch is dead… or someone is at least in this weeks episode of Dr. STONE! Lot’s to talk about, some new and some old, so lets dive into it.

As always I want to start with the production. Rather than talk about the combat being about as animated as it usually is though, lets talk about something positive: Lighting and shot direction. These are two of Dr. STONE’s biggest strengths and this episode continues that trend. Whether it be a beachside setting sun or Hyoga’s presence in the foreground of someone else’s shot, Dr. STONE had some great scenes this week. Seriously just look at some of these in the gallery above or the one-offs below. It’s amazing what even a diluted version of Boichi’s art-style can do. His thick and scratchy linework adding so much texture to the furs and outfits of the characters. I wish that Dr. STONE had kept up what it showed early with Homura. But at least it managed to hold onto the stills.

Continue reading “Dr. STONE S2 – 10 [Humanity’s Strongest Tag Team]”