If extremism is the foundation for absurdism and absurdism is the greatest form of comedy the logic cannot help but suggest that Toriko is the greatest comedy of all!
What They Say:
The one they call Zebra is released from prison just in time for Monster Season and a showdown with the horrifying Forrest Goblin! After he eats lunch, of course!
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
The opening scene of this episode goes straight for the gut in terms of completely absurdest comedy and pulls it off with only a slight hitch. News of Zebra’s release has reached across the Human World and because of this the stock market has plummeted and prices on ingredients have sky rocketed. This kind of world building setup is what Toriko does best; it finds out just how ridiculous it can go with a particular concept and runs with it to the max. This political turn doesn’t go so far that the viewer would just roll their eyes and say “yeah, right!” Instead, it strikes the perfect chord that makes us keep coming back to the show. We know how ridiculous it is and it only gets crazier as it goes on which adds to the excitement instead of becoming exhausting. The opening scene is also where the episode presents its only real flaw…Tina. I know, I know; I keep harping on her being a filler character that has the potential to destroy the show, but its true. Her appearance here is actually done well as it gives viewers a familiar lens from which we learn of how the world is reacting to Zebra’s release. The problem? She “just” got back from her journey on the Gourmet Carriage…you know, the voyage that lasts two years!! This is a glaring plot hole that just tears apart the believability of the world the series has created; and for what?, just to have this terrible character be in the episode and act as our lens!? No, I disapprove in general but this is inexcusable. We need to start a petition of some sort to try and convince Japan to stop putting Tina in these episodes, especially when it destroys continuity. But anyway, a small quibble for the first 5 minutes of the episode; time for the good stuff!
We then cut back to the Honey Prison where Komatsu has prepared a giant feast for Zebra’s “prison release” party. Yes, the most feared man in all of the Human World that simple news of his release has sent civilization into a Great Depression of sorts is getting a feast and a party AT THE PRISON!! Here we get our first real look at Zebra: he is a mountain of a man that all but eclipses Toriko in shear size and muscle mass, his face is scarred with a half Glasgow Smile that is used so effectively that depending on the camera angle either makes him the most menacing looking man in anime history or just another beefy guy in a series of beefy guys. It’s a wonderful contrast that allows the character to flip moods instantly and be thoroughly convincing the whole time. During the feast the comedy level continues to rise due to the absurdity given by the appearances of the characters, their “wardrobe” (Zebra takes a slight nod from Franky in One Piece and only wears a Spandex thong), and the dialogue. Once things settle down a bit, we are informed by Oban that it is not the best time for Zebra to be released as Monster season has just begun and it is too dangerous to venture outside.
It is then explained that the area where Honey Prison is located has four distinct seasons: Magma, Mist, Freeze, and Monster. If that isn’t the most beautiful setup for a Shonen show to have a plausible excuse for awesome monster fights then I don’t know what is! This news is accompanied with the fact that the strongest monster in the region, the Forest Goblin/Magma Turtle, is right outside the prison. Time for Zebra to show us his stuff and finally give us the reason for his imprisonment. With the monsters standing outside the prison, Zebra moves out and begins to display some of his power while Toriko is inside explaining exactly what he can do to Komatsu. All of Zebra’s senses are extremely heightened. He can hear the slightest sound from dozens of kilometers away, he can manipulate his voice to create shock-waves that can create a myriad of attacks, and his appetite is practically insatiable. He is able to easily hunt, destroy, and devours animals at an extremely high rate and was responsible for single-handedly making 26 different species go extinct; this is why he was placed on death row, this why Toriko needs his help to capture the Mellow Cola, and this is why the world was thrown into chaos at the news of his release. As this is being explained, Zebra quickly dispatches all of the monsters outside and prepares to eat all of them.
The episode finishes out with Toriko, Komatsu, and Zebra aboard a Lift House, which is literally a lift (such as the ones used to climb ski slopes) where each carrier is a full house, as they cross the Sand Garden on their way to the Gourmet Pyramid. With tensions constantly high between Komatsu’s completely rational fear of Zebra and the fact that Zebra and Toriko are constantly about to start fighting, excitement is at an all time high for the series. What will happen once they reach the Gourmet Pyramid? No one can be quite sure at this point in time but one thing is for certain: it will be fun, full of action, and crazier than anything you’ll have seen before!
In Summary:
This single episode encapsulates everything about Toriko that there is to love and be excited about. Not only does it display the highest level of creativity in creating its characters and environment, it isn’t afraid to reach for the sky and push boundaries. You may think you’ve seen it all when it comes to Shonen fighting shows but Toriko seems to be on a permanent quest to up the ante while never losing its sense of fun and lightheartedness. If you can laugh, stare in awe, and anticipate what will happen next with each episode then this is a point in which you will exponentially increase your reactions.
Grade: A-
Streamed By: Funimation
Review Equipment:
Sony BRAVIA KDL55EX720 55-Inch 1080p 3D LED HDTV, Built-in Hulu Plus app
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