USA, USA!
What They Say:
Episode #7: “Secret Mission”
The Review
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
I had been wondering what Senku’s friends had been up to the entire time they were with the brute kingdom. While I’m still unsure what Taiju was up to, Yuzuhira was busy with an insane plan. Based on a kernel of information that Senku once told her, she had been busy collecting and reassembling the broken bodies that Tsukasa smashed with the hope of maybe unpetrifying them someday. It seems like a fool’s errand, and I still think this stone nonsense is just that, which makes it seem even more futile.
With the return of Chrome, preparations are almost complete for Senku to make his move. Taiju and Yuzuriha work with Nikki to convince the meeker members of the brute kingdom to switch sides. They buy the idea that the US is coming to rescue them, and that if they just sit tight everything will be okay. There’s an unintentional level of hilarity at the idea of a US fleet rescuing these kids from the stone age. Nobody seems to question how this is possible. Gen keeps up his act until the one person who could call them on their bluff arrives.
Ukyo eventually stumbles on the record-listening party and doesn’t buy into Gen’s fakeout. We’re treated to some phonetically pronounced English from the Japanese voice actors as they are forced to hide their plans behind broken English. (I can never figure out why Japan doesn’t use voice actors who are bilingual for their foreign characters. If there are bilingual Vtubers, you can find a bilingual voice actor to really sell your plot.) Ukyo already looked like he was one good argument from bailing on Tsukasa, but all he wants from Senku is a promise of no more killing.
It turns out that a large majority of Tsukasa’s group, including him, think the gas attack which killed a bunch of his followers was Senku’s doing. We know it was Hyoga, and Ukyo appears to know that also. Senku is quick to tell Ukyo that he doesn’t want bloodshed, and our sonar operator readily agrees to stand down and let Senku prove he can do this coup without bloodshed.
With Yo faking his death (which Tsukasa accepts for some reason), team brute is down another power player. That leaves only Hyoga on Tsukasa’s side, but the ripped assassin is a snake in the grass. It’s just a matter of time before he turns on Tsukasa. As the episode closes out, Senku’s team is advancing on the miracle cave with the intention to take it over. We get our hero shot of the group launching themselves into a shock and awe campaign to drive off the guards.
In Summary:
The operation is a go. With Chrome retrieved and the seeds of rebellion planted in the more friendly and accepting members of Tsukasa’s tribe, Senku and team science can make a big play for the miracle cave. Yet Tsukasa may not be the ultimate evil, because his right-hand man lacks all of his ideals and possesses all of his might-makes-right ways. Most surprising of all is that Senku’s friends haven’t just been sitting on their laurels this entire time. Yuzuriha hasn’t given up hope that the shattered might be revived. Senku’s biggest gamble might pay off, but how does he expect to hold the cave against Tsukasa’s forces?
Episode Grade: B +
Streamed by: Crunchyroll & Funimation
