Summary
The following article contains spoilers forDr. StoneScience Future Episode 2, titled"Science Journey", is available to stream onCrunchyroll.
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When it comes toDr. Stone, we’ve come to expect all science adventure, with mind-blowing science experiments, big scenes and action on steroids, and a speed that even makes a rocket appear sluggish. Season 4, Episode 2, however, has a change of pace and sort of takes a break, literally—for the crew. This episode had all the elements required for a fantastic follow-up, but it was much closer to the ‘slice of life’ genre, allowing viewers to just get a glimpse of the happy normalcy before what looks set to be a science-based tropical storm.
In its essence,Dr. Stonestill stands as rather unmatched in the science anime department. It does not only give us comic relief, but it also educates us on matters of science and weaves it into the storyline. Nevertheless, even this genius formula may be somewhat slow sometimes to develop when the speed decreases. Unfortunately, the latter is the fact in the case of episode 2.
A Breath of Fresh Air—or Stale Science?
The only thing that this Episode 2 did wonderfully was that it provided the viewers with a break. The episode is somewhat slow compared to thehigh-energy opening of season 4, but this was probably necessary forany storyline to develop in the series. But it is difficult not to have the feeling that the show is capable of doing much more. When you have a show as grandiose asDr. Stone, episodes such as this one could easily be seen as ‘one of those in-between’ episodes, but they do provide some progression to the story.
The viewers of the show have become accustomedto having fast-paced leaps and amazing scientific demonstrations. What should have been an excellent continuation was a rather bland experience offering glimpses of the characters transforming and new interpersonal relationships.
Slow Science and Mixed Drinks
How Did No One Have Sea Sickness?!
François took up the role of the crew’s bartender of sorts, and that had to have been one of the cutest scenes of the episode. It was really entertaining to watch François mix the respective cocktails for the team; at least, it provided us with a glimpse of the bonding atmosphere onboard the ship. Still, spending so much time on this particular subplot only felt like enjoying a too long and unrelated side story.
The rest of the episode did pretty much the same, with someflashbacks and focusing on the characters’ development. These scenes themselves were very touching, but I feel like they were not as intense as the live shows are often expected to be. The writers are now cooling up the tale for the release of an enormous plotline, but this pacing has stretched the patience of fans.
Calm Before the Storm—or Lost Momentum?
We Might Be In For A Ride
Let’s be real: Of all the shōnen,Dr. Stoneis perhaps one series that heavily relies on the advantage of momentum. It’s better when it’s an action show barreling forward, pulling the audience along at the speed of discovery. The second episode was as laid back as a Sunday morning walk in the park. While there isn’t anything inherently wrong with that, and in most cases some fans may appreciate such an approach, the absence of anyscientific discovery or major plot progressionmade this episode feel rather bland.
That being said, one gets an assurance that all this forms part of a grand strategy and design. Also known as the dossier before the storm, right? With the crew now being in America, possibly the most interesting scenes in the series are associated with this episode. We can only hope the next episode will live up to that promise.
America: The Promised Land. Well, Eventually
The American Dream!
We waited anxiously for this big moment, and finally we saw the crew landing in America. Which was just a glimpse at the end, but there’s that feeling that we are up for something intense after the crew chilling for so long; something sinister is bound to happen. That said,we ought to give credit where credit is due: the episode does leave open some interesting possibilities for the next few episodes, and there were some nice flashback moments, and reviving Homura, Moz, and Hyoga was well either childish or extremely smart; only time will tell.
The crew is to set forth on the exploration of America, and there is no doubt that something new is bound to turn up, but the gradual process through which all this is introduced leaves much to be desired for an exciting moment. And it is like being offered a cocktail before dinner and being told the dinner will be ready in an hour—you can’t help but feel a little impatient.
F-Finally! We’ve made it! We’ve arrived at the Americas
Dr. StoneSeason 4,Episode 2,was quite a hit-and-miss experience. On one hand, it gave some of the characters much-needed rest and was a breather before many of the adventures got started. On the other hand, it was unable to build on this foundation, which is the essence that defines the series. Many fans had been waiting for the crew’s journey to America, so this episode was but a tease rather than an episode.
Dr. Stone
Based on Riichiro Inagaki’s shonen manga, the Dr. Stone anime takes place thousands of years after a cataclysmic event turned humanity into stone. Awakening in a Stone Age-style world, Senku sets out to speedrun humanity’s growth through the power of science.
