Episode Air Date
24-07-2025
WARNING: The following review contains spoilers forZenshuseason 1, episode 3, “Destiny,” now streaming onCrunchyroll.
Zenshu’sfirst two episodes spent most of their efforts in exposition. Episode 1 provided the anime’s meta-isekai premise. Then, episode 2 proved Natsuko’s (JP: Anna Nagase, EN: Madeleine Morris) powers are not a fluke, earning the trust of her comrades. Now thatZenshu’sprotagonist has settled into the Last Town, its storyline is gaining momentum, and viewers finally get to see what the magical animator can really do.
Season 1, episode 3, “Destiny,” introducesA Tale of Perishing’sarchetypal ‘damsel in distress,’ Destiny Heartwarming. Fortunately, Natsuko’s modern views and flair for anachronism encourage the young maiden to demand more for herself. Genre-defying humor and the implication of a traitorous ally will give viewers a reason to return for episode 4.
A Harvest Festival Reeks of False Security
After subverting an aerial assaultmeant to spread pestilence across the Last Town, Natsuko enjoys a colorful harvest festival instead. It’s a welcome moment of brevity from the tragic story the animator is familiar with fromA Tale of Perishing. However, her new compatriot in the Nine Warriors, Luke Braveheart (JP: Kazuki Ura, EN: Ryan Negron), is ill at ease.
Anticipating another Void ambush, Braveheart pushes his comrades to abandon the festivities and assume guard. However, according to Natsuko, the next Void attack occurs during rainy weather. QJ (JP: Akio Suyama, EN: Derick Snow), the floating sentient computer, confirms rain is not due until next month. So, everything should be fine, right? Not exactly.
In Natsuko’s altered reality, what should have been a funeral for a slain Unio is now a town-wide party. Every danger she subvertsintensifies the Butterfly Effect. How many altered futures will it take for Natsuko’s predictions to become unreliable? A chance meeting between Natsuko and Elder Baobab (JP: Hisako Kyoda, EN: Linda Young) emphasizes the consequences should the animator become too cocky.
True Love (and Luchadors) Enter The Ring
Natsuko and Baobab’s chat promptly moves to the next story beat when a scantily clad heroine with cotton-candy pink hair swirls arrives. Darting across a castle bridge, she collides with Braveheart, initiating a meetcute. Natsuko already knows what’s to come, and she’s not thrilled.
That soft-spoken pink-puffed princess is Destiny Heartwarming (JP: Manaka Iwami, EN: Dani Chambers), Luke’s love interest inA Tale of Perishing.She’s the consummate ‘damsel in distress,‘always finding herself in perilous emergencies that Luke must save her from. A series of film premonitions indicate that her death breaks the young soldier’s morale, leading to disastrous consequences.
Natsuko Influences Destiny (No Pegbar Required)
In the next scene, Destiny informs her father, the mayor of the Last Town, that she will marry the Chairman (a polygamist metrosexual Lord Farquaadwith eight wives played by Japanese and English actors Junichi Suwabe and Reagan Murdock, respectfully) in exchange for him building an orphanage. Of course, that doesn’t prevent the magnetic attraction between her and Luke, which (literally) illuminates the entire dining hall.
Natsuko understands and accepts the connection between Luke and Destiny (despite what Unio’s (JP: Rie Kugimiya, EN: Luci Christian) jibes may imply). However, that doesn’t stop her from looking at Destiny as an enigma. Fortunately, the two become fast friends, and Natsuko rubs off on Destiny significantly.
When the Chairman returns to meet his fiance, Natsuko pokes a hole in one ofA Tale of Perishing’splot points. Why does Destiny need the Chairman to build her orphanage when she can do it herself? The Chairman dresses down Natsuko in response, prompting a declaration from the animator that visibly inspires Destiny:
I’ll dress as I want and live how I want. That’smydefinition of beautiful.
Serval Cat Mask Saves the Day
Destiny’s feminist awakening gets interruptedby QJ, who warns of a Void in the nearby area. Natsuko discovers the Void disguised as a priest, an event meant to occur much later inA Tale of Perishing. A drunken Braveheart is in no shape to battle (thanks a lot, Destiny!), leaving the Last Town’s fate in Natsuko’s hands.
But what can Natsuko draw strong enough to face the gigantic crab-like Void? Serval Cat Mask, of course! The anime aficionado creates aluchador wearing a feline face coveringand provides color commentary as the wrestler suplexes the Void into oblivion.
Of all of Natsuko’s creations so far, Serval Cat Mask feels the most out of left field. This character feels better suited toa shonen anime likeDragon BallthanA Tale of Perishing’sfantasy landscape. Observing the match unfold, the inebriated Braveheart bursts into laughter. Even he understands Natsuko’s creation is blaring, genre-clashing, and non sequitur.
Destiny also takes notice of Serval Cat Mask’s prowess, staring at him in awe. After Natsuko awakens from her animation coma, she meets a cat mask-wearing Destiny at breakfast. The luchadora informs her that she broke off her engagement with the Chairman and plans to build the orphanage herself. It appears the ingenue is learning how to fight her own battles.
A Cliffhanger Hides One Character’s Secret
Season 1, episode 3 is mostly a good time. Even the episode’s most perilous moments get played for laughs. But, while it’s nice to see Natsuko’s creativity expand beyondA Tale of Perishing’sconfines, that joy is short-lived. A telling exchange between Natsuko and Memerun (JP: Minori Suzuki, EN: Alexis Tipton) foreshadows what’s to come.
When thegreen-haired elven womanenters the kitchen, Natsuko asks about her whereabouts during the festival. She wasn’t present during the Void attack, an odd absence considering her responsibility as one of the Nine Warriors. Unio reminds Natsuko that Memerun was signing with a choir to heal the souls of the dead. However, the look on Natsuko’s face conveys that she’s unconvinced.
Can Natsuko and company trust their teammate’s alibi? This B plot takes up very little of episode 3’s screen time. However, its impact feels highly significant. In a mysterious scene, three hooded figures with pointed ears similar to Memerun’s meet with the Void in an alleyway outside the festival, implying these hooded figuresprovided the Void’s effective camouflage.
AsZenshu’scentral conflict unfolds, the Voids’ role as antagonists diminishes. Does Natsuko know something about Memerun that the rest do not? Or does Memerun’s knowledge expand beyond the meta?In stories with divergent futures, a purist often works to maintain the original timeline no matter the cost. It seems Memerun is in a position to play this role.
