That’s not how the saying usually goes, but if it fits, it fits. Natsuko was a little too arrogant in last week’s episode, so she got a taste of humble pie and a good dose of tough love from her teammates. QJ and Memmeln even get to play key roles in taming the gremlin, which is nice since they tend to fade into the background in most episodes. Luke and Justice finally get a chance to talk and at least get bottled up feelings out into the open. The former also learns that he doesn’t have to be jealous of the latter, because Natsuko simply likes to draw new things. As a child, she drew every conceivable angle of Luke, but Justice is new to her. Last but not least, the blob-turned-giant-centipede is eventually defeated by the entire group. After seeing the light, our heroine draws stairs to help her teammates rather than yet another badass creation to win the battle all by her lonesome like in previous bouts. The rest of the Nine Soldiers — Luke, Unio, Memmeln, QJ — have all been sidelined since Natsuko discovered her powers, but they each finally get to play a role in saving the day this time. Even Justice is crucial in attaining victory this week. This will likely be the team dynamic going forward even if Natsuko remains the primary catalyst for victory. So just like that, everything is wrapped up in a neat and tidy bow. Eat your heart out, one-episode conflicts! We can do two episodes now!
I’m being snarky, but it’s fine. Like always, Zenshu‘s fine. Its straightforward plot beats are carried by good production values, solid directing, and decent voice acting. It might be my favorite anime of the season if only by default (not counting Netflix shows because I’m too cheap to pay for them). Now, don’t get me wrong. Subversion for the sake of subversion doesn’t automatically make a story good. Nor is it about throwing out nonstop unpredictable plot twists that turn everything you know upside down. Like I said last week, it’s not about that. Again, I don’t feel as though Zenshu leans enough into what makes it unique, which is the fact that its heroine is a creator. Sure, it’s cool to see her drawings come to life and kick bug ass, especially when the solution to the problem is zany and whackadoodle like winning over cult members with a bishounen. Nevertheless, this is honestly just a small part of the bigger picture, which is that Natsuko’s insight as a mangaka, a director, and an obsessive fan about this anime world doesn’t really amount to anything other than “She’s brash and thoughtless because she’s scared that you guys will die!” Well, join the club; I’ve yet to meet an anime protagonist who isn’t concerned about their friends. At best, Natsuko’s knowledge and expertise get us a quip about Unio and his penchant for death flags. Hell, the timeline has changed so much, knowing the movie backward and forward no longer really helps.
I’m also not really looking forward to any potential romantic connection between Luke and Natsuko. I was kinda hoping that he would end up with Destiny, not because I think those two are a fire pairing. I simply don’t buy the premise that Natsuko needs to experience real love in order to tell a love story. How real can an isekai love be anyway? Especially when it’s the brave hero from your favorite anime. Ahem, guys, I’ve finally learned true love after being isekai’d into Cowboy Bebop* and hooking up with Faye Valentine. But seriously, like I’ve said before, a lot of successful love stories in books, film, and on TV aren’t remotely real. Sure, you expect Natsuko and Luke to have a thing in an anime like this, but I’m not feeling the chemistry. More than anything, how would they even resolve this subplot anyway? What’s the point of Natsuko learning all these life lessons if she doesn’t take it home to her world and make the best damn anime movie ever? And if she has to go back, what does it even mean for the isekai world and its inhabitants? In a vast majority of isekai series, the protagonist stays in the world (and marries a bajillion wives). On rare occasions, the protagonist will find a way home (and take his bajillion wives with him). So what will Natsuko end up doing? Will she even get a choice by the end of the series? But yeah, it’s mostly the chemistry thing; I haven’t really gotten much outta Luke. He was a bit of a jerk in the first couple of episodes, but that personality trait hasn’t been touched on since. In recent episodes, he’s just been pretty standard like, well, the rest of Zenshu. According to Justice, Natsuko is here to worm her way into his heart, so maybe we’ll get a deeper dive into his character. We’ll see if it’s any good, I suppose.
*Technically, Serial Experiments Lain is my favorite anime, but no, that’s not going to work here.
