English Dub Review: Naruto Shippuden “The Brilliant Advisor of the Hidden Leaf”

 Spoilers Below

“The Brilliant Advisor of the Hidden Leaf” took me for a loop. I thought that this week’s episode was going to go head first into Gaara’s battalion fighting the four Kage, but it took a detour. I thought taking time out and showcasing Shikaku, who has been an ancillary character for the ancillary characters, was pretty genius. Shikaku has probably the most intelligent mind in the Leaf, maybe this whole world. He impressed A with a thorough, almost fool proof plan for A to enact.

I loved how the animators included the diagrams from the manga, showing how Shikaku planned to bolster forces, and keep the four Kage from advancing on Gaara’s split position. Showing the traditional fighting game vs. screen was a good touch, as well as going in depth and showing how well thought out the plan Shikaku had was a great touch. He was a underutilized character up to this point, only really showing up when Shikamaru needed some consoling after a terrible thing happened, like the Sasuke retrieval failure or Asuma’s death. He needs more time to shine going forward.

I have a feeling, though, that this is where the story starts to get a little dicey. They introduced a second battlefront in “The Brilliant Advisor of the Hidden Leaf,” with Darui’s company taking on a bunch of white Zetsus, as well as a bunch of reanimated ninja. The Gold and Silver brothers of the Hidden Cloud; Dan, Asuma, and Hizashi Hyuga; and Kakuzu from the Akatsuki. Couple that with the four Kage opposing Gaara’s company, shit is about to get real. But this could be focusing on too much at once. Naruto Shippuden has been at its best when a story in the arc goes from beginning to end, then goes on to the next bit. Kakashi is still fighting with the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, but they didn’t show anything.

I am hoping that the rest of these battles follow the Game of Thrones way of doing things. For example, let Gaara’s company split, and show us Gaara take down the Kage. Then switch over, and show us the fight with Darui’s company taking on Zetsu and the reanimated ninja. Then the two can come back together after the respective stories are over. I am not sure that splitting the fights will be that great of an idea. Then again, I am not a writer for the show.

I love it when episodes for a long running show take a break from the formula it set for itself, and does something completely different. Naruto Shippuden has been really good lately with breaks in the action in this arc. The writing has been pretty superb compared to most of the other anime that has been on television recently, and should be showcased more. But the fact that the newest episodes are relegated to Hulu is a travesty, and doesn’t seem to be fixed soon. I loved “The Brilliant Advisor of the Hidden Leaf,” but it’s time to go back to what makes Naruto, Naruto.