English Dub Review: Dr. STONE “The Age of Energy”

Overview (Spoilers Below)

The gang hypothesizes that, due to the oncoming winter, Tsukasa and the Empire of Might won’t be prepared to fight until after the season is done. While the Kingdom of Science prepares for their own winter, Senku also has them working hard at inventing the beginnings of the cell phone. To make it, though, he claims that they first need to invent a cotton candy machine. This shocks and perplexes Gen, of course, while the other villagers are left confused. Once they successfully make it, though, the Kingdom of Science is crazy over cotton candy. Homura spies from a distance, and Senku — knowing her presence — leaves her some cotton candy in the woods.

The reason they needed a cotton candy machine, though, was to test how it could spin gold wire. Once they make gear out of Kohaku’s shield, they’re able to spin the gold wire out. However, since the wire distance needs to be miles long, Senku gets the entire village to start twisting the wire out.

Under Senku’s nose, Chrome and Kaseki work on a secret invention, which they finish after days of nonstop work. They present it to Senku and the villagers: a water wheel. This way, they can generate electricity without having to do so much manual labor. Senku is in awe and declares that the age of “manpower” is over. The Kingdom of Science has officially gained a hydroelectric power plant.

Our Take

Every feat that the Kingdom of Science achieves is individually special on its own accord. Despite the fact that every episode seems to feature some kind of new invention, Dr. STONE still finds a way to highlight how incredible each specific achievement is. For example, the creation of the cotton candy machine was unlike anything they’d ever tackled before because none of the villagers had ever had candy. It was a fun feat to achieve on an intellectual scale, but also, a character scale.

Then there’s the hydroelectric power plant — or, “the water wheel.” This was rewarding to watch because it was something that Chrome himself came up with, without the suggestion or help from Senku. Watching Chrome — the former top scientist of the village — come up with something way beyond his limited experience as a scientist was heartwarming because it very well may be one of the key factors in defeating the Kingdom of Might. In addition to that, Chrome and Kaseki single-handedly sprung the Kingdom of Science hundreds of years into the future with that technology. It’s very exciting to see how this is going to change the game.

As for Homura, it’s unclear whether she’ll wind up switching sides or not. Senku will surely turn a few heads from the Kingdom of Might with his inventions, but Homura’s dedication to Tsukasa and the tribe may be too strong. In any case, more development on her would be nice. Aside from a few weird animation/sound blips (such as at the water wheel), this was yet another solid episode.