English Dub Review: Tower of God “The Green April”
https://youtu.be/NHZD2yD12dY
Overview (Spoilers Below):
The Tower’s bonus test, “The Crown Game,” intensifies further as everyone attempts to dethrone Anaak. Anaak’s team fights to maintain their lead and in the process a lot more is learned about these supporting players within the Tower. Many powerful new threats reveal themselves in their efforts to take out Anaak, but in the end it’s Bam’s possession of the Black March that gets her attention more than anything else. Bam’s powerful weapon puts a lot of unwanted attention on him as he’s put in Anaak’s crosshairs. As the battle for the crown rages on, it becomes clear that Bam and Anaak’s weapons are the key to victory and so much more.
Our Take:
Get ready to bow before your new Tower of God God, Anaak!
Tower of God is an anime that is full of extremely diverse characters. The series has done an excellent job with the variety in the species that have come in contact with Bam during his journey to the top of the Tower. There are a number of human individuals in this test, like Bam, Khun, and Rachel, but characters like Rak reflect a much more monstrous side of Tower of God’s characters. Last week’s episode even had what was more or less a sentient plastic bag sidle up to Bam’s group.
Anaak is someone who’s immediately looked like one of Tower of God’s most interesting characters from the first moment that she was seen. Her distinct look as some long lost cousin of the Ninja Turtles does her a lot of favors on a visual level, but her performance at the start of “The Crown Game” also establishes how she’s one of the most competent opponents that’s in the Tower. Anaak has been kept to the sidelines so far, but “The Green April” begins to peel back her layers and provides some details on why she’s gotten herself involved in this ultimate challenge.
After many episodes where Tower of God has blazed through its plot, “The Green April” is the first installment that really slows things down. The entire entry takes place within “The Crown Game” and it allows this bonus test to change and develop over the course of the episode. In spite of how this is billed as a superfluous bonus test, it definitely feels important due to the level of attention that it receives and the impressive strategies that each of these teams put into play. In that sense, “The Green April” is just as effective as a character study on some of the anime’s supporting cast as it is a chaotic free-for-all action showcase. It’s a smart time for Tower of God to take a breather instead of cramming all of this into the first act and then moving onto the next test.
“The Green April” gives Bam and his team a bit of a break while the episode instead turns to Anaak and her teammates, Hatz and Shibisu. The team discuss some interesting strategies for how to best hold onto their lead in “The Crown Game,” but it more so reveals the doubts and inadequacies that fill Shibisu and Hatz. They may both feel useless, especially when Anaak is unflinching in the face of danger, but oddly they find a kinship in their mutual fears and really bond over it. As Anaak maintains domain on the throne, Shibisu and Hatz get to show off their skills and do a decent job against their opposing team.
These opposing fighters get a nice opportunity to shine here, but by far the most interesting character from this team is Lero Ro. He’s the one that seems like he’s at a slumber party instead of a fight. This sleepy approach to battle turns out to have been a way to charge up and channel his Shinsu, which he launches at Anaak and finally gets her attention. Lero Ro looks like an actual challenge for Anaak and he tries to use his Shinsu to intimidate her. The exercise only causes her Green April to violently respond and overwhelm the arena with vines. It’s not long until Lero Ro’s team forfeits the bonus test and Bam’s team is pushed to step in, despite his reservations.
Khun demonstrates once again why he’s such an awesome character with his performance on the battlefield. He playfully welcomes combat between the other fighters and then figures out clever ways to turn them against each other and then just revel in the carnage. The best twist here is that Khun has produced a fake crown, which is what he has everyone tearing each other apart over. While everyone else is lost in this madness he casually hands the real crown to Bam and they gain the upper hand. It’s another fun example of how he’s able to rise above his competition and a nice return to form after his setback in “The Correct Door.” Khun definitely has his groove back.
One of the most interesting aspects of this episode is the implications towards the relationship between Bam’s Black March and Anaak’s Green April. The two react to each other in intense ways, but it’s unclear if these weapons are meant to aid one another or be used in opposition. Anaak also explains that there are thirteen of these powerful tools and since only two of them have been unveiled so far it’s an exciting prospect to think of others showing up over the course of the season to throw Bam and company off their game. It could be very interesting to see an entire team of people that’s comprised of fighters who wield these weapons, although Princess Yuri is already quite eager to retrieve the March from Bam.
Anaak’s obsession over Bam’s possession of the Black March becomes so intense that she actually temporarily pulls herself off the throne to confront him on the topic. Anaak is determined to bring this weapon back to the Jahad family and is borderline insulted to see Bam’s use of it. This anger is what ultimately forces Bam and his team back into the bonus test and leads to an exciting ultimatum regarding Bam and Anaak’s weapons.
The growing saga between Bam and Rachel continues to evolve in compelling ways. Rachel exhibits a true callousness here and it seems like her only concern is to get to the top of the Tower, even if that means crushing whoever is in her way. Bam still hasn’t gotten the opportunity to talk with Rachel, but he struggles to believe that this is actually her due to how different she acts. The final moments of the episode see Rachel basically sign the death warrants for Bam and his teammates, so clearly she’s moved on from her former “friend.” It’s an intriguing thought regarding whether Rachel has actually gone through some kind of transformation, or if Bam was just blind to her true motives the entire time. He certainly seems naïve enough to get lost in his own narrative or be manipulated.
“The Green April” is one of the better looking episodes of Tower of God so far. There’s a lot of action to digest here with a ton of different fighting styles on display. The busier scenes offer up so much and once Anaak’s Green April goes nuts it all becomes even more stunning. Around all of the action there are also some enjoyable moments where humor gets a chance to naturally come forward. Lero Ro and Anaak’s commiseration mid-battle over the importance of a good nap is a really fun exchange.
“The Green April” is really Cherami Leigh’s episode to own. Leigh has voiced plenty of prolific characters in other series, ranging from Sword Art Online’s Asuna Yuuki to Sailor Moon’s Sailor Venus, but she’s already making Anaak stand out as one of her most memorable performances. Anaak’s focused battle style is still in fine form, which reflects a more serious side of Leigh, plus her threats to Bam about the Black March are genuinely menacing. However, the hints towards Anaak’s past with her family help soften the character and turn her into less of a mysterious stereotype.
Tower of God delivers another satisfying and exciting episode with “The Green April.” Despite the installment’s preoccupation with “The Crown Game,” flashbacks to several characters’ pasts help the episode feel less claustrophobic in scope. The series delivers another twist in the tests of the Tower that doesn’t disappoint and the way in which “The Green April” balances action with character development and world-building is particularly strong.
Rachel’s going to learn very quickly that if you come at the king, you best not miss.
