English Dub Review: Akudama Drive “Speed”

Overview: After the team narrowly manages to board the Shinkansen, not only must they contend with the Executioners but also a series of traps onboard the train as well. To make matters worse, they only have ten minutes before it’s game over. 

Our Take: “Speed” isn’t just a really awesome Keanu Reeves flick, but also the name of the game this time around for our merry band of misfits. Right from the onset, it doesn’t take one long to realize that this episode moves at an incredibly fast pace (if it wasn’t already glaringly obvious by the name). But what is impressive is how even with that, it is able to switch between each group well due to how it balances screen time effectively. As a result, one group never feels diminished under one another. Like a Jenga game straight out of hell, the episode throttles back and forth, focusing on how the Akudama take each piece of their challenge apart and all the while trying not to topple over. This IS the method to the madness, however, as the edge of my seat was always within reach and had myself questioning at times how they would make it out of this scrap in time.  

Each group’s situation grew increasingly more dire and exciting as the episode went on. For one thing, it was really interesting to see Brawler get backed into a corner during his rematch with Master. The character has, thus far at least, been relatively simple. To truly see him waver due to another’s resilience was a nice character moment and an aspect I did not expect from him. Suffice to say, it was all the more gratifying when he chooses to rise to the occasion and takes the fight seriously. Then there’s Courier and the Doctor trying to subdue the Pupil. There is a tidbit of insight learned about our stoic delivery boy as to how he handles his enemies. While interesting it may however, present a bit of a plot hole especially with what he was seemingly going to do with Ordinary in the first episode. Eagle eyed viewers will no doubt know what it is I’m referring to. It could be addressed later on as the series progresses and if so would therefore render this possible criticism mute. To be fair, what he said could be open to interpretation so that’s also a factor too. Also, there’s Hacker, Black Cat and the gang trying to make their way to the vault. Not much to say on this front. It’s not quite as engaging as the other ongoing fights due to nothing particularly threatening for how talented Hacker is, even with time constraints. But it is fun enough to keep the pace up. Lastly, Black Cat being a small boy definitely threw me for a loop. I had seen the kid before in images but assumed it was a backstory for Ordinary due their physical similarities. Good twist. I can’t wait to see how Akudama Drive subverts my expectations as it continues.