English Dub Review: Dr. Stone: Stone Wars: “STONE WARS BEGINNING”

Overview: Senku (Aaron Dismuke), Chrome (Matt Shipman) and Kaseki (Kenny Green) create freeze dried food in order to give themselves an advantage over Tsukasa’s (Ian Sinclair) strong and capable army. Later on, Gen (Brandon McInnis), Senku and Chrome plot to trick the Empire of Might and defeat them without any bloodshed. 

Our Take: Get excited everyone. Because Dr. Stone has officially returned and the Stone Wars have begun! Although, when the episode first kicked off, I admittedly was not quite as exhilarated as Senku usually is. Reason being? I was so nervous the whole first episode was just going to be a recap of last season. Based on Gen’s storytelling to Suika and the rest of the village kids, I thought that’d be the bulk of the episode with a scene at the tail end serving as a prelude to the inciting action to come.  It is a common trope that occurs so often in the beginning of a new season of anime that I felt I was reading the Senku Cola leaves. Thankfully, I was wrong and couldn’t be happier that I was. It only lasts a few minutes and then we’re off to the races on our lesson of the day. 

Science is fun kids. At least, that’s what “STONE WARS BEGINNING” and the series, on a continuous basis, has taught me. To think that the process of making space food serving as the main plot would be so damn exciting. Dr. Stone, just as it has done previously, classically takes mundane items that we’d normally take for granted, like instant ramen, and showcases the scientific process behind it that most probably don’t take into consideration. Because of my lack of intricate scientific knowledge, it’s always a thrill to learn how these simple items are created as I am fascinated as to how scientific processes work in tandem to give us the freeze dried food humanity has come to know and love. The only drawback to this crash course was there was no appearance by Mecha-Senku! 

The unexpected ways Senku will combat Tsukasa’s empire has been increasingly interesting as well. I had just assumed straightforward weaponry such firearms and explosives would be the go-to items in the impending war. I didn’t even stop to consider the critical nature in basics such as relaying information across vast distances and portable food over such things. Granted, if the newest opening is any indication and Senku gets a freaking tank, there will be plenty of cool long forgotten weapons to come. 

 Also it was a bit of stretch to say that Gen, Senku and Chrome are going to Hell for their plan against Tsukasa and his army. Sure it’s underhanded but just like their food and cellphones, they’re using their brains as the muscle in this fight which will help preserve lives along with their “scheme.” I think they can be forgiven for a little trickery but who knows? Perhaps that deception will form a rift between the trio and the rest of Ishigami Village and create a new subplot. Hopefully if it is done, it doesn’t feel forced, there’s some dramatic weight and it’s executed properly. Especially considering this is an 11 episode season and there’s no time for any unnecessary baggage in the way of superfluous storylines. 

The Kingdom of Science detonating the sonic bomb acts as a signification of the beginning of the battle and serves as a great ending to kickstart the action in this shorter arc. I’m ten billion percent sure that it’s only going to get better and more exciting from here.