English Dub Review: Tokyo Revengers: “Odds and Ends”

Overview: Reeling from Hinata’s (Lizzie Freeman) death, Takemichi (AJ Beckles) and Naoto (Griffin Puatu) seek out Draken (Sean Chiplock) for insight on Toman’s downfall, giving them new goals and targets. 

Our Take: This series has a knack for kicking and stomping Takemichi and Naoto while taking the time to throw dirt in their faces as well. And let me assure you this time is no different. But as this episode shows, they always scrub it off twice as hard and head right back into the filth.  

The pain and mess this time of course being Hinata’s death at the hands of Akkun. Her funeral is a difficult scene for both characters but the real credit goes to Hanagaki. This is a proving moment in how much his strength and will has developed over the course of the season, especially in providing emotional support for Naoto. But of course, this also works to further reaffirm our crybaby hero and his conviction to save his friends and the love of his life. 

But goodness gracious, what an entanglement they are in. To make sense of it all, they seek out one of Toman’s highest ranking members, none other than Draken himself, who is now imprisoned and on death row. He is another classic example of how the time traveling implications the show has established in how just because the intended changes to the timeline were made, doesn’t mean it won’t have unforeseen ripples elsewhere. The story revelation sets up the deadly coercing of Draken from Kisaki that could still come to pass even with Takemichi’s involvement. It nicely lays out all of the objectives in sight in that of figuring out why Takemichi broke up with Hinata, who Kiseki truly is and the circumstances that led to Draken ending up in prison, along with Hanma’s involvement in Hina’s death. 

This helps create a clear set of goals in motion for Hanagaki to tackle. But it also interestingly brings up just as many questions and intrigue as to how it all transpired and/or if it will change in future, for better or worse. The episode ends with Takamichi being transported back to the past in a public bath with Mikey and Draken. As well as continuing to show just their strong heartwarming brotherhood in the past, it serves to show how happy they are comparatively to their present selves that we’ve seen thus far. Even Mikey, as even though we haven’t seen him in the present as of yet, based purely on Naoto’s information and the state of Toman, shows the stark difference. With that being said, hopefully that change feels gradual and not conveniently contrived for the sake of the plot and in an attempt to force sentiments that haven’t been properly cultivated.  But with Takemichi seemingly going to be there for a while, hopefully that won’t be an issue.  

It also seems that Takemichi’s goal of becoming a division captain may have already come true, potentially speeding along the progression of him eventually becoming Toman’s leader. You will see a lot “potentials” because with how fragile Tokyo Revengers has shown the stream of time to be as a stone’s throw could cause a dam to rupture. But it’ll probably be a train wreck that I can’t take my eyes away from, if this the story thus far has been any indication.