English Dub Review: Zenshu “Despair”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Luke suffers more loss and falls into despair, while Memmeln comes up with a certain plan with Meg and Sally.

Our Take:

Things have gone from bad to worse as we’re nearing the end of this surprisingly engaging season.  With Natsuko and Unio being swallowed alive by a Void, Luke is now at risk of letting his anguish get the better of him.  With “Chaos” representing Natsuko’s downfall from hero to traitor, “Despair” continues the show’s domino effect by showcasing Luke’s descent into…well, despair.  Considering the show’s themes around depression and violence and the world’s intended fate, this breaking point was bound to happen, and it didn’t disappoint.  I’ve previously said that Ryan Negron has been doing wonders in capturing Luke’s character growth from a stubborn jerk to a caring yet internally suffering hero whose generosity and mental state are drowned by the endless war against the Voids.  For the season’s remaining episodes, he’s given the task to fully convey the character’s emotional turmoil as he reaches the point of no return, which is him destroying the Soul Future out of anger.  Unsurprisingly, Ryan Negron has accomplished this task, which helped the show become another example of an English dub being as tolerable as the original version.  

Of course, Natsuko has it worse, as she’s facing a fate worse than being eaten alive by a Scribble Void.  Natsuko is actually trapped in a nightmarish realm where she’s been belittled by everyone for her “failures”, emphasizing her guilt over not being able to save everyone.  This is another moment that’s very relatable, especially for those working in the industry when they have to meet everyone’s expectations regarding their talents.  As a result, they wind up pressuring themselves to ensure those expectations are met instead of focusing on the reason for their passion.  In Natsuko’s case, her passion for drawing and animation isn’t just from A Tale of Perishing but also from the film’s character, Luke Braveheart.  However, her competence and pressure over meeting people’s expectations get her into plenty of predicaments, leaving her to doubt her capabilities.  Fortunately, remembering her humble beginnings helped her regain her love for drawing, thanks to the young version of herself.

Unsurprisingly, “Despair” is another episode that displays the show utilizing its isekai genre tropes to showcase its mature thematic material and compelling characters.  For the latter, the episode showcased that Unio has finally accepted Natsuko as an ally, but only to rescue his best friend, Luke.  Regardless, it’s a start for these two knuckleheads.  But, of course, it’s still not without its stylized and visually vibrant presentation that carries its plot and emotional stakes, especially the Scribble Void’s nightmare realm.  This penultimate episode effectively sets the stage for a seemingly exciting finale, finally answering whether fate can be changed.