English Dub Review: The Darwin Incident “The Struggle for Rights”

‘Everybody Just Sucks!”


Overview

Charlie is finally released from custody with the help of Congresswoman Dafne M. Linares, who ran on the platform of animal rights. When he returns to school, however, the warm reception he once received is now replaced with scorn and slander. Despite all this, Lucy takes steps towards getting Charlie his civil rights.



Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, this chapter slows the pace to focus on Charlie’s attempt at everyday normalcy, particularly through his growing friendship with Lucy and a tentative expansion of their social circle at school. Much of the episode centers on awkward group dynamics, small acts of kindness, and the discomfort others feel around Charlie’s existence, which continues to frame him as an outsider despite his calm, thoughtful demeanor. Lucy remains his most vocal defender, even if she comes across as hot-headed and impulsive, but genuinely loyal, often reacting more strongly to hostility than Charlie himself.

The rest of the proceedings also leans heavily into thematic discussions about identity, prejudice, and moral philosophy, especially where animal rights and personhood intersect. While these ideas are clearly central to the series’ ambitions, their execution here can feel uneven, with debates introduced abruptly and then brushed aside before they’re fully explored. Some character interactions strain believability, particularly in how casually complex scientific or ethical arguments are raised, and the social allegories, while intentional, are presented with little subtlety, making the messaging feel blunt at times rather than organically integrated.

Overall, this is a subdued but deliberate episode that slows things down to strengthen Lucy and Charlie’s dynamic while setting up bigger ideological conflicts. The social commentary can be heavy-handed, but Lucy’s impulsive loyalty and Charlie’s quiet restraint keep the episode grounded and engaging. Even without major plot movement, it sharpens the series’ core question about identity and acceptance, letting tension simmer rather than rushing toward easy answers.