English Dub Review: Dr. Stone – Science Future Episodes 31-34
OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)
Chrome and Suika unveil their plan, Ryusui makes a sacrifice for the greater good, and Senku makes his final preparations with his chosen team to travel to the moon.
OUR TAKE
We’re entering the final stages of Dr. Stone as everything leads to the launch of the rocket to confront Why-man once and for all. Because this is covering four episodes, naturally a lot happens, which gives a lot of central characters one last chance to do something to show how far they’ve come. Chrome and Suika reveal to Senku and Xeno their return craft plan, which surprises them in that it’s actually how crafts like that were assembled in our time, once again showing how Chrome has a natural acuity for science. But next they have to put together a crew made up of a scientist, a pilot, and a fighter. The immediate assumption is that this would be Senku, Ryusui, and Tsukasa, but we soon see that the latter two have other ideas. Tsukasa decides to put Kohaku to the test and, when she passes, gives her the green light to go on the mission. And while Ryusui is initially chosen, he reluctantly, and I mean RELUCTANTLY nominates Stanley, who is still petrified from when he tried to kill them all. Not only is this a big step forward for Ryusui, someone who takes what he wants and never lets go, but is also a major sign that he is willing to give something up for the greater good of humanity. Maybe there’s hope for this capitalist yet.
Though Stanley does pose an initial problem with how he nearly killed them all, the tables have turned since his petrification, though they do keep Xeno as a sort of hostage in case he tries anything. Now, truly, the Kingdom of Science and humanity as a whole are fully united in this goal to stop the force that petrified them several millennia ago, bringing us to the final three episodes of the series. It’s been a long and winding road full of missteps, explosions, bloodshed, and tears, but it’s all led to this. Where some were single minded or were willing to go it alone, others came in and showed them a path to a brighter future, and now the entire planet is ready to confront its final opponent who basically embodies uncertainty itself. It’s crazy to think we’re so close to the end after spending so much time with these characters and seeing them evolve themselves and society around them, but here’s hoping this rocket sticks the landing and plants its flag.
