English Dub Review: Black Torch “Turn Up”

Overview

Jiro, Ichika, and Reiji have been handed a new trial, this time from the “friendly” mononoke Fuyo.

Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, Black Torch finally starts putting some of its pieces together. This was easily the episode I’ve enjoyed the most so far, largely because it provides more context for the characters and their motivations while giving the story a stronger sense of direction. I’m especially enjoying the developing dynamic between Jiro and Rago, and the additional characterization for the supporting cast helps make their actions feel more meaningful. There are still a few questions left unanswered, but for the first time, it feels like the series is starting to find its footing.

The rest of the proceedings also do a good job exploring the characters through their respective struggles, although some of the backstories feel noticeably rushed due to the limited runtime. That makes it difficult to become as emotionally invested as the story seemingly wants you to be. Rago’s characterization was particularly interesting, giving him considerably more depth and making his role in the story more compelling. Unfortunately, the antagonists still leave something to be desired, as their designs and motivations haven’t quite matched the stronger characters we’ve seen elsewhere. The biggest blemish on an otherwise solid episode, however, was the questionable-looking 3D CGI used for Rago’s more significant moments, which unfortunately took away from some of their impact.

Overall, this was a strong step forward for Black Torch and probably the most complete episode the series has delivered so far. While the pacing remains an issue and some of the emotional beats could have benefited from more time to breathe, the additional character development and expanding lore make the story considerably more interesting. There’s still plenty that needs to be explained, but at least the series finally feels like it has something substantial to build on rather than simply throwing new ideas at the viewer.