English Dub Review: The World Is Dancing “In Between”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Oniyasha and Kogane struggle to accept Toku’s fate.

Our Take:

Just as things start to go well for Oniyasha and Kogane, they’re immediately hit by the rocks of reality.  While watching people dance is a fun experience, especially for those who love dancing, the series tends to remind us that it is also based on historical events, both the good and the bad.  This week’s episode is no exception, as Toku meets an unfortunate demise following his arrest.  In historical dramas like The World Is Dancing, I believe emotion plays a key role in depicting specific dramatic moments, especially character deaths.  With proper direction for genuine emotion, they can capture the same sentimentality as the eras depicted in our history books.  Do it poorly, and they’ll end up as emotional as a Lifetime movie.

The World Is Dancing has been facing an uphill battle with its handling of tonal shifts from comedy to drama.  While I still find some of them amusing, they occasionally overshadow the dramatic weight the show intends to accomplish.  Fortunately, “In Between” found a more tolerable balance between drama and wackiness, with more emphasis on the former.  Despite the English dub falling short in capturing its emotional grasp, the episode delivers a sentimental reflection on the mistreatment of the forgotten.  It also highlights Oniyasha’s determination to use dance to honor the less fortunate and call out the Shogun’s greed, showing art at its best when it reflects our reality.  This led to a more enticing play called “Sotoba Komachi” that takes a different direction than everyone anticipated.  In short, “In Between” found the right footing in its tone while displaying its subtly emotional themes with good enough results.