English Dub Review: Akudama Drive: “Black Rain”

Overview: Ordinary (Macy Anne Johnson) and Sister (Laura Stahl) are on the run from Executioners and seek help from Courier (Jonah Scott), while Pupil (Jenny Yokobori) is on the hunt for the Akudama and Doctor (Brittany Lauda) seeks out Brother (Daisy Guevara) with Hoodlum’s (Kellen Goff) help. 

Our Take: Let me ask all you folks something. If you were seen aiding and abetting a band of notorious criminals don’t you think it’d stand to reason you would be considered a criminal as well? Well obviously this logic just didn’t seem to register with Ordinary. I was left scratching my head as to how she could such a stupid decision in choosing to go home. Had it never occurred to her that maybe executioners and the police would think to look for her there? But before she was able to go tumbling down into that pitfall she decided to dig herself a hole by going to a takoyaki stand. And then proceeds to use some kind of cyberpunk cylinder doohickey that serves as some kind of debit card (but way cooler) that can obviously be traced. And you’ll never guess what happens when she uses it. The street vendor and everyone in the vicinity is alerted that she’s an Akudama! But here’s the real kicker. She’s in total disbelief that she’s now labeled as an Akudama. I suppose it’s one thing if she never saw her face before on any electronic billboards or posters. However, I can’t believe it hasn’t dawned on her until now considering how much she’s helped the Akudama, Brother, Sister and how involved she is. Odd choices, to say the least. 

Despite that, Ordinary’s character takes quite the turn. I quite like how she is beginning to recognize that Akudama and Kansai and their Executioners are not that of black and white outlook. Her cutting of shorter hair cut and killing of vicious criminals to protect Sister only reflect her recognizing and reconciliation of the complex gray area that she and some of the other Akudama are in as they must do what they have to at times. While some of them are without a doubt batshit crazy, like Doctor and Cutthroat. Her interactions with Hacker and Courier have shown her that there are Akudama who are simply people with real aspirations and codes of honor that don’t kill indiscriminately or savagely, respectively. This all culminates along with Ordinary finally accepting who she is as Sister and Brother’s guardian as she asks for Courier’s help. It also reflects Courier’s kindness and hypocrisy too as though he preaches about never getting feelings involved in a job and and rejects her at first, Courier can’t help but recognizes Ordinary as a kindred spirit finally finding her way. The scene is a great callback to their first real talk back when they were transporting Brother and Sister. I absolutely adore that there’s no flashback to that moment and it is a momentous payoff for not only them but for people who were attentively watching and invested in them. A top notch subtle character moment and great development. What more could I ask for in an already instant classic. 

As for the actual crazy-ass Akudama, Doctor, like I predicted, is at it again. She’s on the prowl for Brother and like you’d expect she doesn’t give a damn about who she has to kill and man I think I am in love. When she murders that random doctor, her derangement, like her cleavage, is on full display and I am all here for it. Never before have I been so attracted yet so terrified of a woman. Brittany Lauda captures her savagery and savory of the carnage so beautifully it’s scary. I am curious about her interest in Brother’s immortality. I imagine she’ll want it for herself due to her intrigue or perhaps it’s for something else entirely. Doctor ropes in a reluctant Hoodlum into helping her and as Cutthroat reemerges with an intense blood lust, making for an intensive standoff. Also pissed and ready for revenge is Pupil as she grieves over the death of Master and seeks to avenge him. She is also assigned a new partner of her own. Now that she’s been put through the grinder, their partnership, if there is one, will only be that much more visceral and maybe even give her some of her Master’s perspective and that excites me as much as Cutthroat is when he’s slicing and dicing. 

Akudama Drive delivers yet another fantastic episode, with equally standout character driven moments and development. Not to mention throwing in a volatile Doctor, Cutthroat, and Pupil into the mix that will surely make for an explosive conclusion as the season heads towards its finale.