English Dub Review: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Golden Wind: “A Little Story From the Past: My Name Is Doppio”

Overview( Spoilers Below)

As with most Jojo stories, we get another “Obligatory Flashback Episode” but in this case, it delves into the origins of the mysterious antagonist of Golden Wind who at the time of this review has a name and a face that still remain unknown. Or when it is, the face is purposely obscured in shadows. But what we do know is that it paints a unique picture for such a sinister character. Taking place in the year of 1965, a baby boy was birthed by a prison inmate. Minor details are revealed such as the baby’s father had died “two years ago” and his mother had been sentenced to 8 years for “armed robbery”. The unique baby was then raised in Sardegna by a priest, and after another time-skip to 1985, the boy grew into a young teen named “Doppio Vinegar” who eventually met Trish’s mother “Donatella Una”. However, by sheer accident, the priest who raised him discovered that Doppio had some hidden and disturbing secrets under the floor of his bedroom. But not before killing the priest and committing a series of atrocities that pretty much cemented his super-villainy while also faking his death.



When we cut to the actual present on Sardinia, Doppio, who somehow still remains the same youthful age, returns to Sardegna but encounters a mysterious fortune-teller who offers to tell his fortune and determines that the boy is looking for his “fifteen-year-old daughter”, but is understandably confused due to the boy’s own apparent age. And suddenly things take a dark and unexpected turn and everything begins to make sense… It turns out that Doppio has two personalities, giving off some intense Jekyll & Hyde vibes with the other personality not only taking the form of an older, muscular adult male but is revealed to be the very elusive & unknown boss of the Passione Mafia Branch. From a photograph, the fortune-teller predicts the boss will soon encounter the traitor Risotto Nero, the leader and last remaining member of the “Hitman Team”. And since we still don’t know what the Passione Boss’s actual name is or what he looks like at this very moment, It’s a dead giveaway when his Stand “Emperor Crimson” then appears, swiftly executing the fortune-teller. The boss then reverts back to his “Doppio” persona, and under specific instructions, he travels to the “Costa Smeralda” village by taxi.



But despite the random moments of intense homicidal rage that surface whenever the Boss makes his presence known, there’s oddly weird comedic moments that keep things entertaining such as how the boss communicates and instructs Doppio through an unusual method that must be seen to be believed. When Doppio is finally discovered by Risotto, who realizes that Doppio is a Stand user when he reacts to the sound of Narancia’s “Lil’ Bomber” Stand scouting the area, (thereby signifying the arrival of Bruno’s team.) Risotto uses his Stand power simply called “Metallic” which disturbingly almost kills Doppio but it only Injures him internally. While Risotto prepares another attack, the boss “calls” Doppio and tells him to get within two meters of Risotto; this will allow the boss to swiftly take control of their shared body and kill Risotto with their shared Emperor Crimson Stand before Risotto can put the pieces together. And the episode ends on an intense cliffhanger as the Boss gives Doppio assurance that he’ll be fine he has granted a portion of Emperor Crimson’s power to help him.



Our Take

This was Jojo creator Hirohiko Araki delving into such a particular subject as multiple personality disorder but does it with such a very unique approach than making him just another Norman Bates. And the paranoia he gives off is understandable that he’d be this socially awkward and “cringy”, let us not forget that the Boss wants to avoid people knowing about his existence, so having Doppio as some unassuming dopey idiot is the best means to keep a low profile or to be underestimated so he can kill while avoiding suspicion.

While Bruno, Giorno, or even Trish and the rest of the crew were not the focus this time, this still remained a solid episode on its own, and I can’t wait for next week. It’s not often we see villains within the world of Jojo fighting each other, so this should be more interesting than usual.