English Dub Review: Stand My Heroes: Piece of Truth “Piece 07”

Overview (Spoilers Below)
Rei and Aoyama enter the Kujo mansion and begin their meeting with Soma Kujo. Rei attempts to convince Soma Kujo to join STAND, but Kujo shows no interest in the proposition. Trying to get them off his back, Kujo introduces the idea of scouting others who have ties to himself, and are more fit for the position. Aoyama condescendingly interjects that Rei isn’t able to pick which candidates she scouts. Aoyama then states that he’s happy to find out why he was chosen as a potential candidate, much to one of Kujo’s bodyguard’s chagrin. After this, Soma Kujo dismisses the two from his mansion (though Rei promises to return).

Back at the DCD, the fellow members discuss the above meeting and plan out their next move: to just keep trying until they get somewhere with him.

Soon after, Rei heads over to Revel’s meeting spot, in an attempt to gain details on the Kujo family. Citing their friend Hiyama’s close relationship with Soma Kujo, however, they decline to look into the matter.

Later on, Rei arrives back at the Kujo mansion, with gift in tow. The musclehead bodyguard Kirishima confronts her and thinks she’s here to bother Soma Kujo. However, Rei states that she’s actually there to see Miyase, the bodyguard she chatted with in the previous episode.

Upon arrival, Rei gives Miyase the gift. She tries to strike up a discussion, but Miyase shuts her out. Kirishima attempts to escort her back to the bus station, but not before realizing via another bodyguard’s tray that Kujo may be unwell. With a thunderstorm rolling in soon after, Kirishima invites Rei to stay the night.

As the moon lurks above, Rei awakens and searches for a bathroom. Along the way, she overhears Kujo in his office discussing something on the phone. Kujo states he’ll take care of the sales records for “that drug,” leading Rei to believe that Kujo is connected to Plus’ redistribution.

Trying to retreat away from Kujo’s office, Rei bumps into Miyase. The two discuss what kind of person Kujo is to everyone at the home, alongside a possible secret the Kujo family is hiding. To try and prove Soma Kujo’s innocence, Miyase takes her to the white-haired bodyguard. The bodyguard hacks into the local system files to retrieve more concrete details on Soma Kujo’s business. He soon pulls up a file on a drug, which Rei recognizes as Plus.

Our Take
The way this episode played out honestly took me by surprise. It’s nowhere near a masterpiece or anything, but I was genuinely enjoying the plot the whole way through. The series doesn’t shove in any of its trademark flaws either, a refreshing step in the right direction for sure.

Surprisingly enough, the dramatic elements are pretty well developed this time around. I actually felt highly invested in Rei looking into the mysteries of the Kujo family. It legitimately felt suspenseful the entire way through. When Rei’s walking around late at night, one can tell just from the atmosphere and background music that something intense is about to happen. This is what I wish the majority of the show would have focused on. It’s certainly the show’s ace up its sleeve. I’d much rather watch the drug-related mysteries unfold than continue to meet a multitude of unnecessary, underdeveloped characters.

I definitely can also say I appreciate the detailed characterization of the Kujo family members within. They each have traits that make them unique from each other. It’s rather impressive honestly, given how most characters have yet to receive this level of characterization. The rest of the main cast can be summed up into two groups: nice or angry. It makes me wish that the show would do more to craft its characters into unique individuals. With a lack of traits, they all start to just blend together in a tidal wave of blandness. Still, the way the Kujo family is characterized here is definitely a noticeable improvement.

Of course, there’s always a downside when it comes to this series. For starters, what’s up with the conversation between the DCD members regarding their next move? I can’t make heads or tails of why this is their next decision. From what I can tell, it basically boils down to keep trying until they get somewhere with the Kujo family. I get that they’re in between a rock and a hard place here, but it feels like the accumulation of lazy writing. Why not something more secretive? Get someone on the inside perhaps to fish out clues. I just don’t get why the DCD members come up with this solution out of all things.

Additionally, Rei’s discovery while overhearing Kujo’s phone call seems a tad bit underdeveloped. All Soma Kujo states is he’ll dispose of the sales records for “that drug.” Yet, Rei seems to put two and two together and start thinking that he’s in on something sinister. I believe the context here is if he’s removing the sales records of a drug, it must be something he doesn’t want anyone to see. It’s a minor nitpick, but I feel as though Kujo’s conversation could have had some descriptive vernacular added to it. That way, it would further cement the realization that Kujo’s up to no good. “That drug” just lacks any emphasis on what he truly is discussing, thus being a possible point of confusion.

All in all, a fairly decent outing for the books. There’s still a lot more work to do here, but this is most definitely an improvement over the past few weeks. Dare I say it, but I may just be excited for what’s to come next.