English Dub Review: Tower of God “Beyond the Sadness”

 

Overview(Spoilers Below):

Hot off the heels of the bloody fallout of the position selection tag test, “Beyond the Sadness” takes place during a much-needed period of healing and reflection. Rachel’s injury allows her and Bam to at last have the conversation that they’ve needed to engage in since the start of the series. The two are grateful to be able to honestly confide in one another, but there’s severe damage done—both emotionally and physically—that may sever Bam and Rachel’s bond. The two commit to each other in new ways, and Bam’s dedication inspires the rest of the Regulars in various ways as everyone prepares for the next big test. When Rachel gets pushed into a corner, it turns out that it’s more than just Bam who come to her aid, but these latest acts of chivalry open Bam and company up to a whole new set of dangers.

Oh, and Rak gets shrunk, y’all!

Our Take:

Tower of God has done an effective job so far with how it balances the many different characters and motivations that drive the series forward. There are plenty of reasons to watch this anime and even though Bam and Rachel’s mysterious bond may not be the most fascinating story thread to some people, it’s undeniably a major part of the series. Tower of God has spread its focus across its diverse cast so Bam’s Rachel obsession has never been too overbearing, but “Beyond the Sadness” is the first episode that really makes it the centerpiece and seriously explores the nature of this plotline.

The previous nine episodes of Tower of God have created considerable tension over Bam’s pursuit of Rachel, but episode ten here provides the satisfying payoff. Bam finally reaches his goal and he and Rachel have a chance to truly talk without any other tests or distractions in the way or obfuscating the truth. This is paramount their relationship, but the unfiltered honesty ignites new fires while it extinguishes the old ones. “Beyond the Sadness” is easily Tower of God’s most emotional and contemplative episode yet.

Due to the events of the position selection assignment, Tower of God has given the audience a bit of a breather from Khun during the past few episodes. Fortunately, “Beyond the Sadness” doesn’t just break that trend, but the installment also reveals just how busy he’s actually been during the events of the Tag test. Khun may not have been participating in the competition, but it turns out that he’s helped influence the outcome as much as anyone that was actually involved. He’s been pulling the strings to help stack the deck, with Hoh as his main target, which makes the character’s poignant end in the previous episode carry a little more weight behind it. “Beyond the Sadness” is another example of how Khun should not be underestimated and the reminder comes at the perfect time.

It’s also a brief, inconsequential moment, but it’s appreciated to see Khun’s frustration over how he’s actually kept Rachel’s secret over her true identity, even though that whole exercise turned out to be mostly pointless in the first place. Not only did it not fool Bam, but it barely slowed him down in his pursuit of Rachel. It’s very human to get lost over a broken promise when there are much more important matters at hand.

Just as it’s nice to return to Khun, it’s also enjoyable to get a heavy dose of Rak for the first time in a few episodes. Tower of God seems to have figured out that despite Rak’s strength, he’s at his best when he’s used for comic relief. In “Beyond the Sadness” he gets shrunk down to a pint-sized warrior and comes to Khun for help to reverse the magic, but comes out unsuccessful. Tower of God deserves some respect for how it keeps Rak at this smaller stature and I love that this doesn’t get resolved within the episode. On some level I kind of hope that Rak remains tiny for the rest of the series and his request upon reaching the top of the Tower is to just get back to his normal height. Rak mostly amounts to laughs, but he also helps Khun confront his true feelings for Bam and how much he values his companionship in the Tower, which becomes a major factor for what happens next with Rachel.

The results of Rachel’s injury from Hoh leave her crippled and Bam seems to be more crushed by this news than Rachel. It’s beyond touching to see Bam try to remain positive through this and how he offers to be Rachel’s legs so that she can still ascend the Tower. At this point in the series it’s the ultimate gesture of compassion that anyone has shown for someone else and it’s this sweet act of kindness that’s finally able to break through Rachel’s tough exterior and allow her and Bam their long overdue discussion. It’s heartbreaking to learn that on some level Rachel lied to Bam about who she was because she actually believes that she’s become another person due to how much she’s changed.

Rachel continues to witness the greatness of Bam and it only makes her think that she’s less worthy of his support. She feels such guilt that it’d be easier for her to reconcile with the idea of Bam abandoning her than being her friend. Bam recognizes the unhealthy power dynamics in play, but he explains that his life isn’t as cheerful as it may seem and that Rachel is actually one of the few positive things in it, even if she doesn’t feel like it. These are powerful truths for the both of them to grapple with, but it makes for a talk that actually feels believable and raw. Rachel’s had a tough time, but after she’s able to clear the air with Bam they appear to be back on the right track. Bam’s resilience through all of this even manages to inspire the more jaded Regulars within the Tower to help him in his cause.

The stark nature of Rachel’s prognosis and Bam’s renewed bond to her provides some heavy emotional stakes in “Beyond the Sadness,” but the episode indulges even more in its tender side when Bam decides to throw a funeral for Hoh. It’s one of the best scenes from the entire series and it’s funny how strange it feels to have all of these characters together, but not under the circumstances of competition. A lot has gone on since the start of Tower of God and even though this funeral is just for Hoh, it’s easy to see how every Regular uses the opportunity to cleanse their souls over all of the losses and burdens that they’ve experienced. Bam and Rachel’s bond remains the episode’s priority, but “Beyond the Sadness” allows several characters to stew on their regrets in life.

This mourning culminates in the gang collectively getting drunk together, which is another sublime bonding experience for these characters that wouldn’t have seemed possible only a few episodes back. Hoh’s memorial service is also just an incredibly kind act that Bam does to make Serena feel a little better, who’s a character that he really hasn’t gotten much of a chance to bond with. Bam has made a strong impression on everyone due to his natural Shinsu skills, but his limitless empathy is also beginning to make just as much of an impact on people.

The last act of “Beyond the Sadness” contains one final gesture of kindness towards the vulnerable Rachel. The position selection test results are disclosed an all of the usual suspects get though, barring Rachel due to her injury. Khun executes a major power play when he announces that an Administrator would be able to change the rules to allow Rachel to compete, so he insists upon taking the Administrator Test to gain such authority. At the same time, he requires Bam’s help as an Irregular, which also outs him in the process and puts an even larger target on his back. It can be reckless to just casually introduce rules like this, but Tower of God knows how to handle it so that Khun’s coup is thrilling and not frustrating. Plotting and exposition aside, it’s just really pleasant to see everyone stand up for each other and reiterate the power of teamwork.

“Beyond the Sadness” is lacking on action perhaps more so than any other episode, but it makes up for this with how it provides an excellent mix of emotion and comedy. Tower of God slows down for a second and allows everyone to collect their thoughts and reflect on how far they’ve come. In that respect, it’s a rather calm episode, but there’s a rather dark moment where one of the members of Team B who doesn’t pass the position selection test protests the results. He’s humbled and shown why he’s not strong enough to keep on going, but it’s done in such a malicious manner that it feels more like a move from out of Darth Vader’s playbook. It’s a reminder that the people who rule the Tower are not friendly individuals and that this journey could become much more tragic at any moment. On that note, there are also some hints provided towards the next stage of the Tower and a powerful Ranker known as Yuga. Yuga is already compelling due to his subtly disturbing character design, but he’s also set his sights on Anaak. This isn’t good for the rebellious Princess of Jahad, but it will hopefully allow for her and Endorsi to team up against this higher power.

“Beyond the Sadness” is not the flashiest or busiest episode of Tower of God, but it’s probably its most mature and the type of entry that would get selected for an Emmy submission. The episode focuses on the strain that the Tower puts on all of the relationships within it, as opposed to the Tower itself. The unusual tests and supernatural showdowns may be what initially bring people into the series, but it’s emotionally rich episodes like this that are truly satisfying and prove that this anime is far more than a dungeon-style shounen series. With only three episodes left in the first season it feels like “Beyond the Sadness” is a serious turning point. Now that this period of healing is over the challenges can return without holding back.

Also, Rachel totally cribbed that futuristic wheelchair from Professor Charles Xavier, right?