Episode 1: 121045
The Promised Neverland Episode 1 – 45,000,000$
Crow and I are back for another collab this season. Yup I managed to strongarm him again. I think part of my success is simply due to the fact that Zombieland Saga was such a fun show that it made our collab seem that much more fun as well. I’m not sure if “fun” is the right word to describe The Promised Neverland. Wish us luck guys! For this post, Crow will be in bold purple!
Like apparently every single person in the universe, I have been waiting for The Promised Neverland ever since it became public that the adaptation rights have been sold. At the time, I had already read the first volume and decided to stop despite how much I wanted to know what would happen because I didn’t want to be reading the manga as the anime progressed.
All of this is simply to say that episode wasn’t all that shocking or surprising to me, but I don’t know where the story goes in the long run.
Episode 2: 131045
The Promised Neverland Episode 2 – The Power of Three
Irina from I Drink and Watch Anime and I continue our collab review of The Promised Neverland. The second episode, 121045, continues the exploration of a world that’s decidedly more sinister than it first appears. But you already know that if you survived the first episode! And it’s probably the reason you returned for the second.
Though I’m still uneasy about the whole children in danger idea…
I’ll be in regular type, and Irina will be bold.
Did the second episode live up to the promise of the first? Is it a worthy successor in terms of suspense? Danger? Raw nerve and courage?
Let’s just say that the scenes near the end gave me goosebumps. Not scared goosebumps. Impressed as hell goosebumps.
Irina, before we dive into this episode, any opening thoughts?
I continue to be smitten by the visuals. Those colours are the bestest. I’m pretty sure there was an OP last week but I think the episode overshadowed it because I had forgotten it entirely. It’s nice. I like the music. Very optimistic.
Episode 3: 181045
The Promised Neverland Episode 3: Kriegspiel
Kriegspiel (‘War game’) is an unorthodox chess game in which the players only know for certain the moves of their own pieces. They have to deduce where the opponent’s pieces are by questioning an umpire. It is played on three boards with partitions between them. – via Wikipedia
You know, Crow was a bit nervous about reviewing this show, I think I strong armed him into it. I felt a little guilty at first but man am I glad now. I am loving this show and in no small part because I get to have these wonderful conversations around it. Your comments have also been fascinating and insightful. Please keep them coming. I can’t get enough of these talks.
Strong-armed? Hardly! You said you would like to review it — very politely, I might add! — so I watched the first episode — and to keep a theme going, I’m glad I did! And you’re absolutely right about the comments! Thought-provoking and imaginative stuff!
Oh, and by the way, my turn to be bold! At least in print! (That was Crow)
Episode 4: 291045
The Promised Neverland Episode 4 – The Trinity Askew
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
If you’ve read our reviews of the first three episodes, you probably know that Irina (of I Drink and Watch Anime fame) and I think highly of The Promised Neverland. Having watched episode 4, I just have to say this: Never has a climax hit me so hard in the mouth — and I didn’t see it coming. At all.
In retrospect, the pieces all fell into place.
But it took me by complete surprise.
Irina, without giving away the climax — at least not yet — did you see that coming?
I did not. I’m still not sure I entirely believe it… OK let’s do this – Spoilers may come out this was a doozy of an episode. Then again they all are. I see that The Promised Neverland has gone to the Steins;Gate 0 school of ending every episode on a cliffhanger. I love it but you know, I would come back even without it!
Episode 5: 301045
The Promised Neverland Episode 5 – Castling
Castling is a special type of chess move. When castling, you simultaneously move your king and one of your rooks. The king moves two squares towards a rook, and that rook moves to the square on the other side of the king.
Have you guys been looking forward to our next Promised Neverland discussion? I know I have. Talking things over with Crow is always really fun and interesting. On top of that, this series is certainly generous with the potential material. I feel like we go through almost an entire series’ worth of topics with each episode. For once, that’s not a bad thing.
If you remember, ad I’m sure you do, last episode ended on an epic cliffhanger with Norman pointing to Ray as the “traitor”. An of course, Norma’s always right. I feel like my brain still refused to accept it for a good minute. It’s like the show has already conditioned me to refuse the simplest explanation even if in retrospect the narrative hasn’t exactly done twists so much as simply shocks. Situations are often unexpected but not because we were lead to believe something else, simply because this particular fictional universe is very high drama.
That distinction — shocks versus twists — might be this show’s distinguishing characteristic! Well, that and dynamic and flawed protagonists as well as dangerously intelligent and dangerously unpredictable villains! Oh, this is Crow — I’m in bold this week.
Episode 6: 311045
The Promised Neverland Episode 6: Poking the Bear and The Enemy of my Enemy
Welcome to the collaboration review of The Promised Neverland episode 6, “311045” between this site (you do know that you’re on Crow’s World of Anime, don’t you?) and Irina’s I Drink and Watch Anime. If you haven’t watched episode 6, you should probably do that before reading this review. Seriously.
Because there will be spoilers!
I’ll be in plain text and Irina will be in bold.
Both in font and in words…ok just in font.
This was an interesting episode. It actually disappointed me twice, but only because of my assumptions. In retrospect, it actually exceeded my expectations — if that makes any sense. I guess I should expect something like that from a series that has made me trust a traitor and root against a mother figure. Not only that, but this episode started out with me thinking one of the characters was a complete blithering idiot and ended with me almost tearing up at the poignancy of the character’s motivations.
Episode 7: 011145
The Promised Neverland Episode 7 – Prophylaxis
Prophylaxis is a key concept of positional chess. It is a move, or sequence of moves, to deal with an opponent’s plan before it starts. Sometimes one can completely stop the threat; sometimes one just makes the plan relatively harmless.
You make me wish I had studied chess instead of learning just enough to get slaughtered in the one college tournament I entered… Oh, this is Crow, and I’ll use the bold font this week!
I must say, I really look forward to this show each week. It’s one of the few seasonal series I’ve watched that I can honestly say I can never wait until the next episode. If this was all out – I probably would have binged it in a day or two.
Episode 8: 021145
The Promised Neverland Episode 8: An Unlikely Cheerleader and It All Came Tumbling Down
Welcome to the collaboration review of The Promised Neverland episode 8, 021145, between this site (I’m pretty sure you know you’re on Crow’s World of Anime, right?) and Irina’s I Drink and Watch Anime. If you haven’t watched episode 8, you should probably not read this review until you do. There’s no way way we can say anything meaningful about this episode without spoilers.
Well, we could say things like “great camera angles!” and “suspenseful pacing,” but where’s the fun in that?
Well I think it’s kinda fun… Irina here, happy week everyone!
I’ll play the role of plain text and Irina will play the part of bold. I suspect I should capitalize it: she’ll play the part of Bold!
Episode 9: 031145
The Promised Neverland Episode 9 – Back Rank Mate
Back Rank Mate : A checkmate that occurs when your king is trapped behind a wall (usually a wall of your own pawns) on the back rank, and a queen or rook attacks on the back rank.
You know, I think I’m just going to reiterate my thoughts from last week – OMGWTFBBQPURPLEMONKEYDISHWASHER. What the heck is this show doing to me? All I know is that if I was to exist in the Promised Neverland universe, I would be pretty safe since this show has melted my brain. Hyperbole you think… maybe a smidge.
Still, I am grateful that Crow is here to keep me from completely losing it and you’re grateful too. Trust me. He makes these posts! Also, let me apologize in advance for this but I took an unreasonable number of screencaps again. If this post has been loading for minutes…that’s why… sowwy…
But before we get started, how are you Crow?
Well, for starters, I’m bold this week! And for another, there’s no way I’m getting through this review without dropping some spoilers, so everyone beware!
Come to think of it, “everyone beware” is pretty good advice for anyone watching this show! Purple monkey indeed!
Episode 10: 130146
The Promised Neverland Episode 10: A Contest of Wills and Darkness Falls
Welcome to the collaboration review of The Promised Neverland episode 10, “130146,” between this site (Crow’s World of Anime, and if you forgot that, I need to do some more work on my branding!) and Irina’s I Drink and Watch Anime.
Before we get into this, some bookkeeping. I’m in the standard font; Irina’s bold, which is appropriate! And if you don’t want spoilers, then please go watch the episode before reading this post. Because as usual, there will be spoilers!
Last week, we left off on a major cliff-hanger! Thanks to Irina for that mental image, by the way! It’s from our last review. The story this week picks up right where it left off. Before we dive in, any opening thoughts, Irina?
OK, so I wrote out all my thoughts before getting to this part and well – this turned into an encyclopedia. So: no
Episode 11: 140146
The Promised Neverland Episode 11 – Zwischenzug
Zwischenzug
: An “in between move”, where a player, instead of playing the expected move, first inserts a move which the opponent must answer, before making the expected move..
I finished episode 11 of The Promised Neverland about 12 minutes ago It’s taken me this long to start writing the post because I had to sort through the unreasonable amount of screencaps I took. It’s like I wanted to hold onto the moment. I was anxious, scared, angry and then… But I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.
First once again, all my thanks to Crow for agreeing to take this strange and powerful trip with me. This is a series I’m sure glad I had a friend to watch with! A BOLD friend at that! I always have a mix of dread and excitement when Thursday comes around as you never quite know what The Promised Neverland will put you through next, but I always love talking it over with Crow.
The feeling’s mutual! Even more than usual, I was dying to read what you’d come up with for this episode! It’s no exaggeration to say that I spent half the episode with my jaw hanging open. I’m pretty sure my cat’s questioning my sanity!
I’ll be bold… but you already told everyone that! So let’s see where this leads!
Episode 12: 150146
The Promised Neverland Episode 12: Phil Steps Up and Streamers in the Wind
Welcome to the collaboration review of The Promised Neverland episode 10, “150146,” between Crow’s World of Anime (this site!) and Irina’s I Drink and Watch Anime.
I love how Crow refuses to admit the season is over. Sorry Crow, it’s episode 12. There’s nothing we can do about it….
was going to say something about that. Eventually. I just need to work up to it!
Before we get into this, some bookkeeping. I’m in the standard font while Irina’s bold, which to be honest always felt like the more appropriate arrangement! And if you don’t want spoilers, then please go watch the episode before reading this post. Because as usual, there will be spoilers!
Actually just go watch the episode. Neverland has been on an upswing. You won’t be wasting your time.
wow awesome round up!
Looking back, I have to say I’m proud of the reviews we wrote! And it’s super rare I’m even a little happy with what I write.
But you write so well!! I love those review too