Season 1, Episode 2: King of the Stone World
In the last episodes review I predicted that Taiju would release Shishio Tsukasa and that it was a bad idea. Turns out I was right. While Shishio is clearly helpful, his world view is dangerous. At the start of this episode, Senku finally frees on of the stone sparrows. He leaves the decision on who will be freed to Taiju, who of course chooses Yuzuriha. Before they can free her, they’re chased by a pride of hungry lions. Desperate, they decided to free Shishio. In a spectacular show of force, Shishio kills the male lion forcing the other to flee. I was wrong about the dynamic between the brains and the brawn.
When running from the lions, Taiju offers to sacrifice himself for Senku. Assuming that humanity can survive with “just” a smart human like Senku. Senku explains that they need each other and that Taiju’s is valued for his “fitness” not his fighting ability. This is were Shishio comes in. They dynamic between brain and brawn is complicated by as Taiju puts it “brains, brawn and brute force.” Senku notes that in a “world without guns” Shishio would be unstoppable. His strength comes with upsides of course, He’s able to hunt boar, birds and fish for them.
Senku suggest that the first step towards rebuilding civilization lies in “calcium carbonate.” It’s the stuff they use for chalk in sports. However they have several uses. Once you create the powder they can be used for agriculture, construction and soap. Senku initially states that their are “four” uses for calcium carbonate but after talking to Shishio he lies and says that he only stated that their was three. The trust between Senku and Shishio isn’t there. I think they both see the other as a threat. Shishio kills a man by decapitating his stone body because the man abused him.
He presents a question to Senku. Should we try to return to the “old world.” He sees the young as “pure,” and thinks that the older people are “tainted” and would only ruin the “paradise.” Senku disagrees, suggesting that he intends to free everyone. I disagree with Senku here. If you bring back the adults they won’t want to listen to a “child,” no matter how smart they are. They need to be more selective. The problem is how do any of them know what someone’s like? Shishio seems to assume that all young people are pure is that really true? He’s young, yet he had no trouble killing a man. How’s that pure? Regardless, the conflict has been set up. Brain verses brute force.
Dr. Stone Review:
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 11: Clear World
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 10: A Flimsy Alliance
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 09: Let There Be the Light of Science
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 08: Stone Road
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 07: Where Two Million Years Have Gone
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 06: Two Nations of the Stone World
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 05: Stone World The Beginning
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 04: Fire the Smoke Signal
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 03: Weapons of Science
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 02: King of the Stone World
- Dr. Stone Review Episode 01: Stone World
“They need to be more selective. The problem is how do any of them know what someone’s like?”
Isn’t that the core problem? What determines if a person is worthwhile to restore? On one hand, they have to have some criteria, because the civilization they rebuild will be fragile at first and the wrong personalities will wreck it. On the other, it’s not clear, based on the appearance of a stone status, which ones will be helpful and which won’t.
Age is no indicator. There are helpful and unhelpful people at all ages.
I love how the show presented this seemingly simple, yet endlessly complex question so early in the series. I’m really looking forward to seeing this play out!
Shishio was freed because of his clear strength but they were uncertain about his personality. However, they didn’t have time to determine what he may be like. I think they are going to have roll the die and hope for the best. They’ll deal with the consequences later. But it’s the most interesting part of the series so far.
As a manga reader, I’m loving the anime adaption. So far it’s capturing the feel of the manga perfectly.
That’s good to hear.