The Promised Neverland Episode 3: Recap and Review

Emma and Mujika bond over pictures of the children left behind. Meanwhile, Ray beats Sonju in chess. Norman comes up. Emma tells Mujika that she “made a promise to him to keep their family safe.” She notes Mujia is “not like a demon at all.” Last season, The Promised Neverland characterized the demons as a mysterious group that preyed on innocent children. This season, with introducing Sonju and Mujika, that image is gone. The history between humans and demons shows that even some humans have a cruel streak (leaving humans to be farmed). They have never seen humans as being completely good, with Isabella being willing to farm children, even her own son (Ray).

Emma and Mujika learn that human, and demons are different that expected. Mujika states that Emma and the orphans are the “first humans she’s spoken to.” She sees humans as differing from other living creatures. They’re both glad they became friends. They continue to travel through the underground caves, being cautious of the hunters. However, they reach the wasteland. The younger orphans want Mujika and Sonju to come with them. Ray tells them they must “make it on their own.” Sonju tells them they won’t run into any demons in the wasteland, but warns them to “stay away from water of forests.” Everyone says their goodbye’s.

After the orphans leave their sight, Sonju and Mujika discuss turning them in. Sonju smiles. He agrees with Mujika that they’re “smart.” He doesn’t mean the orphans any harm, but he looks forward to them “breeding.” Sonju hopes that the offspring, or “naturals,” increase so they can be hunted and eaten. He claims that “the doctrine of the original faith” allows them to “take the lives of their creations in the name of hunting.” He heads off to “take care of business.” Sonju runs finds and kills all the hunters. Later, Emma, Ray, and the other finally reach B06-32. There’s nothing. The children panic, but Ray tells them to calm down. Ray uses the pen and enters the word “History.”

William Minerva answers

A map appears, showing an entrance that leads underground. They enter the tunnel and find a series of doors. Inside one room, Emma turns on the lights and finds several televisions linked to cameras. A letter with Minerva’s seal is pinned to the wall. He congratulates them on arriving. The shelter has a kitchen, showers, a garden, a small library and a room with a piano inside. One kid plays and when another presses a key, a secret passage opens. They investigate and learn that there’s another secret passage. The hideout is a safe place for the orphans. However, Yvette discovers a room with the words “Help” scribbled on the walls. Emma unlocks a door leading to a phone. When she picks it up, William Minerva answers.

The Promised Neverland keeps the mystery going. As I stated in my last review, the series answers old questions while creating new ones. Even when it seems like the orphans have found safety, new dangers appear. Like the children, the audience can never relax. The series needs to balance this reality. I think the pacing between new discovery’s and new threats could be slower. The children should have more time to adjust before being rushed into another problem to be fixed. With only 11 episodes this season, this might not be possible. Regardless, The Promised Neverland is never dull and I’m always excited to see what happens next.