REVIEW:‌ ‘‌The‌ ‌Promised‌ ‌Neverland,’‌ ‌Season‌ ‌2‌ ‌Episode‌ ‌4

The‌ ‌Promised‌ ‌Neverland‌ ‌‌Season‌ ‌2‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌highly‌ ‌anticipated‌ ‌return‌ ‌for‌ ‌fans‌ ‌of‌ ‌both‌ ‌the‌ ‌manga‌ ‌-which‌ ‌has‌ ‌ended‌ ‌serialization-‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌first‌ ‌season‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌anime. ‌The Promised Neverland Episode 3 took the children of Grace Field from the safety of the underground tunnels to an underground shelter. There, they discovered food, water, and everything they’ll need to continue to survive. Yet can such a tenuous peace last? Have they really found a safe haven? The Promised Neverland Episode 4 picks up on a cliffhanger.

This starts with Emma picking up the phone to discover William Minerva on the line. Ever since Promised Neverland Season 1, the children have been pursuing Minerva. Now, they’re finally hearing him. The moment is beautifully scripted. The music drops to a melancholy key and fades to the background. William Minerva’s voice crackles across the line as he wishes them a good existence and a bright future. It hurts so, so much. You really just want the kids to have some long-lasting peace.

Yet, as always, there’s still immense hope.

William Minerva’s voice is more than enough to give Emma the courage and strength to continue existing. She’s able to share that exact same feeling with her found family, which leads them to keep trying to find a way to humanity and the human world. Plus, thanks to the clue Mr. Minerva gives them during the call, they’re able to find a new location using the pen. Hopefully, it’ll lead them towards the human world.

One nice thing about The Promised Neverland Episode 4 is that it never sinks into despair. Certainly, times are tough, and the kids are immensely alone in a world of demons. However, they also have each other to rely on. Somehow, someway, they all know they’ll make it. It’s just a matter of trying.

There’s this beautiful montage that happens early in the episode. It’s set to beautifully conducted music that’s instantly heartwarming. The sequence is very reminiscent of The Promised Neverland Episode 2, back when the kids were learning from Mujina and Sonju. The kids find a routine in their new home. Each day, they wake up, share a meal, care for the shelter, and train from breakfast to dinner. At night, they crowd together on palettes and listen to Nat play the piano.

Once again, this is the heart of The Promised Neverland. It’s these incredibly tender moments between all of the kids as they finally get to just exist. Seeing the kids just be kids and also, be safe, feels so, so good. The entire sequence honestly made me tear up.

The Promised Neverland Episode 4 is also a bridge episode. There’s no return to action. Instead, viewers spend most of their time inside the underground shelter watching the kids. However, there’s a deep sense of wrongness towards the ends. You get the feeling that something bad is going to happen. Or, at the very least, that this peace can’t last forever.

True to form, the back half of The Promised Neverland Episode 4 tips back towards the frightening as suddenly, the hatch to the underground shelter is blasted off. It goes flying into the night as armed humans come crashing in. Thankfully, the kids are prepared, and quickly plan to abandon the shelter.

Viewers who have also read the manga will note that The Promised Neverland Episode 4 deviates a lot from the source material. Truth be told, that may come as a letdown, or even might ruffle some proverbial feathers. In many ways, it’s curious to see Promised Neverland Episode 4 play with the plot, and with what seems to be an anime-original scenario. I’m intensely curious to see what Promised Neverland Season 2 has in store.

Ultimately, Promised Neverland Episode 4 is a really, really good episode. It expertly plays with peaceful moments, tension and threats, and still lets the kids of Grace Field be everyday kids. While it’s hard to tell where episode 5 will go, I can say that I’m really, really excited to see the anime add in new elements and continue to up the ante.

The Promised Neverland Season 2 is streaming now on Funimation.