REVIEW:‌ ‘The‌ ‌Promised‌ ‌Neverland‌,’ ‌Season‌ ‌2‌ ‌Episode‌ ‌10

I had to watch this episode twice, which might be a sign that this cour should end. But let’s get into that later. Anyways,  Last week on The Promised Neverland Season 2, viewers got a bit of a redemption arc for Norman, the previously long-lost third of the notorious Grace Field trio. While Norman couldn’t bring back the lives he ended, Emma offered him a bit of hope. She also reminded Norman that he could do better, starting from that very moment. Now, in Promised Neverland Episode 10, the kids will use Norman’s renewed dedication to humanity to continue to fight for their found family: namely, the remaining kids of Grace Field.

There were many moments in Promised Neverland Episode 10 that felt really good. Actually, there were a lot of really neat moments that would have had gravity…if this second season had been handled differently. The tension presented at the beginning of Promised Neverland Episode 10 felt really well-paced…until I remembered how quick the series was to toss away anything genuine in exchange for shock value. 

From there, the entirety of Promised Neverland Episode 10 falls apart.  

There are also some brilliant animation choices, especially around the middle of the episode. In fact, this is one of the slickest episodes since the beginning. I liked how fluid the action sequences were and generally felt like this was a really moving episode. But like I said, then I remember how rough this entire season has been. Then I stop liking it all over again.

Ultimately, The Promised Neverland’s second season continues to feel like a bungled mess that only wants to hurt its viewers. As I said back in episode 6, The Promised Neverland Season 2 has lost a lot of its heart. There’s no more empathy in these episodes, though they keep trying to manufacture it. Instead, viewers get a buffet of tragedy almost all the time. What little “joy” exists feels like it’s a slap in the face. Moreso, the joyful moments feel like they’re raising you just to drop you down into an even deeper pit of despair. 

The joy that does exist in Promised Neverland Episode 10 comes too little, too late. It feels slapdash and almost insulting. True, there are moments where I should have felt at least one emotion, maybe even two. Instead, all I felt was hollow irritation towards the show. It’s a shame because I think I speak for every fan of The Promised Neverland when I say we’ve been waiting for a reunion episode. Ideally, that’s what Promised Neverland Episode 10 is supposed to be. Instead, the touching moments between the kids of Grace Field just feels empty.

And I’m not too fond of it.

In my reviews, episode 7 and episode 8, I mentioned that I hate getting to this point with a series. I hate trashing them, and I hate having almost nothing positive to say about them. In the case of The Promised Neverland, I hate it even more because season 1 was so, so good. It had tension, horror, but most of all, it had heart. There’s very little of the latter as we near the end of this penultimate season.

In the last episode, I had a smidgen of hope that somehow, The Promised Neverland Season 2 would pull it back in time for its finale. Yet after the events of Promised Neverland Episode 10, I’m almost sure that this entire series will go out with a whimper. In fact, I sense that the anime will be discussed with a lot of derision from here on out—what a genuine shame.

In many ways, I’m glad that there’s only one more episode left in this final season of The Promised Neverland. I hate that I feel that way, but honestly, this second cour has been a struggle to get through. Even though Promised Neverland Episode 10 has a wicked twist, I still couldn’t must up much more of a reaction than, “Oh, that’s kinda neat.” I think that might sum up my feelings for this entire season.

I don’t know if we’ll get closure in the final episode. Honestly, I’m hesitant about any plot points other than the main story getting wrapped up. If anything, I think that I’m going to suggest that exhausted viewers check out the manga and find satisfaction there. While I’m dozens of chapters behind, I have a feeling that it’ll have much more heart than The Promised Neverland Season 2 ever could.

At least the OP and ED are nice.

The Promised Neverland Season 2 is streaming on Funimation.