REVIEW: ‘Dr. STONE New World,’ Season 3 Episode 4 — “Eyes of Science”

Dr.STONE New World Episode 4 packs the runtime with endless advancements following last week’s reveal of the mysterious sonar signals. Having dubbed this unknown messenger as the “why man,” the team is hellbent on discovering the source, requiring all hands on deck. This aspect of the episode delivers on the strong ensemble, with “Eyes of Science” doubling down on last week’s demonstration of how even when Senku (Yûsuke Kobayashi) is the brain behind the operation, the entire team has become crucial to success. 

While the team highlights only a number of minds as being the brightest on the island, using them as a task force in discovering the source of the message, Dr.STONE New World Episode 4 prioritizes other supporting characters too. The physical strength of those like Taiju (Makoto Furukawa) and Kohaku (Manami Numakura) is just as integral to the development. This is notable in particular when laying asphalt for a road to take them to the port where they’ll set sail, creating a distribution network. 

“Eyes of Science” has Senku utilize sonar in order to flush out the “why man” and Chrome (Gen Satô), and the others discover its greater uses when they come across a school of fish. The episode is dialogue-heavy and veers close to becoming too heavy in the exposition, but it works due to the layers of the story the series has told so far. Looking back at season one, the first episodes, in particular, showcase the tremendous growth these characters have pushed for. They may not yet be able to touch the stars as was Senku’s dream, but they have means of travel, communication, and stability that they severely lacked at the start. And we’ve seen them compile their tools piece by piece, one achievement only an option due to the work and small triumphs they’ve accomplished in the past. 

The science may seem extraordinary, but it doesn’t allow itself to flirt with fantasy often. Rather, it shows the hard work and tireless efforts of a team of people who all need to come together to create the greatest advancements. There’s a reason why it’s taken until now for Senku and co. to have such speedy turnovers with new tools and technologies — it’s the first time that all of the existing characters have worked together as a united front. 

This is part of what makes the threat of this “why man” so destabilizing, even if Senku, at least on the surface, is intrigued. Without the mystery, their pursuit would be too easy. Now, they have a new, unknown threat, creating greater danger than before because, at least in the past, they knew the motives of their enemies. They don’t know if the person who communicated with them is someone from the past who petrified themselves after setting the beam loose on the planet or if it’s someone born in the new age who has somehow obtained similar technology. Maybe it’s just someone who awoke from certification, too but away from the rest of the group. We don’t know, and there’s a thrill in not knowing. Senku has proven such a formidable protagonist in the past, so to see him go up against something where he isn’t allowed prior knowledge to formulate a plan makes for a more engaging season of television. 

Of course, that is if it’s a threat at all. Maybe this person is friendly rather than the expected foe. But with how the animation chooses to visualize the “why man” as eerie with a sense of foreboding, the natural assumption is that this presence is a dangerous one. 

Despite the race to unearth the mystery and the accelerated pace of the episode, the show retains its humor with broad character expressions and faces that loom and hang into the frame as they take in all that they’re hearing. It strikes the type of accessible discordance the series excels at in softening the stakes with over-the-top designs. 

That said, the last two episodes have signaled something of a turning point in the series. While Dr.STONE New World Episode 4  refrains from altering its tone too much, that sense of danger creates a new atmosphere that we’ve yet to experience on the show. They’ve faced challenges in the past, but with the introduction of the “why man” and the hints of his intent, the ambiguity that follows of who the characters are up against makes for greater tension. 

Dr.STONE New World is available now on Crunchyroll.