REVIEW: ‘Undead Unluck’ Episode 12 — “Activate”

After an episode full of setup and exposition, Undead Unluck Episode 12 brings viewers straight into the action. Andy and Fuko are up against a new mysterious group out for revenge against the world, but will they be able to stop them?

As far as first dates go, it would be hard to find one worse than “tried to infiltrate a black market auction and got caught up fighting a mysterious cabal of villains.” Ok, sure, it might only be a pretend date for Andy and Fuko, but the chemistry they have been developing throughout the season lends a bit of reality to their play-acting. Seeing them ride off into battle without a second thought fits the expectations for their characters. The fact that they are such a united front also gives credibility to their budding relationship in an understated way.

That developing relationship is vital if they want to complete their ultimate objective of finding a way to kill Andy, so seeing it continue to build in Undead Unluck Episode 12 is much appreciated. They have become a true unit, willing to fight together without as much of the awkwardness they started with. They have learned to work with each other’s abilities in ways that make the action more enjoyable but also help it flow better on screen.

The action in Undead Unluck Episode 12 gives Fuko the chance to show how much she has grown personally as well. She really isn’t a burden anymore. Instead, she rushes in with Andy with her head held high ready to contribute. She’s built up her confidence, making her contributions feel natural. There are still brief moments where she reverts back to being scared, but that is no longer her defining characteristic. It makes her an even more likable character and gives her real agency as the story develops.

Their mission sends them up against a group with similar abilities and goals, albeit for different reasons. Both groups are trying to capture Negators, but the Union wants to use them to destroy God while this new mysterious group wants to get revenge on humanity. It leads to an interesting dynamic since there really is no “good vs. evil” here. Even if the Union has slightly less terrible methods, they still ultimately are a self-serving group out for the benefit of only themselves. Or, at least, so it seems. There are some moments where Fuko’s humanity makes viewers feel like the Union could change their ways, although that is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

The cat-and-mouse game between Andy and Fuko and this mysterious group plays out like an excellent spy thriller. Having this all take place within the tight confines of a boat creates some great set pieces that make the interactions feel more intimate. The black marketeers are decent enough villains in their own right too, in reality making it a three-way fight for the same goal: capturing the Negators.

The highlight of Undead Unluck Episode 12 is introducing a new group that viewers and characters alike don’t know much about. Some bits and pieces get uncovered as they get more screen time, but there is still so much more to learn about who they are and their ultimate goals. The way their powers work in contrast to Andy and Fuko helps build up to a much tougher battle outside of the context of this mission. That world-building is what makes Undead Unluck Episode 12 so interesting, and these events are surely going to come into play later.

Several story beats get revealed here that are starting to pay off things set into motion in the show’s earliest episodes. There is still no climax, nor should there be only halfway through the season, but learning more about how some of these abilities work paints a clear picture of what could happen down the line. It will be interesting to see how these events continue to build up as the season progresses.

Undead Unluck Episode 12 is full of epic action and great character development that helps push the series closer to the climax. There is plenty of new information revealed that sets the stage for even better battles in the future, and an even tougher challenge for Andy and Fuko.

Undead Unluck Episode 12 is streaming now on Hulu.