REVIEW: ‘Suicide Squad ISEKAI’ — Episode 5

The Suicide Squad’s adventures in another world continue in Suicide Squad ISEKAI Episode 5. The gang is still trapped searching for a way to either deactivate their bombs or complete the mission. Time is running out and their backs are against the wall, but that is where the Suicide Squad is at its best.

The big climactic “can they deactivate the bombs in time” question does not take long to get settled. Within the first two minutes, the Suicide Squad reaches a gate back to their world. Even though they are unable to enter the gate, a signal makes it through that resets the timer and gives them another 72 hours. It is clear that these bombs are not going away and the Suicide Squad is going to have to focus on completing the mission instead of getting rid of the bombs somehow.

In case anyone forgot, the mission is to establish bridgeheads for resource acquisition, according to Rick Flag. Normally extending moments to re-explain major plot points can be boring at best, but this actually fits with the characters. These guys aren’t superheroes or soldiers, they are villains being used as tools. It makes sense that they lost sight of their goal because it was never really their goal to begin with.

The problem is that it is a little too easy for Flag to get them back on track. They all bend fairly easily, with Deadshot being the only one to voice displeasure. But even he gets on board right away because it gives him a chance to kill things, and there is nothing he loves more than killing. Some more conflict would have been great here to help push forward the fact that these are not heroes, but there is at least still plenty of infighting once they get back to the mission,

Conflict is what makes the Suicide Squad such an interesting group. They never get along like a team should, and they certainly don’t like working for Amanda Waller and Rick Flag. Still, some things help bring them together like the realization in Suicide Squad ISEKAI Episode 5 that they can’t exactly buy bullets in a fantasy world. This is a major problem for Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Peacemaker since they all rely on guns to fight.

Adding in conflict like this is a good way to keep the series from getting too wild and unrealistic. Bringing modern weapons into a fantasy world is going to make someone completely overpowered, but running out of ammo is a realistic issue that levels the playing field. At least, temporarily. Flag reveals that his team’s helicopter full of supplies should still be intact, but they will have to climb a mountain to get there.

The gang takes a break back at the fort they helped keep out of the Empire’s hands in previous episodes and they spend time partying with the monsters occupying it before leaving on their quest. It’s a pretty normal time-wasting scene, but there is actually something important about it. These monsters are villains, but the Kingdom doesn’t care if they keep the first as long as the Empire doesn’t get it.

This idea that the “good guys” are willing to let the “bad guys” have what they want as long as it helps them is exactly the situation the Suicide Squad is in. Two sides work together for a common goal, and each gets something they want in the end. It is a nice reflection on the fact that this dynamic exists across worlds and is not unique to just the Suicide Squad.

The journey to the helicopter is pretty short, shown through a montage with some funny moments interspersed throughout. The comedy in Suicide Squad ISEKAI Episode 5 is natural, mostly contained to bickering between the members or Harley being over-the-top as we expect from her character. There are some neat visuals here but otherwise nothing incredibly special.

That changes once they reach the helicopter. They find out it is being guarded by a dragon who has a nest at the helicopter landing site. The ensuing battle with the dragon is the highlight of Suicide Squad ISEKAI Episode 5. Seeing the Suicide Squad in action, overcoming the odds in the face of a massive challenge, is incredibly fun.

Wit Studio does a great job animating these characters and making their movements and approaches to combat all feel distinct from each other. It is a huge set-piece battle and the series actually makes it feel like the stakes are high even though the characters still find ways to clown around in the middle of it.

There still is not a ton of real resolution or movement with the main plot until the very end, but it is easy to forget that with how fun the journey is. There does not need to be serious development to make a Suicide Squad story interesting, but hopefully, now that they are re-tooled we will see more plot progression going forward.

Suicide Squad ISEKAI Episode 5 is a high-octane adventure that gives the Suicide Squad its greatest challenge so far. Excellent animation and fun character moments help progress the series and keep it interesting as their quest continues.

Suicide Squad ISEKAI Episode 5 is streaming now on Max and Hulu