REVIEW: ‘ZENSHU’ Episode 3 — “DESTINY”

ZENSHU Episode 3 from MAPPA is perhaps the most entertaining episode so far. It introduces a new character that expands the plot and highlights some of its main characters in a humorous and endearing way. The episode starts with the Nine Soldiers and Natsuko as their newly added member attending the village’s harvest festival. After a brief argument between Natsuko (Anna Nagase) and Unio (Rie Kugimiya), as is common with their rivalry, Natsuko explains through inner exposition how this is when the narrative of A Tale of Perishing would see Unio’s death and the village being destroyed by the Voids.

However, the festival has replaced the misfortune since she saved the village. Natsuko and the villagers observe a weird peek-a-boo ritual, but Memerun (Minori Suzuki) refuses to participate because it only started 200 years ago and is nothing more than a passing fad to her as an elf. The characters enjoy the festival, but Luke (Kazuki Ura) suggests that they return to training to prepare for the next Void invasion. Natsuko claims that’s unnecessary, as the next raid is on a rainy day, which isn’t for a while. This and a group of girls vying for Luke’s attention disrupt the conversation.

The Nine Soldiers attend a harvest festival in ZENSHU Episode 3.

Natsuko and Unio resume enjoying the festival while Memrun is approached by other elves about a mysterious choir to “heal the souls of the dead.” While enjoying the festival, Natsuko appreciates not having any responsibilities but makes a face suggesting that she may still miss her old life.

The scenes showing the festival with all its happy participants serve as another example of MAPPA’s excellent direction. The episode provides a brief pause in dialogue and the episode’s narrative to flex the anime’s excellent character designs of the citizens, several attractive locations, and impeccable art direction.

The next scene shows Natsuko running into the village prophet Baobab. Baobab tells Natsuko she foresees the Nine Heroes defeating the Void and saving the world. She then asks Natsuko what she thinks will happen. Natsuko briefly recalls a scene of a character’s death, and Luke’s face is in anguish. She doesn’t respond to her question. Baobab then decides to end the conversation so as not to ruin the vibes.

Shortly after, Natsuko notices a new character named Destiny. She explains that Destiny is destined to meet Luke, and the two fall in love. However, she also explains that Destiny is the reason many disasters happen to Luke and the heroes. Due to her clumsiness, she constantly gets in their way and causes trouble in the village.

Baobab prophesies love and disaster for Destiny and Luke.

Luke and Destiny run into each other while Destiny tries to evade a rich Chairman asking for her hand in marriage. It is then revealed that she is the mayor’s daughter and that she accepted the Chairman’s proposal so she could build an orphanage in the village. The mayor introduces Luke to Destiny, and the two instantly fall in love.

Natsuko painfully watches their interaction, and Unio begins wrongly narrating her thoughts out loud in a rather humorous way. Natsuko’s actual inner monologue reveals that Destiny is the character who dies in the film and that she’s the only one who makes Luke happy.

Unio and Natsuko’s interactions are among the best parts of the episode. Due to their clashing personalities and outgoing nature, their banter and dialogue are always fun to watch. Whenever the two insult one another, their insults are so accurate that it’s hard not to find them entertaining or funny. Their amazingly detailed facial expressions enhance these moments, making them even more hilarious.

The next scene shows a hooded mage suspiciously looking like Memerun approaching a Void monster in the village. This turns out to be a Void disguised as a priest who gains entrance to the festival area. Meanwhile, the Chairman approaches Destiny and demands that she change her hair and clothes if she is to be his wife. Natsuko interrupts them and claims Destiny doesn’t have to change who she is to get what she wants. She also suggests that if she wants an orphanage, she should just build one herself.

After the conversation ends, the group is alerted to a Void invasion. Natsuko notices that the Void disguised as the priest isn’t meant to happen until much later in the story. The Void creature begins a rampage across the town, and Luke, who is now inebriated, is useless, thanks to Destiny handing him alcohol. What’s worse, Destiny gets trapped while helping the villagers evacuate and has to be rescued, proving what Natsuko said about her is right.

Natsuko quickly transforms and draws her next world-saving animation, an anthropomorphic masked wrestler cat. The next few minutes see the cat wrestle the Void creature in an excellent display of choreography and amazingly detailed special effects as the other characters cheer on the fight that eventually leads to the wrestler’s victory.

MAPPA’s animation and direction remain excellent in ZENSHU Episode 3.

This part of ZENSHU Episode 3 showcases an excellently animated scene—the best of the season thus far. Each movement is detailed, and the sketch design of the wrestler contrasts its surroundings and other characters in a perfectly artistic and captivating way. Natsuko is equally entertaining to watch as her demeanour and reaction to the final fight. Her statements like “This sequence is high in animation calories” and “This move costs three days worth of drawing” are quite humorous.

Natsuko passes out and wakes up three days later. She rejoins Destiny, who claims she is inspired by her and the cat wrestler she drew. She also claims she will now live her life the way she wants to. Natsuko also questions Memerun about why she was absent from the festival the whole day, and the episode ends with her being visibly suspicious of Memerun.

It’s clear Natsuko’s presence in the film is beginning to shift its narrative drastically. However, these changes make the story more engaging with each episode. It’s also worth highlighting the subtle narrative details that make the episode enjoyable, like Memerun and the elves looking over the Void they disguised in the audience and Baobab’s subtle reaction to Natsuko’s body language. These subtle little moments with no dialogue elevate ZENSHU Episode 3 significantly.

All in all, ZENSHU Episode 3 does a great job of entertaining viewers in a lot of different ways. It features many narrative improvements from the previous episode and things to be excited about in future episodes.

ZENSHU Episode 3 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.