REVIEW: ‘Black Torch’ Episode 2 – “The Choice Is Yours”

Black Torch Episode 2 continues to lay the groundwork for an intriguing story about the mononoke. In Episode 2, “The Choice Is Yours,” Black Torch moves from setting up a story about the immortal mononoke to explaining why The Bureau of Espionage is involved. In another exposition-heavy episode, Black Torch continues to plead the case that understanding every facet of the premise will be important before anything really happens.

Black Torch Episode 2 begins with Jiro (A.J. Beckles) waking up in the hospital after having slept for the previous day and a half. With him is Ichika Kishimojin (Erin Yvette), an agent from the Bureau of Espionage. When her superior, Ryosuke Shiba (Kyle McCarley), arrives, they explain together that the bureau’s job is to hunt mononoke and that Rago was a target.

With Rago and Jiro fused together, the bureau is now in a bind. In order to buy some time, they take Jiro and, by proxy, Rago, into protective custody. For all intents and purposes, they treat Jiro as though he were joining a witness protection program.

Black Torch Episode 2 sets up more of the story, but it really doesn’t go anywhere.

With only a few guards posted outside his room, Jiro enlists birds from a nearby power line to come through the window and distract the guards long enough to escape. Jiro’s first thought is to give his grandfather and shinobi instructor, Toshimasa Azuma (Ben Balmaceda), a heads up. Unbeknownst to Jiro, the elder Azuma is already aware of what’s going on because he used to be a member of the Bureau of Espionage.

Through flashbacks in Black Torch Episode 2, we learn that Toshimasa has always expected a great deal from Jiro. He doesn’t want Jiro going out into the world without the proper strength or resolve. Because of this, he decides the only way to deal with the presence of a mononoke residing in his grandson is to kill Jiro.

Before Jiro fully understands that goal, he is so concerned with proving to Toshimasa that he has enough strength and resolve that he tells Rago not to help him. When it becomes clear that Toshimasa still only sees him as an unprepared kid, Jiro reminds his grandfather that he once told Jiro if you need help, ask for help around you and he immediately asks Rago to help him.

Jiro’s grandfather is willing to commit the unthinkable if Jiro isn’t strong enough.

Understanding that Jiro has taken his lessons to heart, even if he is just a dumb kid, Toshimasa stands down and washes his hands of Jiro’s fate. The episode ends with the future uncertain, but Jiro and Rago are at least for now, in it together.

If that makes it seem like an episode where not much happens, it’s because not much happens. With even less action than the premiere, Black Torch Episode 2 was almost boring. For a series that desperately tries to convince audiences that it will be an action-packed anime, there has been a significant amount of talking so far — talking in forests, houses, hospital rooms, and every place in between.

While the worldbuilding sets the stage, it’s time for Black Torch to ramp up the action.

There is still a very intriguing story being set up. Where Black Torch Episode 2 gets it right is putting some important pieces of the puzzle in place. There could have been an attempt to weave contextual information into the story going forward, but even still, the exposition dumps of the first two episodes have been just enough to justify watching more.

Black Torch Episode 2 may be in critical need of finding its voice, but it does appear to be closer than ever to having a real story to tell. In a world where context matters, there is enough in Black Torch to go around. Now, after two episodes of almost pure worldbuilding, it’s time for Black Torch to move from explanation to execution. At this point, it’s the responsibility of the series to deliver the exciting experience that Black Torch has spent two episodes setting up.

Black Torch Episode 2 is out now on Crunchyroll. 

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