REVIEW: ‘Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ Episode 3 – “The Desert-Born Outlaws”

It’s time to spin into Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Episode 3, and we’re right back in the thick of it with Johnny Joestar (Damian Mills) and Gyro Zeppeli (Kaiji Tang). Instead of throwing us back into the race, Steel Ball Run Episode 3, “The Desert-Born Outlaws,” has them dealing with Enemy Stand users who also happen to be participants in the Steel Ball Run. It’s quite the isolated battle for our duo, which leads to a total misunderstanding in the end. 

Steel Ball Run Episode 3 begins with Johnny and Gyro spending quiet time by a warming fire in the desert. Their dynamic remains enticing to watch, and it’ll help fuel fanfiction. While Gyro busies himself with eating, Johnny becomes more interested in the Spin and Gyro’s past. More specifically, after Johnny sees some papers in Gyro’s bag indicating he’s not from America. 

Steel Ball Run Episode 3 takes place during the night, when most of the contestants are resting or continuing their travel on a different path. So, we’re not focused on the actual race itself, but more so the dangers that are arising for them both. Gyro isn’t a man without enemies, and that directly affects Johnny because he’s continuing to align with him. 

Steel Ball Run Episode 3 shifts away from the race and sets the scene at night.

As soon as a strange contestant named Andrew Boom Boom (Jamison Boaz) seemingly stumbles upon their camp, they’re immediately suspicious of him. It’s hard not to be because of Andrew’s shifty behavior, a story about a lizard bite that’s poisoning him, and a staged moment of body horror. Just when Johnny and Gyro think they’ve got everything handled, they genuinely don’t. 

The other members of the Boom Boom family which consists of the patriarch Benjamin Boom Boom (Christopher Swindle) and younger brother Lawrence (Matt Shipman) arrive to cause more havoc with their Stand abilities.  Battling the Boom Boom family isn’t as simple as it seems because their family Stand, Toom of the Boom, involves iron manipulation. And since most of them carry varying amounts of iron, that proves extraordinarily dangerous. 

Instead of winning easily with Gyro’s Stand, Ball Breaker, both Johnny and Gyro scramble to understand Boom Boom’s abilities and survive the night. While this won’t be the last time they experience challenges during this race, it helps further remind the audience and them that danger is everywhere.

The Boom Boom Family is introduced, and they are a wild bunch.

Whether it comes in the form of those in positions of power or the minor enemies they’re having to deal with. Given that Steel Ball Run is set in a post-Civil War, Western world with anachronistic elements, it’s only fitting that they struggle. Everyone is trying to prove something by participating in the Steel Ball Run.

Many of the participants are either driven by desperation or greed. All while not understanding the Indigenous land they’re traveling on. Steel Ball Run is just getting into the meat of the story, as well as the social commentary it’s trying to highlight. 

Steel Ball Run Episode 3 is more action and danger-heavy than Episode 2, which helps move the plot along. Character beats are sprinkled throughout the episode, but Johnny and Gyro don’t have time to talk about Gyro’s past. Especially when they just barely manage to escape the Boom Boom family’s relentless attack on them. 

Steel Ball Run Episode 3 ups the danger, reminding us that Johnny and Gyro are never really safe.

Unfortunately for Johnny, Benjamin Boom Boom decides to use his abilities to pose as Johnny when Mountain Tim (Joshua David King) catches up to the tracks he’s been looking for. The dangerous battle is only going to continue, and Mountain Tim is under the assumption that Johnny is the killer he’s searching for. 

In terms of the English dub for Steel Ball Run, it continues to not be lackluster and isn’t falling flat. Everyone does a great job differentiating their characters from one another. This makes it easy to understand each character’s personality. 

Steel Ball Run Episode 3 gives everyone just enough to chew on and anticipate for next episode’s gallop back into the desert. And we’re sure to see more of what Johnny and Gyro plan to do about the Boom Boom family’s pursuit of them. JoJo Fridays continue on, everyone! 

Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Episode 3 is streaming now on Netflix, with new episodes dropping every Friday. 

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