Summary
- Episode 6 of Zenshu balances drama and action, deepening inter-character relationships.
- Natsuko’s reckless mistake leads to a dangerous Void threat in the Last Town.
- The team comes together to vanquish the Chrysalis Void in a chaotic battle, showcasing unity.
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Title |
Zenshu |
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Director |
Mitsue Yamazaki |
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Studio |
MAPPA |
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Episode Air Date |
2/9/2025 |
WARNING: The following review contains spoilers for Zenshu, season 1, episode 6, “Change,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The fate of the Last Town looked grim after Zenshu’s fifth episode. When Natsuko recklessly commanded her hand-drawn samurai to destroy a nest of Void eggs, the eggs reassembled into an unbeatable ooze that put her and her comrades in danger. Zenshu, season 1, episode 6, “Change,” addresses the consequences of Natsuko’s impulses.
Episode 6 balances drama and action well. Several scenes delve deeper into inter-character relationships than season 1 ever has. The episode concludes with an unpredictable battle that will keep fans guessing the fate of A Tale of Perishing’s titular characters.
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Natsuko F’d Around – Now She Finds Out
Episode 6 opens with a scene from A Tale of Perishing that showcases the Nine Soldiers working as a cohesive unit to defeat a gnarly Void. It contrasts the disjointed communication that left episode 5 on a dire cliffhanger. Fortunately, no one perished after Natsuko accidentally unleashed a pervasive Void ooze. However, the fallout spells the end of the last remaining Soul Future.
The oozing Void slithered through the Last Town’s barriers, forcing everyone to evacuate. Then, the Void clung to the tower housing the Last Town’s Soul Future. After sticking to the tower, the Void hardened into a massive chrysalis, housing the Last Town’s most vicious threat yet. Once the chrysalis erupts, the emerging Void has a clear path to a Soul Future feast.
Natsuko’s reaction to this news is surprisingly nonchalant. Ok, she made a mistake, whatever. She’ll draw up something else and fix everything. Why get bent out of shape? Finally, Luke snaps. He grabs the aloof animator and scolds, “You could’ve died! It was a miracle that you didn’t. Do you understand that?” Luke’s confrontation is chill-inducing. Natsuko is unaware of how her behavior affects everyone else.
Luke and Justice Share a Revealing Conversation
After exploding at Natsuko, Luke visits the graves of those he lost to the Voids. Coincidentally, Justice happens upon Luke, and the two have an honest conversation for the first time in ages. The scene establishes the two soldiers as foils. On the one hand, Justice has accepted his losses, but his radical acceptance enables nihilistic complacency. On the other hand, Luke is tenacious to a fault. He won’t give up the Soul Future without a fight. But he’s also worrying himself into madness.
The scene sharply turns when Justice asks how “the little one[‘s] fairing.” Little does Justice know that he breached a sensitive subject. Luke doesn’t know what to make of Natsuko. She has remarkable power; he wishes she arrived earlier to save his friends. But she’s also an arrogant, thoughtless gremlin with no regard for anyone else. And also, what was that business between Natsuko and Justice? Wait. Why does Luke care!? Justice discovers that Luke is going through something.
No One Does It Alone (Including Natsuko)
The second act opens with a frustrated Natsuko scribbling away ideas while drinking at the local tavern. As she crosses out her latest sketches, QJ approaches. In moments, the robot’s projector displays a harrowing scene. Natsuko lies in bed with a pervasive purple mark on her arm. Memerun and Unio use their magic to heal the wound. While Natsuko sits speechless, QJ leaves her with solemn words:
Of all the great things you’ve done, Miss. Natsuko, none were by you alone.
Natsuko concedes to humoring her comrades’ plans during the soldiers’ next meeting. However, she does so in the most Natsuko way possible: with dry arrogance. This attitude infuriates Unio, QJ, and Luke. They assume she has not taken their warnings seriously, but a more sympathetic Memerun advocates for the animator.
Memerun and Natsuko share a heartwarming exchange that recognizes Natsuko as a flawed human being, not a pompous enigma. The elven warrior meets her with a lived experience spanning thousands of years. By recognizing Natsuko’s fear of losing loved ones, Memerun offers the loner an alternative. Rather than address her concerns with reckless hypervigilance, Natsuko can rely on her friends for help. She doesn’t have to face her fears alone.
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Now that everyone is on the same page, the Last Town’s heroes formulate a plan to vanquish the Chrysalis Void. QJ will lure the creature out of the chrysalis with a small piece of the Soul Future. Unio and Luke will distract the monster with their attacks. Memerun will freeze the Void with her magic. Lastly, Natsuko will come in for the kill. A life-or-death battle awaits, with Elder Baobab’s protective barrier around the Soul Future acting as the heroes’ only support.
So, how does the squad’s plan work out? In short, terribly. A terrifyingly massive worm-like Void breaks through the chrysalis and immediately consumes QJ and Memerun. The resulting shockwave chips away at the tower, causing Luke and Unio to fall to the ground. Furthermore, Unio pulls out his horn after it jams into the pavement below, rendering his transformation powers ineffective.
Amidst this chaos, Natsuko has no choice but to act. However, instead of summoning a magical senshi, baseball slugger, or pro wrestler, Natsuko opts for a more straightforward creation: a staircase. The magical animator installs steps circling the Soul Future’s towers, providing Luke and Unio a means of chasing the Void. The steps are simple but effective. Still, Natsuko needs the help of one more hero for Unio and Luke to climb up to success.
Natsuko struggles to see Unio and Luke as they ascend her staircase, presenting a challenging obstacle. However, Justice makes a surprise appearance. With his damaged wings, the disabled dragon carries Natsuko’s desk into the air. His efforts keep Unio and Luke from falling behind, which is vital because the Void begins breaking through Baobab’s barrier.
Tensions rise in one of Zenshu’s most uncertain moments. One wonders if this is indeed the end for the Last Town. Yet, at the last second, QJ and Memerun emerge from the Void’s mouth – and they found its weak spot. With a hefty kick in the tush from Unio, Luke flies into the air and slashes the Void clean in half! Luke’s triumph is well-earned and spectacular to watch.
In the battle’s aftermath, Luke and Justice tie up loose ends. Now that Luke understands Justice’s disability, the hunky dragon comes clean about why he never disclosed his injury to his close friend. The two reconcile and bump fists, thus repairing one of the Nine Soldiers’ deepest wounds. It appears the team is returning to its former glory.
ZENSHU
- Release Date
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January 5, 2025