Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 2
Short Synopsis: Second cour of Dr. STONE Season 4, you know what this is about by now.
Lenlo: Look, we’re 4 seasons in at this point, I really don’t know what I can tell you that you haven’t already heard before. You know by now whether or not you like Dr.STONE, and this second cour is more of the same. Do you enjoy science based shounen shenanigans? Do you enjoy Humanity Fuck Yeah stories? Do you enjoy some of the stupid situations they find themselves in as the ridiculous science escalates further and further? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you will continue to enjoy Dr. STONE. And for those of you that have been waiting/wanting for it to get a bit more serious about addressing its many mysteries, well this season will be even better for you, because we’re in the endgame now. I legitimately only see one more cour after this one and then the whole thing is over. So if you want to be there for the end, jump on in.
Potential: 60%
The Fragrant Flower
Blooms with Dignity
Short Synopsis: A menacing-looking teenage boy forms a connection with a girl who frequents his family’s cake shop.
Wooper: Of all the anime genres out there, the one that makes me most conscious of the new fan experience is romance. How would a teenager – or even someone a little older, but without the burden of a hundred animated love stories under their belt – feel about a first episode like Fragrant Flower’s? I can’t presume to speak for that demographic, but my intuition tells me they’d like it a lot. It’s packed with tropes that even a newcomer would recognize as such: boy and girl from different social strata, boy looks scary but has a heart of gold, boy sustains injury while protecting girl from hooligans after dark, etc.. The visuals are top shelf, though, so the characters’ words and actions could easily spark the imagination of someone new to romance anime. Expressions of disgust, boredom, and fascination are expertly drawn, making the divide between Rintaro and Kaoruko’s worlds – as well as his internalization of his bad reputation – potent weapons in the show’s arsenal. Shots of their neighboring school buildings, their detailed classrooms, and especially Kaoruko’s covert position in her favorite cake shop create confidence in the show’s overall direction. Chubby-cheeked chibi versions of various characters lend a bit of humor to a setup that might otherwise feel too serious, and they’re spaced out enough that they might charm someone who hasn’t already had their fill of the technique. To put it simply, Fragrant Flower has a lot going for it, so even though I found its first outing disappointingly familiar, I have to respect its game.
Potential: 55%
Dekin no Mogura
Short Synopsis: A dead hermit was banned from the afterlife and now collects spirits in an attempt to buy his way in.
Lenlo: I can’t quite put my finger on it, but Dekin no Mogura reminds me of something… Is it Gintama, with its mediocre physical/screaming comedy and ugly designs? I’m really not sure, but suffice to say, Dekin was not good. None of the jokes landed, the whole thing was ugly to look at, and I felt like it took me 2 hours to get through a 20 minute episode. It was so uninteresting, I can’t even write a moderate length blurb telling you not to watch it. I just want to move on and find something better.
Potential: 0%
The post Summer 2025 Impressions: Dr. Stone: Science Future Part 2, The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity, Dekin no Mogura appeared first on Star Crossed Anime.
