Platinum End Episode 22 - Twenty-Eight Seconds

Platinum End episode 22 sees Mirai and Yoneda attempt to settle their differences in one way or another. Sending the other God candidates away, Yoneda forces Mirai to make two brutal choices in under twenty-eight seconds. Let’s talk about the episode’s key talking points in a spoiler-filled discussion!

The final showdown

Platinum End‘s 22nd episode starts off with Yoneda and Mirai sending the rest of the candidates off in order for the two to speak one on one. Unbeknownst to Mirai, this is playing exactly into Yoneda’s hands. The scientist has a dastardly scheme in place ready to force Mirai to succumb to his will, one way or another.

This leads to the three girls somehow getting locked and tied up by Nakaumi. How the hell this scrawny kid manages to tie up three fully grown adults, each with access to angel wings, is beyond anyone. It’s just a baffling leap in logic that we’re just supposed to buy, but alright, whatever. The stage is basically set up, with Mirai in a massively compromising position facing off a formidable opponent in the form of Yoneda.

Humanity is doomed

Platinum End episode 22 also delves into the reasons why Yoneda does not want there to be a “false god”, as he calls it. Essentially, his argument boils down to his belief that humanity is doomed. People are destined to go extinct one day, which is why there can’t be a God that prevents people from arriving at the ending that they choose. He then goes on this long-winded explanation of how eventually the future will become certain and how people will eventually try to transcend time itself by seeking immortality.

It’s at this point that Yoneda firmly cements himself as an overdramatic edgelord believing that he’s sounding profound while spouting half-baked nonsensical ideas. As audience viewers, we’re meant to believe that this man is a Nobel prize-winning genius when he spouts a lot of nonsense that does not click. For a scientist, he sure talks about a lot of uncertainties and makes claims without substantial proof.

Honestly, the worst part of this aspect of the episode are the scenes where the public is seen agreeing with him. It’s almost as if the writers are trying to communicate to the audience “yes, this is how you’re supposed to feel about Yoneda’s words”. That does nothing to change the fact that this man is speaking in absolute tomfoolery, and feels so disingenuous on the part of Platinum End‘s writers.

In the face of a white arrow

Later on in Platinum End episode 22, Yoneda forces Mirai to make two decisions in the span of 28 seconds each. First, he makes Mirai give up his idea of becoming God. If he doesn’t comply, Nakaumi will use his white arrow to kill Saki.

The second decision he forces him to make is far more brutal. Yoneda informs Mirai that one of them or Saki must die to a white arrow. If Mirai dodges or avoids the white arrow, Nakaumi will shoot Saki. At the words of Yoneda, Mirai surrenders, ready to take the white arrow to his chest.

That concludes possibly the worst episode of Platinum End‘s second cour yet. It checks all the boxes, really. Long, overly edgelord philosophical monologues? Check. Braindead plot contrivances that make absolutely no sense? Check. Disingenuous attempts to get viewers to relate to bafflingly unrelatable characters? Check as well.

With just a few more episodes to go until the show ends, it’s disappointing to see the show head downward in quality, especially given the much improved second cour so far. We shall see where the show goes from here, but it must be noted that things are looking like they are going to sour quite soon. It should be fun to see!

Platinum End is streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation. Episode 23 will air on March 18th, 2022.
© Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, Platinum End Production Committee