Dr. Stone: New World (Season 3) episode 14 aired on Saturday giving us plenty of Gen antics and the formation of an unsuspecting alliance. While most of the episode quite literally took place in one spot the entire time, it still managed to give us intense moments with a pinch of classic Dr. Stone humor and facial expressions. While there was nothing in particular that was jaw-dropping about this episode, it proves that Dr. Stone simply cannot make a bad episode. (Warning: spoilers ahead!)
It’s crazy to think that as a viewer there was a bit of reverse dramatic irony in this episode when Gen was trying to manipulate Moz leading to the climax. We knew Gen was manipulating him and even the characters knew at some point. But when everything looked bleak and Moz’s pride kicked in, everyone thought Gen’s manipulation failed, including me. That would mean the only people who knew what came next were the staff of the episode. Despite completing the manga I found myself to be like everyone else in this episode—manipulated by Gen and how his “failed attempt” was just a step in his “process”, if we should call it such, to convince Moz to not drive his giant death stick through everyone’s chest.
Some of the best moments in Dr. Stone come when Gen is at the forefront of a situation. It’s funny considering he’s always the one, along with Ginro, who rather be far away from any situation that requires intense pressure or consequential outcomes depending on how he does. In this episode, he was basically faced with the task of manipulating this guy to help everyone or they all die a brutal death—yeah, no pressure, buddy. So, of course, in typical Dr. Stone fashion, the conflict was met head-on with hilarious facial expressions and wonderful voice acting.
I think that’s one thing that always keeps circling back around any time I talk about Dr. Stone—consistency. This episode was by no means the best in the series. But is it a hot take to say that no episode of Dr. Stone so far can even be considered “the worst”? It just hits home all of the things that make it great every single episode. There’s never a moment I find myself saying, “Yeah, I didn’t like that Dr. Stone episode.” Gen has had moments that put the spotlight on him and any peaks and valleys he has to overcome always seem to be entertaining in their own respective way opposite of anything science.
Okay, that paragraph title pun was awful and makes absolutely no sense. Carrying on, Moz already made his first appearance earlier in the season. While he’s never been at the frontlines of any discourse taking place, we finally got to see what he’s made of. He’s another 8-pack-toting warrior of the new Stone Age that brings about another physical problem. While Taiju has his own brute strength and endurance, he’s still no match in combat for the likes of Moz, Tsukasa, and Hyoga. The only one that is—Kohaku—is unfortunately a museum sculpture on top of a straw hut.
Moz shares characteristics of both Tsukasa and Hyoga. His physicality isn’t the only thing going for him. He’s also a schemer like Hyoga but is a fighter like Tsukasa. He presents a threat on two fronts that the kingdom of science has dealt with before. Even though that’s true, he was so much of a threat that everyone in the cave was scared for their lives. Let that sink in how much of a threat they think Moz is despite defeating two powerhouses in Tsukasa and Hyoga in the previous seasons.
I think that’s just basic, yet smart, storytelling. When the main cast of characters overcomes a strong obstacle, they’ll be tasked to face even tougher ones down the road. When they overcome those odds, the story gets even more intense for the main characters. The difference I think that separates Moz from the likes of Tsukasa and Hyoga is that Moz is from the New Stone Age while the former two are from the modern world and have a general understanding of science. Moz doesn’t know squat about science and isn’t even necessarily impressed with it in this episode.
He’s a bodybuilding caveman who’s gotten by on wit, looks, and battle expertise. While it seems primitive, they’re also traits some of the greatest warriors throughout every era of history have gotten by with. When you pose a threat to Senku, the greatest mind in modern human history in this story, that’s when you know an antagonist is a problem. But I love the situation Moz presents to Senku and the others for the fact he went from a possible villain to an anti-hero real quick. What route he takes provides the possibility of a shocking twist later down the line. Also, he may have the most badass look in all of Dr. Stone towards the end of the episode.
The moment was brief in this episode but another thing I love about Senku is not when he gets pissed off, but how he responds to being pissed off. Most shonen main characters hone some inner power and start to just wail on their enemies. But here, Senku bites his lip in anger after hearing what happened to Kohaku and Ginro then immediately smiles after knowing that it’s time to come up with a plan to save them.
He didn’t grow muscles out of thin air. He didn’t release a dark aura that makes people quiver in fear. He just does what he does best—come up with a plan involving science and remain level-headed. While there’s definitely an open window between Senku and Kohaku that leads to fans shipping them together, I just love how Senku doesn’t necessarily give preferential treatment.
He was pissed when everyone on the boat was petrified and he’s pissed again here. Senku didn’t get in touch with his inner feelings for Kohaku or anything that falls in line with a main male and protagonist love story. That being said, seeing Kohaku now take a back seat in the arc after being a main player for most of this arc so far is bittersweet. Being a favorite character of mine second to Senku, it sucks seeing her out of the picture, especially when fighting is getting involved.
While nobody hates Suika or Amaryllis, it feels a little odd not having the badass female we’ve all grown to love by Senku’s side in this situation. Yet, it’s good because if she was in the cave, Moz wouldn’t have posed as big of a threat as he did. But I will say that episode 14 of Dr. Stone: New World did a fantastic job with the art of her and Ginro together on top of the hut under the moonlight.
Overall, the episodes can’t really be considered among the best of Dr. Stone but it was still a quality episode with great artwork and writing. It didn’t have much shock value other than Moz finding their hiding spot and Kohaku fully petrified with Ginro. And the comedy aspects filled the time frame of the episode more than anything else. Still, we got to see Gen work his magic again, which is always entertaining, and now we have a development with a possible double agent in Moz.
Episode 14 rating: 8/10.
If you enjoyed episode 14 of Dr. Stone: New World, then make sure to vote for it in our weekly poll! Episode 15 of Dr. Stone: New World will air on Thursday, November 2. Crunchyroll is steaming Dr. Stone: New World with English subtitles.
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
©Richiro Inagaki, Boichi/Shueisha, Dr. STONE Production Committee