A Nue challenger has arrived!
Warning: The following review has full spoilers for the episode.
At long last, the day has arrived! After 12 episodes of beating around the bush the demon beast is ready to make his debut, whether Konoha is ready or not. With the culprit identified, all the major characters come together to face her in what feels like Boruto’s most important and best episode yet!
Picking up where the previous episode left off, Mitsuki is ready to reveal the culprits identity to Naruto. Simultaneously Sai has come to the same conclusion, and informs Naruto of the connection between Sumire and The Foundation. Unfortunately both parties are too late, and despite their best efforts to intervene the demon beast Nue is unleashed upon the village.
The episode’s opening half does an awesome job of pulling in all the important players, and bringing their motivations to the front as they confront the beast. I was amazed by how effortlessly the show pulled all the plot lines together, gathering Naruto, Boruto, Shikamaru, Mitsuki, and even Kakashi for the encounter. Especially intriguing is Sai, who is battling against the beast to prevent a backlash against Foundation members, for fear of being prosecuted for his previous involvement. It's a small but meaningful storyline that shows us Sai’s involvement is more than a quick cameo, and he has more at stake than most of the other characters.
Not one to be outdone, Mitsuki leaps into the fray as well, following new orders from his mysterious leader. Realizing the demon beast is physically attached to Sumire, Mitsuki is instructed to eliminate her to stop the beast. It's still unclear who is giving the orders (perhaps Orochimaru or Toneri?) but they seem to have the village’s interest in mind. Mitsuki himself seems completely detached, only moving forward to see what happens next. He is perhaps the only child character that isn't a simple copy of his parent. This and his skills as a ninja have cemented him as the series’ most compelling character, for now.
Finally we have Boruto, who attempts to maintain his positive attitude despite all the chaos unraveling around him. He refuses to accept that Sumire is the culprit unless he sees it for himself, and even when she coolly explains she exists solely for the purpose of exacting her father’s revenge, he can't accept it. I appreciated that Sumire didn't devolve into a typical villain. She isn't a grandiose personality or powerful ninja. She accepts that she is a weapon with a singular purpose. She doesn't revel in the destruction, but instead carries out her mission with a sense of relief. She is a surprisingly unique character, something I didn't expect from this show that has mostly dealt in one-dimensional personalities.
Ultimately the episodes ends before the final battle can begin, but I can't blame the show for it this time around. This is a story that deserves multiple parts, and I'm already dying to know how Boruto and Mitsuki will reconcile their differences in the face of this deadly enemy. Most of all I'm just happy that the plot feels important again. Without a doubt this is the best episode of the series since the premiere. Let's just hope they can pick the pace up moving forward.
The Verdict
Boruto leaves us on another cliffhanger, but it's well worth it now that the story finally feels consequential. This episode packs a number of great plotlines, featuring everyone from Sai to Sumire and even Kakashi. All their stories come together effortlessly, and the conclusion left me more invested than I have been since the series premiere.
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