I hope Ann gets her bike fixed soon.
©バード・スタジオ/集英社 ©SAND LAND製作委員会
So here we are—like our heroes—entering uncharted territory. With episode 7, Sand Land goes beyond what both the manga and movie mentioned. However, this means there is a major problem that needs to be fixed immediately.
The first six episodes are a self-contained story—and designed that way. There were never any plans for the story to continue. Both the plot and characters have been resolved. So this episode has the difficult task of not only gathering the group, but convincing them to leave their new, peaceful lives for another adventure.
Of course, Rao himself seems to be the biggest sticking point. While Beelzebub went on an adventure out of sheer boredom and Thief had to go wherever he was ordered, Rao had little motivation to go beyond his small patch of desert. The evil general has been taken down, a good man now leads the army, and water is once again accessible to rich and poor alike. He won a war he never thought he could win.
And what's more, after decades of mental suffering in personal exile, he realizes that the genocide he participated in is not yet complete—that he has a chance to atone for his sins. most partly because of his war crimes (even if Picchi doesn't blame him for his role in what happened). With all the reasons to stay close to home, getting him back on the road seemed an insurmountable task. However, the film gave Rao the perfect impetus.
While his sense of responsibility for what happened to Picchi is what kept him in the area, it was also what drove him to leave. While making amends for his crimes is extremely important to Rao, it's equally important to ensure that said crimes are never repeated—especially when he has a chance to stop them. block them. He is one of the few people who has witnessed the devastation that Aquanium can cause—and felt the personal loss that comes with it. Hearing that a neighboring country is developing Aquanium weapons is something Rao cannot allow. And so our heroes set out—now with one more member in the group.
Ann is a fun addition to the group dynamic. She is governed by her prejudices. She considered Rao a legendary general—a hero who could lead the Forest Land rebellion to victory. On the other hand, she sees Beelzebub as an unruly child—a nuisance rather than an asset. It'll be interesting to see her begin to learn about the complex people they truly are—and how deep their do-or-die friendship really goes.
Rating:
Random thoughts:
→ I like how politics and international relations are used to show that Rao is the only person for the job—especially since he is not a member of the military or government.
→ It's a good idea to show how important home field advantage is. In Sand Land, Muniel is a joke. However, in the high humidity conditions of Forest Land…
© I like how Ann (along with Muniel and General Bred) was added to the opening theme song animation.
© A gun that can't kill is the perfect weapon for Rao – a man with blood on his hands. (I really hope the team gets a new tank at some point, though.)
SAND LAND: THE SERIES is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.