How do you rate episode 23 of
Undead Unluck? Community score: 4.1
©Yoshifumi Totsuka/Shueisha/Undead Unluck Production Committee
Can I just say how wonderful it is to feel vindicated as a fan of Undead Unluck? While the show never had a truly bad episode, the run from episodes 17-20 seemed much more inconsistent than what the show had delivered up to that point. I was impressed with everything that Undead Unluck had achieved before it and I have to admit that, within a few weeks of being there, I started to wonder if the show could ever reach the standards it had set for itself. itself again or not. before the end of the season. Now my doubts have been swept away by the rejuvenating waters of redemption…or maybe it’s just Andy’s blood?
The final three episodes not only bring the show back to peak condition; I think those are the best episodes the series has ever produced. Everything about Fuko’s journey into Andy’s memories is already top-notch, but the climactic reveal of Akira Kuno’s (aka “Anno Un”) past is somehow even better. more because it ties the world of the story together in such a satisfying way. At the same time, it opens the door to possibilities for what is to come.
I admired the way the episode effectively conveyed the strange and ridiculous circumstances that led to Akira assuming the position of de facto God-Seer of the Undead Unluck universe. The way G-Liner crammed all of the time loop’s memories into young Akira’s head was legendary enough, and the tragic addition of his Negator powers only made it more impactful. Like every other Negator in Undead Unluck, Akira’s powers manifested in perfectly precise ways to ruin his life forever. Possessing the power of “Anonymous”, Akira suddenly realized that he could not be seen or heard by anyone, and let me tell you, the scene of the boy standing right behind his mother when she collapsed and cried because she thought he was to disappear forever is extremely heartbreaking.
It makes his ultimate mission to chronicle the events of his dystopian future in the pages of his comic book all the more intriguing as well. When at his worst, he finds solace in Andy and Fuko’s stories like any manga fan, and it not only gives him a means to convey the truth that he exists to the outside world but also allows him to communicate the fact that he exists. to save that world too. When he realizes that he is the only one who knows why the Union failed to kill God, he also realizes that means he is the only one who can change the course of events by bringing himself into the story and give Andy and Fuko the tools they need to prevent the death that Fuko often suffered during the fall UMA battle.
I know I’ve made this exact observation about half a dozen times in the past few weeks, but this is just a great way to tell this story. The aplomb with which Undead Unluck has crafted its existence as a thrilling fighting manga filled with lovable characters into the core foundation of its plot is something I just live for. The episode emphasizes all of this epic, exciting storytelling by leaving Akira’s narration out of the next episode preview because he no longer knows what will happen in this version of events.
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Undead Unluck is now streaming on Hulu.
James is a writer with many thoughts and feelings about anime and other pop culture, which you can also find on Twitter his blog and his podcast.