Zenshu Episode 4: Is J-Pop the Meaning of Life?

Summary

• Episode 4 of Zenshu unveils Memerun’s dark motives, tied to centuries of grief, leading to a shocking twist.
• Natsuko and Luke intervene in a death cult to save Memerun from offering herself as the Ultimate Void’s vessel.
• A heartwarming J-Pop musical number at the climax reveals deeper themes of friendship and optimism.

Quick Links

• Natsuko Discovers Who Let the Void In

• Natsuko and Luke Provide a Friendly Intervention

  • Memerun Reveals Her Motives (And Makes ToP Make Sense)

• Natsuko Fills the Ultimate Void With J-Pop

  • Is Romance on the Horizon?

WARNING: The following review contains spoilers for Zenshu season 1, episode 4, “Eternity,” which is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Zenshu’s last episode, “Destiny,” ended on a cliffhanger regarding one of the series’s main characters, an elven warrior named Memerun (JP: Minori Suzuki, EN: Alexis Tipton). The episode heavily implies that she’s responsible for disguising the imposter Void priest who infiltrated the Last Town’s harvest festival. Zenshu season 1, episode 4, “Eternity,” attempts to answer why Memerun would act on behalf of mass destruction.

“Eternity” focuses on existential grief and how we respond to it. A cult of Void-worshipping subjects view life and its obstacles as pains one must endure while waiting for death’s escape. However, Natsuko (JP: Anna Nagase, EN: Madeleine Morris) must convince this downtrodden bunch that there is much more life has to offer when one opens their hearts to its possibilities. (Also, there’s a J-Pop idol in the mix. It’s great!)

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Natsuko Discovers Who Let the Void In

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Episode 4’s opening scene immediately asks the question that episode 3, “Destiny,” posed to its audience: What is Memerun hiding? The brief kitchen scene hints that Natsuko knows something, but she does not tell Luke (JP: Kazuki Ura, EN: Ryan Negron) a word. In the original A Tale of Perishing, Luke kills the Ultimate Void and discovers it is a transfigured Memerun.

While Natsuko knows the twist to A Tale of Perishing, the ‘how’ behind it all is the film’s most significant plothole, so she takes it upon herself to stalk Memerun, hoping to find answers. Unwilling to stay behind, Luke accompanies Natsuko on her investigation.

The duo follows Memerun and her cloaked companions into the cemetery, where they have choir practice. However, after delving into an underground cavern, Natsuko and Luke discover a sight akin to a Satanic ritual. Dozens of hooded worshipers sing, chant, and march in a circle surrounded by flames, professing their devotion to the Void. TL, DR: Memerun’s in a death cult.

Natsuko and Luke Provide a Friendly Intervention

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Now that Luke and Natsuko know the truth behind Memerun’s whereabouts, the two clash on how to address the problem. Luke demands that he assume the responsibility of confronting Memerun due to their years-long friendship. Natsuko, the Tale of Perishing aficionado, puts him in his place.

As a dub viewer, I sincerely appreciate Madeleine Morris’s performance. She wields Natsuko’s expert knowledge of anime with grounded comedic timing that never feels stale.

In the end, Natsuko concedes to Luke and gives him the reigns of the kitchen intervention while she observes from a window outside. Of course, her impatience doesn’t take long to kick in. In moments, she barges inside the kitchen and asks Memerun the tough questions without hesitation.

Memerun Reveals Her Motives (And Makes ToP Make Sense)

One would assume Memerun’s reaction would turn into a chase from a cop procedural, but the opposite response occurs. Memerun calmly confesses to everything. Her species’ centuries-old life expectancy has made her a veteran of grief, watching loved ones pass in one conflict or another. Her immortal agony fuels her desire to cause a mass extinction event via the Voids.

Natsuko responds to this revelation with flat criticism. Not only is Memerun’s reasoning selfish, it’s also unoriginal. As a lifelong Tale of Perishing fan, learning Memerun’s betrayal is due to a ‘pain of immortality’ trope is low-key dull.

Zenshu viewers will appreciate the discovery more because it makes A Tale of Perishing’s tragic plot understandable. Memerun’s internal crisis feels like a plot point that did not deserve the cutting room floor. Furthermore, Memerun’s motivation gives vital insight into the director, Kamataro Tsuruyama, whose influence as an off-screen character has not been examined.

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Natsuko Fills the Ultimate Void With J-Pop

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While Natsuko receives Memerun’s confession with cold objectivism, Luke is deeply unnerved. Sobbing in tears for his heartbroken friend, Braveheart commits to rescuing her from the Void’s clutches. But how will Luke and Natsuko pull off this rescue mission?

Luke cooks up a recipe for deception. In this ruse, Natsuko will animate a decoy Ultimate Void who will convince the cultists to abandon their plan of world extinction. It’s a dumb plan (Natsuko can’t listen to it without bursting into laughter). Still, it’s the only plan they have.

Unfortunately, by the time Luke and Natsuko follow Memerun to her next cult gathering, they are too late. Memerun has decided to offer herself as the vessel to the Ultimate Void. Any hope for the Last Town’s survival relies on Braveheart snuffing out Memerun.

Natsuko cannot accept this fate (and neither can the magical pegbar). However, combat is not the answer. Instead, Natsuko concludes she must create something brilliant enough to inspire Memerun to continue living. Fortunately, an ‘aha moment’ dawns upon Natsuko, and she zips off into her magical office space.

In moments, a tall gentleman with flowing blue hair, impeccable skin, and a rizz-generating smile assumes the Ultimate Void’s throne. However, this dapperly dressed otome hero is no Void, he is the Ultimate Exister (JP: Mamoru Miyano, EN: Kyle Igneczi). As J-Pop plays, the Exister descends from his throne, enchanting the cynical cultists with luminescent roses. He takes Memerun by the hand (in her best Disney Belle gown), and the two dance among the stars.

While the last episode’s luchador rumble provided laughs, Zenshu’s J-Pop musical number felt rather heartwarming. The gorgeous colors and dreamlike atmosphere contribute to a wonderfully optimistic sequence. Furthermore, Mamoru Miyano and Minori Suzuki’s “I am Ultimate Exister” duet is light, refreshing, and delightful.

As the Exister leaves the physical plane in a burst of paper, Natsuko reminds Memerun of his true permanence:

[The Ultimate Exister] is just something I drew. But even if I die, this character will continue to live for all eternity.

Memerun finds immense comfort in Natsuko’s words. Perhaps immortality is not so bad if one always has the memories of those they love. And maybe Natsuko’s real-world death is not so bad, either. (Are they saying she’s not waking up? Damn you, spoiled clams!)

Is Romance on the Horizon?

Now that the Ultimate Void is defeated, it’s hard to guess where the anime will go from here. However, episode 4’s last scene provides crucial hints. First, Unio (JP: Rie Kugimiya, EN: Luci Christian) asks Luke if he and Natsuko are dating (could a love story be in the air?). Second, and more significantly, the camera pans to a condor observing Luke and Unio’s conversation. And it’s the same condor that looks over Natsuko in the existential movie theatre in episode 1!

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ZENSHU

AnimationActionFantasyDrama

Release Date

January 5, 2025

Cast

Anna Nagase, Kazuki Ura, Rie Kugimiya, Minori Suzuki, Akio Suyama

Main Genre

Animation

Character(s)

Natsuko Hirose, Luke Braveheart, Unio, Memmeln, QJ

Studio

MAPPA

Japanese Title

Zenshuu.

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Creator(s)

Kimiko Ueno, Mitsue Yamazaki

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Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Anime