Meeting Date: 2/16/2019
Disclaimer: The Herald Anime Club discusses shows as they’re airing. Naturally, there will be spoilers for a given episode. You have been warned!
Samantha Ferreira: Hi everyone, and welcome to the Herald Anime Club! I’m Samantha, and I’m here with Anthony Simpson this week.
Anthony Simpson: Evening
Samantha Ferreira: Tonight, we’re taliking up The Promised Neverland episode 6: “Stop it! Don’t! OPEN! That! DOOR! :O”
Joking aside, this was one where we’re finally seeing some real momentum building, as Don and Gilda explore Mama Isabella’s secret room, while the three smart kids make more plans to do crimes.
Anthony Simpson: Don and Gilda realize that they really are just food for the demons seeing Connie’s bunny in the secret room.
I have to say I enjoyed the way they found out. Seeing all those toys and them realizing the truth of the matter.
Samantha Ferreira: Likewise. That slow dawning dread, as realization crept in was amazing
Moreover, the whole building tension of the moment as it was clear that Mama was waiting to drop the hammer
Anthony Simpson: I have to say the way they frame shots adds to the tension. For example right at the beginning when we see the door open and you don’t know who is coming in. Brilliant.
Samantha Ferreira: Definitely. That was just great.
Doubly so that they pulled it off twice in the same episode
Or that last shot at the end where the kids are talking, and in the background you just see the apron as nobody’s looking
Anthony Simpson: That was amazing. Seeing Sister Krone just show up out know where and reveling that she knows what the kids are up for me was like shit is getting ready to hit the fan.
Samantha Ferreira: Definitely.
Anthony Simpson: So another thing I found interesting was the morse code message in the books. Who is this Minvera person that left the messages in the books.
Samantha Ferreira: That’s what I’m wondering
And moreover, where will it lead the kids if they actually get out? Like… is this actually friendly, or some false hope designed to lead smarter kids to their doom?
Anthony Simpson: Good question
The three protags all seem to have different opinions on the intent of the message.
Samantha Ferreira: True that. And it’s definitely with good reason
So far, they have no reason to trust the adults they know, so trusting these words is blind idealism
Anthony Simpson: True I mean you have Mama who is just raising kids for the slaughter and Sister Krone who saying has a few screws loose is putting it lightly.
Samantha Ferreira: …That’s being kind to Sister Krone.
She’s straight-up bonkers.
Anthony Simpson: True
I want to talk about Don and Gilda confronting the main trio about lying to them.
Samantha Ferreira: Likewise
Anthony Simpson: The sheer emotions on display of Don resorting to violence was just the cherry on top.
It had to happen that way. Anything less would have been wasted on what could have been.
Samantha Ferreira: True that.
The whole scene was brilliant, as it laid bare exactly what the kids thought of Don and Gilda, and how that resentment just festered
Anthony Simpson: I can’t blame Don and Gilda on how they felt. I mean they were straight up lied to about Connie then finding out that they were lied to and they are being shipped off for food.
Samantha Ferreira: Likewise.
It was a very human reaction, especially since the three outright knew that they were lying to Don and Gilda to pacify them
Anthony Simpson: True.
So we found out near the end that Ray is the next to leave for demon food after lying to Mama about Norman trying to kill her.
Samantha Ferreira: Yeah… which is a fascinating one – Norman knows this is going to cause some issues, for sure
I think he’s going to be a surprise shipment
Anthony Simpson: Yea I can see him being sent sooner rather than later.
Samantha Ferreira: I can see it happening next episode now that Ray straight-up said “kid’s gonna murder you”
Anthony Simpson: That is true. Though Mama might I mean “might” take Ray’s suggestion into letting they stay until they are 12. Odds on the that happening are between slim to none
Samantha Ferreira: True enough.
But yeah… I definitely see Norman getting shipped out ahead of schedule
Other than that, I do wonder what Norman’s actual plan is, now.
Anthony Simpson: Escaping is part of it. Don’t know if murder is actually part of the plan or not or if he is just bluffing to make Mama commit to a mistake.
Samantha Ferreira: I’m thinking the latter, for sure
Any final thoughts this week?
Anthony Simpson: Can’t wait for next week.
Samantha Ferreira: Likewise! I’m sure we’ll be seeing some incredible things happening
Til next time, though, remember: If there’s a mysterious murder hole in your loved one’s basement: don’t go into it!
Have a great night, everybody
Anthony Simpson: Good night
After the Meeting…
Matt Brown: Now that you guys are done…is it me, or is every existential crisis anime really about the birthrate? :)
Think about it: if any adults in this dystopia are alive, they’re all older, and well, nobody’s joining them in the next 20 years because reasons. :3
Samantha Ferreira: Pretty much.
Matt Brown: Also something in the back of my mind: what if one of the kids is mama’s actual child? ;)
Samantha Ferreira: Ray. Calling it now.
Anthony Simpson: I’m keeping my mouth shut on this.
Matt Brown: What’s fun is it could be any of the three. They’re all plausible.
A couple episodes ago, my pick was Norman. Now, even Emma is suspect.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed
Emma moreso, because it’s clear Isabella dotes on her more
I’m saying Ray, though, because he’s the least likely on the surface
Matt Brown: There’s a fourth possibility: none of them, because this is a farm and they are livestock and the beings on the next rung up of the food ladder are smarter than them.
It’s a bit narcissist to even think they have a chance at escaping :3
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
Samantha Ferreira: or naive
