The Promised Neverland

Episode 4

The first three episodes of The Promised Neverland were so inspired and involving in their direction that even a small step backwards would stand out that much more. “291045” is far from a failure; the show's production values remain mostly solid, the music is atmospheric as ever, and the kids' escape plan is developing at a brisk and energetic pace. By the time this episode finished, it hardly felt like five minutes had passed, much less twenty-five, which is indicative of The Promised Neverland's continuing quality. Still, I couldn't help but feel that this "291045" suffered from taking too straightforward an approach to the material, clearing a path to the episode's big cliffhanger while giving less regard than usual for the moments meant to build it up.

Even with the alterations the show had made to Neverland's first arc, it maintained the story's claustrophobic atmosphere and pregnant pacing. There are numerous obstacles for the kids to overcome before they can even think of scaling the walls that surround Grace Field House, and while the show has generally preserved the manga's knack for keeping an endless series of monologues and whispered conversations riveting, that energy falters a bit with this episode. The direction is flatter; the plot more stagnant, and while Emma, Norman, and Ray's hunt for the traitor does lead to some great moments and a whopper of a reveal, there's just enough dead air surrounding those moments to be noticeable. To be fair to the anime, I had similar issues with the way the manga handled this arc, though I was hoping this adaptation would clean them up better.

Take the episode's opening, where Mama dresses down Krone, revealing that she knows of Krone's duplicitous intentions, but that she would be willing to overlook them and help Krone achieve her dream of becoming a “Mom” if only she would remain obedient and useful. Even if you were to ignore the uncomfortable way this power dynamic exacerbates the racially insensitive portrayal of Sister Krone, this exchange still lacks the dramatic oomph and visual flair that has been a hallmark of the series thus far. It's fine overall, and it communicates the information it should, but little else.

Or consider the scene where Emma, Norman, and Ray decide to tell at least part of the truth to Gilda and Don, who have been identified as the prime suspects for snitching on Mama's behalf. Norman and Emma decide to omit the whole “flesh-eating demons from the darkest pits of hell” aspect of the ordeal, but Gilda and Don get the gist that the adults have betrayed them to "traffickers". Being recruited into Emma's escape plan is a defining moment for both of these characters, and there should be an appropriate amount of gravitas to reflect it, but Neverland is content to present the dialogue in a surprisingly straightforward manner. Most of the scene is composed of simple medium shots that distance the audience from Don and Gilda's emotions and clutter the frame with as many characters as possible. Not every episode needs a sequence as stylized as some of the showier moment from the previous three weeks, but this is a beat that could have used more attention.

Nevertheless, there are still great moments to be had. Particularly excellent is the moment where Gilda stands up to Krone and reaffirms her love for Emma and the rest of her family. The foreshadowing from last week leaned pretty hard on Gilda being the culprit, so it was gratifying for Emma and the audience to see where her allegiances truly lie. The scene manages to capture what makes Krone such an imposing figure without relying too much on her exaggerated design – instead, the music, lighting, and camera all do their part to emphasize how dangerous it is for a girl as meek as Gilda to be alone with one of the adults responsible for shipping so many children off to slaughter.

This is also a great week for Norman and Ray, even though the work they do is more subtle. One of my favorite exchanges is Ray's anger over hiding the truth of Conny and the others' deaths from Don and Gilda, which he considers to be “too cruel”. To this point, Ray has been considered the pragmatist, who values the practical and realistic above all else. This kind of mindset is often used as a shortcut for communicating a character's cold and dispassionate nature, but Ray is presented as being just as empathetic as Norman, who chose to lie to Don and Gilda as a means of preserving their hope.

This characterization becomes especially interesting once we arrive at Norman's cliffhanger accusation, which pins Ray as the real traitor. We have yet to see how much merit there is to Norman's claim or what Ray's motivations might be if he has indeed ratted them out to Mama, but it is interesting to contrast the two different kinds of intelligence at work here. If Norman is to be believed, Ray is the kind of genius that lies from the shadows and watches as other parties work against each other to his own ends. Norman, on the other hand, will lie to your face with a reassuring smile if he thinks manipulating a friend's emotions and fears will lead to the greatest good being done.

Given that the kids' escape is now only ten short days away, making the stakes higher than ever, the question both boys must be asking right now is who really has the power in this land besieged by demons, liars, and traitors who all have their own motivations. Between Norman and Ray, whose brand of cunning is truly the most dangerous?

Rating: B

The Promised Neverland is currently streaming on Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, and Funimation.

James is an English teacher who has loved anime his entire life, and he spends way too much time on Twitter and his blog.