Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: TBA
Source: Manga
Episode Summary: Jolyne Kujo’s life seems to be over at the ripe old age of 17. After taking the blame for a hit and run accident she didn’t commit, as well as for the disposal of the resultant body, she finds herself sentenced to serve hard time in Florida’s Green Dolphin Street Prison for 15 long years. As it happens, her defense lawyer and her (ex?) boyfriend Romeo, the actual driver of the car, colluded to have her take the fall in exchange for some financial kick-backs.
Jolyne learns this after pricking her finger on a strange amulet left to her by her father, Jotaro. After the injury, she seems to gain some strange abilities – super hearing, a sense of the future, and control over a blue thread that springs from the wound on her finger and seems to obey the will of her emotions. Whatever the source of this power, Jolyne knows one thing for sure – there’s no way she’ll sit and rot in prison for 15 years.
Impressions: While as a general rule I don’t tend to provide the full first episode treatment to sequel series, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is sort of a special case. Much like Lupin the Third (the newest season of which I’ll likely write about as well), JoJo’s is one of the masters of reinvention. Each story arc takes the things we love best about the franchise – the over-the-top leaps of logic, the convoluted and entertaining super powers, and the brilliant visual design choices, for starters – and uses them to tell a fresh story with (mostly) new characters. So this is “new” enough that I don’t feel too out-of-line picking it up and writing about it.
I’ve been looking forward to this adaptation for a while. While I’ve always enjoyed JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, one thing previous seasons often lacked was women. Sure, there are memorable girls and women from each part of the story, but not in the same abundance as the many boys and men in the spotlight. And of course, this marks the first time that a woman stars as the central “JoJo” which alone makes this a special experience for me. Already, Jolyne is an entertaining protagonist – her vulgar mouth, sense of style, and sudden loss of youthful romantic innocence at the hand of an underhanded dude make her instantly endearing. But it’s her vengefulness that seems to pull no punches that really makes me excited to see where this story goes.
I’ve written time and again about my aversion to violence and vengeance in entertainment. I don’t typically enjoy stories that don’t at least attempt to redeem their protagonists, or which allow them to seek out enemies (real and perceived) only to live out the audience’s assumed power fantasies on screen. And yet there’s always been something about how this series frames its action and its characters’ goals that seems to break all of my typical entertainment rules. I think it’s simply the rare franchise that knows the power of its own self-aware goofiness. It cultivates an environment where we, as viewers, don’t have to feel guilty enjoying the antics of terrible people pit against one-another in a battle of physical prowess and wit. It’s just a lot of fun, and I’m glad the show is back for yet another go-around.
Pros: I really enjoy the overall JoJo aesthetic, and while Part 5 seemed somewhat more subdued in that department, this one comes out swinging. there’s plenty of creative framing choices, great use of bright colors, and the character designs are, of course, top notch. One thing I love about this series is that it sometimes features truly bat-shit twists, turns, and moments without acknowledging them as ridiculous as they are. In this case, the corrupt defense attorney as well as the bailiff(?) that he speaks to have just absolutely wild character designs, making them look like demons or trolls. Jojo’s is a lot of things, but subtle isn’t one of them I suppose.
As someone who’s not a huge fan of police (after watching the most recent Philosophy Tube episode, even less so – quite a feat), I’m curious how things will play out in that regard here. Our heroine is a convict and maximum security prisons aren’t known as the places where correctional staff are on their best behavior, so I imagine there might be some commentary buried somewhere in there. I think the fact that this story takes place in the United States has something to do with it as well.
Cons: This season is being released in chunks rather than as weekly episodes. While until recently I’d agree that this is par for the course as far as Netflix is concerned, the fact that they’re doing weekly (if slightly delayed) releases for a couple of their other current anime series makes me wonder why they chose their binge route for this one. I’ve heard some grumbling online that this takes away some of the opportunity for weekly bonding that the fandom participated in with the other seasons. While that doesn’t affect me personally either way, it is something to make note of.
What is specific to me, however, is some knowledge of how the legal system works, and I’m not exactly sure that Jolyne’s plea deal gone awry would typically go as sour in real-life. And, if anything, she might be able to file something in regards to ineffective counsel because of her lawyer’s misplaced loyalties. But all of that has very little bearing on the story, honestly.
Content Warnings: General vulgar language, discussion of masturbation, attempted sexual assault by police, violence including blood and gore
Would I Watch More? – It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that I’ll see this series through. While I still need to finish Part 5 (I don’t know why I walked away because I was really enjoying it, but there are always anime like that in my life), I’m much more motivated to do so now.