Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3 finally delivers some real action after two episodes of setting the stage as we enter the final arcs of the series. Senku (Yûsuke Kobayashi), Ryusui (Ryōta Suzuki), and co have finally arrived in America — specifically, San Francisco. They aim to harvest corn to make more of the revival fluid that will awaken those petrified thousands of years ago. However, not just big beasts are getting in the way of their mission as the next big antagonist introduces themselves by the episode’s end.

There’s no denying just how peculiar this series is. A certifiable one-of-a-kind that either draws viewers in or alienates them due to its, at times, off-putting art style. But Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3 exemplifies a superb payoff. Not so much because major secrets are revealed but because we understand the stakes at hand when a threat is introduced. Senku is such a wonderfully formed character that we, like Taiju (Makoto Furukawa), note any time his attitude shifts. It’s what makes the final few moments so extraordinary.

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“Light Trap in the Darkness” embraces its melancholy early. When they first arrive on the coast, there are several sobering realizations they must contend with. First was their admitted naivety in hoping that maybe only Japan would still be affected by the petrification. Maybe they’d arrive in the U.S. and realize that other countries would be alive and well and would be able to help in their mission to restore all of humanity to what it once was. But the piles of bodies that line the coastal ridge make it clear that isn’t the case.

Senku and his team face off against unlikely hurdles. 

They ponder why there’s such a pile of petrified bodies before Ryusui informs them they’re sailing where the Golden Gate Bridge once would’ve stood. Senku deduces that it was likely that a colossal pile-up would’ve taken place during the first petrification beam, causing cars to crash and erode over time while the bodies remained. It’s a stark reminder to those from the past, the modern age, that everything humanity built — all of their accomplishments — is gone. Dr. Stone would be depressing if it weren’t for its bold humor. That it manages these haunting images without ever fighting for tonal balance is somewhat miraculous.

There are plenty of laughs in Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3 as the group splits into two teams. The heavy hitters, such as Taiju, Kohaku (Manami Numakura), Tsukasa (Yuichi Nakamura), and Hyoga (Akira Ishida), set out with the corn scouting team that Senku, Gen (Kengo Kawanishi), and Ryusui led. Sailing in a smaller river, they’re looking for the corn belt in Northern California, which should be their respite. Instead, in a hilarious bit of luck, they’re met with an enormous swarm of crocodiles, threatening to take over Senku’s smaller ship.

Gen’s dismay is a fantastic contrast to the battle team’s glee. The former realizes that it’s not so much that Senku has terrible luck when he talks about the worst-case scenarios that unfold. It’s that Senku, based on his genius, knows that the worst outcome is likely the most inevitable. Tsukasa and Kohaku, however, are thrilled. Tsukasa, in particular, gets a great line with his character design simplified so that he’s sporting dead, vacant eyes as he spouts how much he honors the circle of life before killing the crocodiles to be made into burgers.

Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3 saves the big new threat for the ending moments.

But while there are moments of reprieve as the team enjoys their ‘welcome to the States’ burger, things quickly turn ominous. Senku continually wonders why they’re following a direct path of corn as kernels float in the river they traverse. His skepticism reaches its peak when they illuminate the night sky and realize that a species of moth that should have dwindled shows up in spades attracted to the light Senku creates. It’s a subtle shift in tone aided by the visuals that help shroud our characters in the overwhelming darkness and a score that strips away its signature jauntiness.

The full pivot comes when Tsukasa senses bloodlust from the trees before a hidden force unleashes a machine gun to fire on the entire group. The shot of Senku hunkered down behind the tank door is excellent, as our resident scientist stands against this new threat as bullets race past. Between the strength of the group and Ryusui’s ability as a captain, they can get away, though it’s a close call. One that Senku is invigorated by as he realizes what it means for this mysterious force to have such weaponry. Other people are revived, possibly self-awakened just as Senku had been, and they’re also racing towards modernity.

Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3 is a thrilling reminder of the heightened stakes the characters face as they enter new and unfamiliar territory. Balancing its requisite broad humor with genuine thrills and melancholy, “Light Trap in the Darkness” prepares us for what should be an exciting adventure.

Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3 is out now on Crunchyroll.

Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3

• 8/10 Rating - 8/10

8/10

TL;DR

Dr. Stone Science Future Episode 3 is a thrilling reminder of the heightened stakes the characters face as they enter new and unfamiliar territory. Balancing its requisite broad humor with genuine thrills and melancholy, “Light Trap in the Darkness” prepares us for what should be an exciting adventure.

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