English Dub Review: Zombie Land Saga Revenge “Pure-Hearted Electric SAGA”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Franchouchou’s big performance opening for Iron Frill is rapidly approaching, but Junko is having doubts surrounding the group and Ai’s place in it. After a helpful pep talk from Kotaro, she resolves to work harder and make it a performance that will show they’re equal to any idol group out there. When the big night comes, Franchouchou blows Ai and everyone away—even Iron Frill.

Our Take:

Last week’s episode of Zombie Land Saga’s second season left things in a bit of an uncomfortable spot, as Ai was being lured away from the group and Junko was drowning in self doubt because of it. Pure-Hearted Electric SAGA explores a little more about what these feelings mean for the band before clearing everything away by the time the beat drops in Franchouchou’s explosive performance.

It may be a little frustrating to watch, but Junko’s crisis of identity is understandable here. Ai is probably her closest friend in the band, and to see her getting scouted by none other than her former group is more than a little intimidating. It’s like Ai is being asked to choose between her past self and her future self, and everyone knows it’s easier to get stuck in old habits than it is to move forward into the unknown future.

That’s why it’s so cool to see Junko’s resolve to help her out by making the band’s performance the best it can be. Of course, Shiori and Iron Frill are great and Ai probably could find some measure of happiness by rejoining her old friends. But it’s obvious that things wouldn’t be the same. Ai is different now, and just because she could go back doesn’t mean it would feel like it did back then. By rocking the stage with a new arrangement (and freaking destroying a guitar!) Junko has shown Ai that she means business. Franchouchou might be a little new, a little inexperienced, and a little directionless, but what they don’t lack is passion. And that might be the most important factor of all!

Pure-Hearted Electric SAGA is a well-named episode in that it gets the girls out of a bind by using the power of Junko’s pure heart as she gives it her all in order to show Ai that Franchouchou is still a place where she belongs no matter what anybody else says. It’s not the flashiest or most exciting episode when it comes to the structure of events, but it’s a heartwarming ending to Ai’s arc about leaving Franchouchou—and it sets up a measuring stick for what success the girls need to achieve and who they need to best in order to achieve it in the form of Iron Frill.