Review of Dr. Stone: New World

I've always enjoyed this series, albeit it has only rarely wowed me with its execution. I enjoy watching them science their way through problems, and the dynamics between the characters are always a good time, but while the former get more complicated this time around (which is for the better), the latter gets more focused (which doesn't work as well). There’s a big shakeup that happens around the midpoint of the season, but it just reduces the number of players in the series for a time. It doesn’t really change the goals of its central cast. We also get a new group of antagonists whoare interesting, but very underdeveloped at this point. As someone who read the manga, I know this will get better in Part 2, but the first half of this portion of the anime just doesn’t stick out. It looks as pretty as ever, there’s a lot to like about the usual sciencing, and, like the last season, it’s more focused and directed than the early days of this series. Nonetheless, it still feels like it’s just getting started and, despite a very strong moment in the finale that I had been waiting to see, it felt underwhelming over all. Not bad by any means, and still worth the watch, just not up to this series' usual standard.