The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone: New World episode 4 titled “Eyes of Science”, now airing onCrunchyroll.If there is one thing that keepsDr. Stonefans going it’s curiosity about what’s Senku coming up with next. His unparalleled wits and knowledge have been the driving force of the show, and figuring out how he makes inventions jumping through centuries of human technological progress is the show’s best attraction. InNew Worldit has been a little different though. Not as much attention to detail as in previous seasons, clearly thinking abouthow a slower pace could affect the perspectivesince it will take some time before fans can witness any kind of action.
Thanks to a combination of factors, the fourth episode of the season went for the record in terms of inventions, non-stop jumping from one to the other. And what’s more impressive, all of them are actually amazingly practical and complex for the time they are in.Who would have even thoughtthey could come up with that level of advanced tools with barely any materials or infrastructure?
RELATED:Best Anime Like Dr. Stone
The Why-man Threat
After theshock from the last episodeis only natural that the first move is to create an emergency meeting and discuss the problem they encountered. The so-called smartest people of the Kingdom of Science, all men by the way but that’s a conversation for another day, held briefing to discuss what to do next now that they know for a fact someone is out there. At this moment Ryusui officially names it the Why-man, as they wonder if they might be a threat or not. Although there is one obvious doubt, 3700 years have passed since the petrification, so the only way they could be related with it is if they also petrified themselves.
From Senku’s perspectiveof course, is better to be over prepared as usually. It’s not about knowing exactly what this implies, but how can you be prepared in the worst case scenario. Most saw the Why-man as a change of character or topic in the show. But its immediate impact took a different turn. The conversation didn’t last for long until Senku came up with an idea which counters the threat as wells as helps them develop. A few minutes into the episode they already broke through a massive barrier with the making of a cathode ray tube with a cool electron beam animation.
Now they can use it for a sonar and a radar,with the convenient factthat Ukyo was a sonar operator back in the day. They can be alerted if anyone or anything approaches them, and they can also use it to facilitate fishing. With bread and fish they pretty much solved the supply issues they were facing, not only for the village but for their planned trip across the ocean.
The Industrial Age
The key to this analysis lies in their quick shift from a Stone Age with some modern day technology to the foundation of an industrial landscape. It’s interesting seeing how many items could have been invented way earlier in history without the need for a modern infrastructure. Just enough know-how and materials. But that came to an end with this episode. The magic of scienceSenku had been pulling offhas its limits. At this point, they are going to need much more than that to move forward.
The scale is much bigger now. Not only because of the amount people living in the Kingdom of Science. Their traveling ambitions weight heavily on their decisions, specially after the realization that they might face unexpected adversity. Having a sonar and a radar is great, but it requires a ridiculous amount of batteries to keep them on. The solution to build more engines for the boat requires a ridiculous amount of iron and oil. The path left is to create an industry.
At this point, the inventions kept flowing. First, it was Chrome managing to create a metal detector on his own. Then, opening an iron mine propelled the construction of a transportation system with paved roads cars and boats, and a mine cart rail to move around inside. To sum it up, the Kingdom of Science has secured oil extraction, a huge iron mine, an efficient transportation infrastructure around their territory, a radar, and a sonar for security and food production through fishing and agriculture served at the Francois Restaurant.
Taking into account the fact that they also introduced an official coin and a clothing market, this is starting to look like a developed society.Senku’s original goal of reinstating civilizationafter the petrification might have already been fulfilled. The only thing left is to expand their borders and solve the petrification mystery. Soon, they will be ready to sail kicking off theTreasure Island Arc.
