As the first episode of his new show comes to a close, Boruto Uzumaki makes an audacious claim: “Whatever path I choose, it’s got nothing to do with dad. I’ll walk my own path. Cuz’ this is my story!” A bold statement for a new series following in the footsteps of Naruto, one of the biggest anime sensations of all time. I had my doubts about Boruto going in, but this first episode sets a solid foundation, and contains a few surprises that give me hope the show will make good on that promise to show us something new.
“The age of shinobi is over.” These are strange words to hear in the opening moments of the sequel to Naruto, but a quick tour around the Hidden Leaf Village shows us exactly what the speaker means. The visages of the Hokage still watch over Konoha, but advancements in technology have made the village a more modern place, complete with trains, skyscrapers, and fast food. The times have changed, and even the son of the Hokage doesn’t understand why ninjas are so important, quickly dismissing the lifestyle as “so uncool.” Urged on by his family Boruto does fall in line, but not without leaving an Uzumaki-sized trail of destruction in his wake.
As a fan who worried that Boruto might lean more into fan service than substance, I was pleasantly surprised with the ideas presented in this first episode. Exploring the decline of ninjas is a fresh direction for the series, and I’m excited to see how the ninja world reacts to these new developments. When it comes to Boruto himself, however, I was far less enthused. Television has no shortage of angsty teens rebelling against a distant father, and Boruto’s rage feels misguided (especially since that plot point was already resolved in the 2015 movie).
This premiere makes do with only a few characters, with many of the familiar faces (and their children) serving only as window dressing for now. The episode does prominently feature new character, Denki Kaminarimon, son of the rich businessman responsible for the technological advancements in the village. He serves mainly as a foil to Boruto, driven by his desire to please an overbearing father rather than disdain. After saving him from a group of bullies, Boruto offers Denki some questionable advice on how to deal with his problems. The episode reaches its climax after Denki, influenced by an unseen evil, attempts to face his problems head on. He lands both himself and Boruto in a sticky situation, concluding in a simple yet satisfying action sequence.
It is unclear if Denki is intended to be a major character moving forward, but if he is I hope to see his character fleshed out and allowed to stand on its own. Based on the cameos in this episode I doubt the show will be lacking in characters, but I would hate to see Denki treated as nothing more than an outlet for Boruto’s daddy issues.
As a self-contained story, the first episode of Boruto is an enjoyable introduction to the new generation of Naruto. It offers several teases that hint at something much bigger, making it clear that the show’s creators want Boruto to match the scope of the original series. As a longtime fan those teases give me plenty of reason to stick around for a few more episodes. I’m happy to see the show has the guts to set its sights so high, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will deliver.
The Verdict
New ninja, new world, and plenty of new reasons to be excited about Narut… err Boruto! The arrival of technology threatens the way of the ninja, but something tells us they won’t be going away without a fight. Boruto’s disinterest in the ninja academy sets him apart from his overzealous father, but his daddy issues feel out of place in the grand scheme of things. Despite these faults the show has a ton of potential, and we are already excited to find out what’s in store for the next generation of ninjas.
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