The major theme of the second episode of Boruto seems to be coolness. As Boruto arrives for his first day of academy it seems to be all his classmates are talking about, so the episode sets out to prove that Boruto is cool, and not just because of his famous father. Unfortunately, the episode stumbles at every step, building on repetitive dialogue toward a disappointing ending, and ultimately killing some of the hype built up in the premiere.
Following the premiere’s explosive opening, this episode takes a much quieter route by simply restating the themes established in last week’s episode, and introducing us to The Academy. Much like the rest of Konoha, The Academy has changed with the times, becoming a proper school where students can learn more than just ninjutsu. Fresh off his two-week suspension, Boruto arrives for his first day of class ready to make his mark, only to find that the other students are all gossiping about him.
What surprised me most about this intro was that it didn’t feel much like Naruto at all, and instead reminded me of a slice of life anime. Classrooms, schoolbooks, and drama have replaced training montages and sparring sessions. I am happy to see the show make good on its promise to show us the new state of the ninja world, and in a way I didn’t expect.
However, these world building moments are fleeting, and the episode moves quickly into an increasingly disappointing story about Boruto’s first day. As soon as he steps into the classroom it seems that every student has something to say about him. A group of students loudly speculate that Boruto is receiving special treatment, another directly accuses him of riding on his father’s coattails (a phrase that will be repeated ad nauseum over the course of the episode). Boruto takes all the criticism in stride, but does seem irked when he discovers a mystery student has bested him in the ninja time trial. It doesn’t take long for Boruto and this student (a bully by the name of Iwabe) to cross paths. Boruto and Iwabe butt heads when he picks on Denki, and soon the pair find themselves ditching class to face off in the gym.
This “stand up to the bully” narrative feels like anime storytelling 101, and unsurprisingly every part of the episode falls flat. The attacks on Boruto’s credibility go on so long they begin to lose all meaning, especially since he couldn’t seem to care less. He only stands up to Inaba to fit his role as the hero, and the resulting fight (while fun at first) ends so abruptly it feels like nothing was resolved. Nonetheless the students cheer for Boruto, his integrity saved by a fight he didn’t even win.
Boruto’s first episode managed to convince me that the series had a bright future, but this weak follow up has already taken some of the wind out of those sails. I know that not every episode can be a thriller, but it is disappointing to see the show fall back on overused tropes so quickly. I believe that Boruto has the potential to become an interesting hero, but simple storylines like this are doing him no favors along the way.
The Verdict
Boruto’s promising premiere is followed up with a disappointing “David vs. Goliath” story featuring repetitive dialogue and general lousy direction. The Academy seems like a great setting for some interesting stories, let’s just hope they aren’t all as one note as this.
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