Naruto Shippuden Episode 342
Lots and lots of action that actually includes Naruto.
What They Say:
Having absorbed the chakras of all nine Tailed Beasts, the Gedo Statue begins its transformation into Ten Tails. Naruto, Killer Bee, Kakashi, and Guy try to destroy the Gedo Statue but are stopped by the masked man who is able to phase through all of their attacks.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
The return of Orochimaru in the previous episode was definitely something that I find myself mixed on. I like the character, though his lengthy run in the show was always problematic since it just dragged for so long, similar to Sasuke’s story, without any real sense of accomplishment to it. But I do like the character and having him come back at this point through some fun moments involving Kabuto and Sasuke at least did it in an engaging way. It also helped that the last episode finally brought Naruto back into play towards the end, which launches us into this episode as the shinobi alliance leaders must deal with Madara and the incredible amount of power that he represents. Concerns abound to be sure, but the opening half makes for some very engaging action moments.
Giving us time once again with Naruto and those that he grew up learning from like Bushy Brows and Kakashi definitely makes for some compelling material as Naruto can easily be considered an adult in all of this and capable of holding his own. A lot rests on him with actually finishing all of this as well, so there’s no condescending material. If anything, there’s just a lot of concern because of the hopes that are pinned on him and just from seeing him engage Madara so openly and dealing well with it. Not always to the best as Madara obviously has a lot going on himself with what he’s capable of, and we continually get exposed to more and more of what he can do. It’s the kind of elevating fight for the most part that does manage to make each side all the more impressive.
Not surprisingly, the fight itself is spaced out decently and we get some key movements along it as we see how Naruto is actually making an impact, albeit a small one by cracking the mask. But that small fracture is the start of the larger fight in reality and we get to see the trio work out how everything is happening and the best kind of approach for dealing with it. It’s not heavy or in-depth or anything, it’s the usual Naruto-streamlined kind of material that you’d expect, but it’s a nice bit of strategy and working things out mid-fighting and while catching their breath as well so that it’s not wholly unrealistic. The fight may not be one that really engages you in a huge way because you know nothing will be settled that quickly or easily, but we definitely get a good feeling for both sides now.
In Summary:
After some wonky episodes that were just spread too thin and felt like it was getting closer to time-wasting material, Naruto: Shippuden has moved firmly back into the engaging material here. Granted, it’s just the start of the fight overall that must be dealt with and there are now new threats lurking in the background again, but it feels like we’re getting an edge of progress here. Having Naruto and the others working together is a lot of fun to watch and seeing the dynamic between them as important equals in the battle continues to show the growth and importance of Naruto, but also how others are perceiving him in the right way and not making issues over the young’n that’s showing them what to do. It’s collaborative and it definitely works well.
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Sony KDL70R550A 70″ LED 1080P HDTV, Apple TV via HDMI set to 1080p, Onkyo TX-SR605 Receiver and Panasonic SB-TP20S Multi-Channel Speaker System With 100-Watt Subwoofer.