It Just Got ‘Saw’ Up in Here

Edens Zero Chapter 253 Review/Recap

Last chapter of Edens Zero, Joker Helix trapped Rebecca, Shiki, and Professor Weisz inside a video game. Desperate to play games with Rebecca, Joker sent the girl through multiple versions of classic video games, only to have their plans derailed by the Professor and Shiki. Now, Joker’s stopped playing video games and is trying to play games of the Saw variety. Joker Helix is Saw-ing them!

Mashima’s really big on the shout-out’s lately, isn’t he? 

Recap

Having changed the rules of Joker’s game, Professor Weisz proceeds to attack Joker, determined to beat them at their own game, in his own way. Joker Helix, though, isn’t happy about about their cheating. All it wants is to play games with Rebecca forever. Meanwhile, on the surface, Weisz continues to guard the others and the Mother Ether from the Jokers. However, it gets to the point where Joker starts breaking down, saying it only wants to play games with Rebecca, and the entire world’s covered in mist.

When Rebecca can see again, she’s chained to a chair in a room straight out of a Saw movie; an escape game, according to Joker. Worse, Shiki and Professor Weisz are trapped in a room filling with water. If Rebecca can’t escape and save them in time, they’ll both drown. Using her own skills and clues found in the room, Rebecca manages to free herself, but now she has to make it to the other room before it’s too late.

Review

Well, this took a turn for the worse. I’ve never seen any of the Saw movies, but I know the premise. Deadly room, people have to escape without dying, usually by confronting their hang-ups and maiming themselves. Joker is Saw-ing the group of three.

While this chapter didn’t do much to advance the overall plot, it did confirm one thing: Joker Helix does seem genuinely fond of Rebecca. Perhaps its because, as I suggested, they remember having fun playing games with Rebecca. However, this veers straight into yandere territory. Joker Helix’s willing to kill anyone that will take Rebecca away from them, and needs to be stopped.

The only other thing worth discussing in this Saw-like chapter is the interaction between Professor Weisz and Shiki. The Professor explicitly asked if Shiki is Rebecca’s boyfriend. While we don’t hear Shiki’s response, we do hear Weisz say he just wants to make sure Rebecca’s happy. In addition to being the thing a father would ask about their child, it’s also a bit of a death flag. Is Mashima hinting that Professor Weisz won’t make it out of this in one piece? 

Regardless, we’re going to have to wait a week to find out what happens. Here’s hoping that the heroes can outwit Joker Helix!

I Give “Stage 1” a 3/5

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