Episode 23
Summary
After tying and choking Joseph to the stone wall of the central pyre with his severed arms, Wamuu unleashes his Final Mode attack the Atmospheric Rift. Using special tubes to suck in the air at high speed to eject it through a thin slit like a blade made of wind, the Pillar Man threatens to decapitate Joseph although the fire somewhat hides Joseph's exact position. However, the force of his inhaled air starts peeling away his own body. Joseph throws a firebomb at Wamuu, who cuts it, but then lights Caesar's headband with the pyre and throws it. Wamuu unwillingly sucks the embers of the headband and the oil from the firebomb and explodes. JoJo has finally won the battle.
Wamuu is reduced to a head but Joseph feeds him a bit of his blood as a sign of respect. Some Vampires barge in to kill Joseph but Wamuu protects him as a sign of respect too. Having spent the last of his strength, Wamuu asks Joseph to drink the antidote in front of him and then turns into ashes, scattering in the wind as Joseph makes a last salute.
Remembering Wamuu's ironclad code of honor, Kars is affected by the death of a servant of his caliber. However, he still steps forth to battle Lisa Lisa. Incidentally, he executes some Vampires who try to sully Wamuu's name. Kars takes Lisa Lisa and Joseph to a strange construct named the temple of Piz Bernina, and the two decide to fight with their favoured weapons: the Light Blades for Kars and the Ripple Conducting Scarf for Lisa Lisa.
Strangely, Kars exudes no killing intent as he disappears in a flash of light. Lisa Lisa does detect Kars and smashes his face, but then the real Kars stabs Lisa Lisa from behind. In contrary to his claims of fighting honorably, Kars has used a body double as nothing counts but the final victory. After claiming the Red Stone of Aja for himself, Kars sends his vampire army after the weakened JoJo. However, Joseph is rescued by Stroheim and his men, along with Speedwagon, Smokey and the Speedwagon Foundation Special Forces, who use ultraviolet lights to fight off the vampires whilst JoJo goes to face Kars. As Kars uses Lisa Lisa to force JoJo into a vulnerable position, Smokey reveals that Lisa Lisa is, in fact, JoJo's mother.
Appearances
Manga/Anime Differences
- Lisa Lisa disposing of a few Vampires trying to attack her after Wamuu's defeat is omitted.
- Lisa Lisa's exposition of the snake muffler is put before she kicks the fake Kars' face.
Commentary
I personally managed in detail the shots with Lisa Lisa's tights and the rope while adding a sketch that improved the knot until the result was credible. I gave many kinds of indications; out of pure auto satisfaction (laughs).
The direction is really meticulous in this episode; we had to redo some shots several times to make it viable. Stroheim appears again, everything's assembled, you really get the impression of a final battle.
