Episode 16
Summary
In Venice, Joseph first complains about how his one-month training bluff was called by Wamuu. Wanting to teach Joseph to control his Ripple powers, Caesar takes him to Venice to meet his teacher, Lisa Lisa. Lisa Lisa orders Joseph to wear a mask that limits his breathing for the duration of his training. Back with Erina, Speedwagon shows worry on what may happen to him should he tell her of the poisonous Wedding Rings the Pillar Men implanted within Joseph. To start their training, Lisa Lisa tasks Joseph and Caesar to climb the Hell Climb Pillar, a 24-meter pillar covered in oil, using only the Ripple or else starve to death. Joseph nearly cheats by using a guideline until Lisa Lisa catches him in the attempt. Observing Caesar's efforts, Joseph learns to climb up by focusing Ripple energy in his fingertips.
As the days pass and they struggle to climb, Joseph assumes there's an easy break when he spots a crack in the pillar, but this turns out to be a trap, causing the pillar to start spewing oil at high pressures from its 20-meter mark. Caesar manages to break through the barrier by using Ripple energy to simultaneously grip the pillar with his feet and repel the barrier, eventually reaching the peak. Joseph eventually manages to get past by traveling across the barrier to its weakest point so he can leap over it. When Joseph ends up running out of breath at the last meter, Caesar helps him up. As Joseph becomes pleased with the results of his training and asks for the next test, Lisa Lisa brings in her servants, Loggins and Messina, to teach the young men how to master the Ripple over the next few weeks.
Appearances
Manga/Anime Differences
- The initial scene of Caesar demonstrating to Joseph the use of the Ripple originally had Speedwagon and a doctor in it (the doctor leaves before the demonstration). They were completely removed in the anime version.
- In addition, the doctor noted that the ring around his heart and throat are partially fused to the arteries, and a panicked Joseph notes that even though he is aware of the rings, it's still shocking to him. The doctor clarifies that they can't be removed with current technology and that so long as his throat or heart aren't hit directly by anything, Joseph doesn't have any restrictions for activities.
- Joseph notes that he doesn't feel hunger or any bodily needs in the Hell Climb Pillar, and wonders if it's due to the Ripple. This line is not included in the anime.
Commentary
I personally think the episode was well done but many of my colleagues say it's too static. I think it's because of the Hell Climb Pillar that the characters must scale very slowly. The beginning of the ascension is, for me, a perfect mix between design, music, colors... Too bad he others aren't as enthusiastic (laughs).
We had to fit Joseph and Caesar's training in one episode. The production team advised me to cut where it was necessary, but at the end, everything fitted the time slot and didn't encroach upon the ending credits that much.
