Highlights
- Episode 16 Total War features the battle between the Kingdom of Science and the Petrification Kingdom following the plan leading up to the fight in Episode 15.
- Senku's gun was utilized in battle, but it came in the least likely of times and caused a great pivot in their plans.
- Soyuz discovers the petrified Master smashed to pieces, leading to a moment that is sure to pull the heart strings of the audience.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Dr. Stone, Season 3, Episode 5, "Total War," now streaming onAmazon Prime.
With a plan set in place on the eve of the confrontation between the Kingdom of Science and the Petrification Kingdom, Senku and his group take charge, cloaked in black robes. The plan was to use their wits and forward-thinking to get one up, along with the rumors of robed warriors out-muscling their larger, and more-prepared gang. In Episode 15, Senku had plenty of variables worked out, including the potential betrayal of Moz, the usage of the Medusa Device, and the re-invention of a gun. Dr. Stone New World shapes up for its biggest fight this season, leading into Episode 16, titled "Total War."
Unfortunately for the Kingdom of Science, things didn't turn out the way they had hoped, leading to Senku rationalizing the conundrum they found themselves in. With mere moments to concoct a new plan and decipher the situation, Senku used his wits and mathematical equations to drag his side out of trouble before it was too late. With the tables turned on the Kingdom of Science, Senku was put on the spot to think of something new while on the fly, creating a do-or-die situation for the entire team.
Everything According to Plan, Until...
The fight started as planned, with Senku's side leading the charge and gaining the upper hand thanks to Kinro's charge besting Oarashi. Senku comically fooled several troops with a pair of mirrors, reflecting the sun into their line of sight and creating the illusion of sorcery. With Moz faking a sense of overwhelming pushback from the opposition, he convinces Kirisame to use the Medusa Device. Willingly, she pulls it from her apparel and gets ready to throw it as Ryusui sits patiently, out of sight, ready to use the drone to intercept.
As he sets the drone for flight, he freezes, to the surprise of those around him. A sudden sense of urgency fills his face, and he confesses that he senses a change of momentum in the wind. A fatal oversight, recognized by Yo and Senku, reveals the device thrown into the air as a fake, meant to fool the Kingdom of Science and show their hand before utilizing the real instrument. The realization sends Senku into a stasis where he breaks down the distance of the throw, the size of Kirisame, and where the instrument will land before deciding that they high-tail it out of the battlefield.
Moz's Betrayal Was Unintentional
It was understood what intentions Moz held during the battle, but it's not what Senku's group envisioned. As promised, he did play his part in the plan by convincing Kirisame to throw the Medusa Device and convincingly looked outmatched during the battle. Internally, he also sensed the other side was plotting and promised to behead anyone who crossed him. He even went as far as chasing Senku and the group down as they fled from the fight, stating that this was his plan all along while masking his true allegiance and betrayal towards Ibara.
What the group did not see coming was Ibara's discovery of the entire plot from a trail left behind by Moz. In an earpiece left behind, Ibara overheard the plan coming to light and was given ample time to come up with a counter-attack. At that moment, Ibara handed Kirisame a fake Medusa Device before throwing the real one. The twist allowed Ibara to gain enough momentum to flee, while Senku and the Kingdom of Science had to re-group and think up another plan.
Unfortunately for them, the situation went from bad to worse as reality sunk in that both Magma and Gen were not on the cart during their escape. To the horror of Yo, the gun sitting comfortably in its holster was replaced by a pistol-shaped branch, which Yo realizes was switched by Magma before the battle.
Pistol Plan Backfires
The moment Yo had been waiting for came and went before he could wield it and point it towards someone. On the other side of the story, Magma and Gen were on the tail of Ibara while he was fleeing on the Perseus, which was being controlled by several of his soldiers. In true comedic fashion, Magma pointed the gun with all the confidence in the world, yet the aim of a toddler, missing its mark by a half ocean. Magma plans to take out Ibara and claim the kingdom for himself, but his second shot does not land either, this time drawing the attention of Ibara.
As the Perseus continues its path in the waters ahead, the Kingdom of Science notices that the island is undergoing evacuation, leaving Ibara with the plan to use the Medusa Device to land a beam on the surrounding area. The plan will either petrify the Kingdom of Science or draw them out, where they will be quickly captured and subdued. Senku concludes that if they can show the people the statue of the petrified Master, they can put a stop to Ibara.
The episode culminates with Soyuz discovering the Master's statue smashed to pieces. Despite having some adhesive and attempting to salvage the destroyed statue, Soyuz confirms they won't be able to bring him back as he holds the hand of the statue. Sparking a flashback to when Soyuz is a baby, we see him reach for the hand of a man, who turns out to be the Master and his father. The audience is left with a heart-shattering moment in which Dr. Stone New World does so well, and Senku is pushed to the edge in his battle against Ibara.​​​​​​​