Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders Season 2 – Episodes 21 to 24

Original Run: April 5, 2014 - June 20, 2015
Number of Episodes: 48
Based on the Series Created By: Hirohiko Araki

As A Reminder:  Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou is not a review series. Anime Hajime’s Odyssey attempts to watch an anime in Japanese with no English subtitles. Therefore, misinterpretations and misunderstandings are possible.

Feel free to leave comments, clarifications, and thoughts in the comments section below.

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As Team Joestar fights its way through Dio’s headquarters, they find its labyrinth exceedingly dangerous. Immediately, Dio’s henchmen force the group to split up; JoJo, Joseph, and Kakyoin go one way, and Polnareff, Avdol, and Iggy go another.

While JoJo, Joseph, and Kakyoin struggle with another D’Arby encounter, Polnareff, Avdol, and Iggy face one of Dio’s vampire assassins, Vanilla Ice. Along with being a powerful Stand User, Vanilla Ice’s supernatural abilities make him the most formidable – and deadliest – opponent the group has faced.

To Polnareff’s horror, he can do nothing to prevent the deaths of both Avdol and Iggy before defeating Vanilla Ice.

With all his goons, lackeys, and stooges now beaten, Dio, at long last, steps out from the shadows and challenges the remaining members of Team Joestar to a final battle.

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Japanese Title: DIOの世界　その1
Romaji Title: DIO no Sekai Sono 1
English Title: DIO's World, Part 1

Episode Summary

Polnareff readies himself as he stares down Dio. However, the Frenchman quickly learns how outclassed he is. No matter what he does, Polnareff cannot close the distance between himself and the vampire; it is as if he cannot move.

Having toyed with Polnareff enough, Dio allows his opponent a chance to attack. But before the battle can begin in earnest, JoJo, Joseph, and Kakyoin arrive. The three’s arrival allows sunlight to flood into the room, thus forcing Dio to retreat.

Polnareff informs his friends of the loss of Avdol and Iggy. The team also realizes Dio wields The World Stand, and though they know it will be formidable, they aren’t sure what it can do. They escape Dio’s headquarters as the Sun begins to go down.

Knowing they cannot hide from Dio for long, the team splits up; JoJo and Polnareff, Joseph and Kakyoin. As it happens, Dio elects to pursue Joseph, the closest relative to Jonathan Joestar.

Joseph and Kakyoin commandeer a car and race through the city with Dio hot on their heels. With Joseph driving, Kakyoin does everything he can to hinder their enemy. But try as he might, Kakyoin can’t land a single hit.

Principal Characters

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Japanese Title: DIOの世界　その2
Romaji Title: DIO no Sekai Sono 2
English Title: DIO's World, Part 2

Episode Summary

As Dio closes in, Kakyoin recalls how his Stand has always made him an outcast. It wasn’t until he met Team Joestar did he find a place to belong. Therefore, he steels himself to protect what is important to him.

After observing Dio’s attacks, Kakyoin believes he has a handle on how The World works. He and Joseph abandon their car and climb to the city rooftops. Dio follows and unknowingly steps into a trap set by Kakyoin.

Although Dio dodges most of Kakyoin’s blows (his vampire healing takes care of the rest), Kakyoin believes he has figured out The World. Unfortunately, Kakyoin made a grave miscalculation and misattributed Dio’s power.

In a single, devastating strike, Dio fatally wounds Kakyoin. As his life begins to fade, Kakyoin finally realizes what The World can do – stop time. Unable to warn Joseph verbally, Kakyoin uses the last of his strength to send his friend one final clue.

Having done all he can, Noriaki Kakyoin dies.

Fortunately, Kakyoin’s final effort doesn’t go to waste. Joseph figures out what his comrade was trying to tell him. Understanding he is in no position to face such power, Joseph knows he must warn JoJo and Polnareff.

With Dio dangerously close, Joseph finds his grandson. But before Joseph can say anything, Dio activates The World.

Everything goes still, and Dio casually walks up to a frozen Joseph. The vampire unsheathes one of his knives and throws it. When time restarts, the blade flies into Joseph’s neck.

Seeing his grandfather fall, an enraged JoJo challenges his family’s greatest enemy to the climactic battle.

Principal Characters

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Japanese Title: DIOの世界　その3
Romaji Title: DIO no Sekai Sono 3
English Title: DIO's World, Part 3

Episode Summary

Having not heard Joseph’s warning, JoJo does not know about The World’s power. Sure enough, Dio triggers his Stand, and JoJo freezes.

As Dio taunts his prey, a most unbelievable thing happens – JoJo moves one of his fingers.

Dio realizes what must be happening. Since The World and JoJo’s Star Platinum are strength-based Stands, JoJo might also utilize some time-centered abilities. But before he goes in for the kill, Dio decides to uncover JoJo’s limitations.

Unlike himself, Dio believes JoJo can only move in a time-stopped world for a short while. Dio attacks and Star Platinum does protect JoJo, but just for a few seconds. Feeling confident, Dio unleashes a barrage of throwing daggers towards JoJo while he can’t move. When Dio dispels The World, the knives fly at JoJo. Star Platinum manages to deflect most of them – but not all.

Unbeknownst to Dio – and fortunately for JoJo – none of the daggers hit anything vital. To give himself a chance to find an opening, JoJo pretends to be dead.

Dio moves to finish JoJo, but at that moment, Polnareff appears. The Frenchman doesn’t last even a few seconds before Dio lands a devastating (not fatal) blow.

To get the vampire to not go after Polnareff, JoJo moves part of his body. Dio, who thought JoJo dead, goes to check. Using this as his opportunity, Star Platinum smashes Dio’s skull. Knowing his powers won’t heal him before JoJo gets to his feet, Dio attempts to flee.

JoJo doesn’t let him and releases Star Platinum’s full strength. However, JoJo realizes too late that Dio had tricked him. The attack allowed Dio to land right next to Joseph’s body.

Principal Characters

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Japanese Title: 遥かなる旅路　さらば友よ
Romaji Title: Harukanaru Tabiji Saraba Tomo yo
English Title: Long Journey Farewell, My Friends

Episode Summary

Dio drains Joseph of his blood and takes complete control over Jonathan Joestar’s body. A now fully powered Dio pins a struggling JoJo to the ground, crushing our hero’s body.

Believing he has finally defeated the Joestars, Dio cries in triumph. Then, as he goes to leave, Dio realizes he can’t move. To his astonishment, JoJo appears behind him.

Before suffering the crushing blow, JoJo triggered his own time-stopping ability. Now, it is Dio who can only move for a short while. JoJo’s Star Platinum strikes, but Dio’s The World guards against it. The two Stand Users pit their strength against one another, and Dio thinks there is no way a mere human can overpower him. But he is wrong.

JoJo and Star Platinum shatter The World to pieces, and with it, Dio. Thus, after 100 years, the villain that has haunted the Joestar family falls.

With the battle over, the Speedwagon Foundation collects Kakyoin’s body, picks up a severely injured Polnareff, and takes JoJo, a blood-drained Joseph, and Jonathan Joestar’s remains to the hospital. While on the way, JoJo realizes there might be a way to save his grandfather.

JoJo and the Speedwagon Foundation return Joseph’s blood still inside Jonathan’s body. Miraculously, the plan works, and Joseph revives.

JoJo and Joseph take what is left of Dio and burn them up in the rising Sun, ensuring the vampire can never come back. The two then say good-bye to Polnareff at the airport and return to Japan, where JoJo’s mother, Holly, has made a full recovery.

After 50 days, thousands of miles, and the death of three dear friends, Team Joestar’s journey comes to an end.

Principal Characters

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Thoughts and Impressions

Well, that was one hell of a ride.

I didn’t think there would be a way to top the first season, especially the “Battle Tendency” storyline. However, Stardust Crusaders made it look easy.

It was never a chore to watch this show. Even though the Japanese got tricky at times, it was always a fun watch. I can definitely understand why so many people enjoy this series.

Thanks for following along with me. If you’ve seen this series and feel I am wrong in my descriptions, please let me know in the comments below. I wouldn’t want to put this show in an inaccurate light.

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For Anime Hajime, I’m Odyssey, and be sure to come back next week and recap with Anime Hajime Impressions: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders.

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