Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
Episode 146
by Amy McNulty,
How would you rate episode 146 of
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations ?
Community score: 3.6

Although the tension is high as the gang carries out their escape plan, Kokuri is essentially the only character to display any real emotion or to react to unexpected obstacles in a realistic manner. In some respects, this makes sense, as Boruto and Mitsuki are trained shinobi. That being said, they're only genin, and while Mitsuki may possess an air of perpetual calm, Boruto doesn't exactly have a history of acting like a consummate professional in high-stakes situations. The fact that neither one of them seems particularly concerned about Sarada feels a bit off. They never seriously consider that she could be in trouble when she fails to give them the signal, nor do they entertain the possibility that she was unable to make the necessary preparations for a successful escape. Yes, she's rescued by Kedama just in time to save the day, but everything ultimately comes together as a result of happenstance instead of cleverness or careful planning. However, this wouldn't really be an issue if the kids reacted to the constant hiccups they encounter with anything resembling genuine unease.
On the plus side, episode 146 is briskly-paced, contains a couple of decent action sequences, and gives everyone a chance to strut their stuff. Even though they approach the task rather mechanically, every member of Team 7 plays an active role in carrying out the escape. Mitsuki, in particular, is able to use his Mr. Fantastic-esque stretchiness to great effect a number of times. While Benga never really rose above the rank of “standard-grade corrupt warden,” his summoned beast is reasonably cool, and the gang's skirmishes with it have been pretty fun, if very brief. (Why he thought letting Tsukiyo out of his cell would work out in his favor is beyond me, though.)
With Team 7 nearly home free, Boruto's latest adventure seems to be entering the final stage of its endgame. Since Tsukiyo's abilities have largely been kept under wraps until now, he's sure to pose a challenge to Boruto and company as he rolls out a plethora of moon-based jutsu next week. While there have been little skirmishes here and there, this arc has thus far been devoid of big battles, so here's hoping the gang's smackdown with the Mujina Gang's second-in-command makes for a satisfying finale.
Rating:
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Amy is an author who has loved anime for over two decades.
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