JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable

Episode 20

You know, I've almost forgotten that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure used to be a show about absurdly muscular guys beating each other up. Morioh is a location with such a distinct and memorable cast that it probably could have succeeded as a brand new title. Let's see, how about "JoJo's Laid-Back Adventures Revolving Around Generally Relatable Problems"? Rolls right off the tongue.

Last time we saw Yukako Yamagishi, she was the overzealous love-struck antagonist. Now that Diamond is Unbreakable has turned over to its B-side, it's time for us to embrace the humbled, much more humanized version of her. She's still in love with Koichi, but she keeps her distance in fear of his disapproval. Yukako's in that very real phase of infatuation where she knows she's crossed the line and worries about her own worth because of it. Never in a million years could she try to connect with Koichi again, but she's still so invested that she hopes fate will lend a helping hand.

And it does, in the form of the local beautician, Dr. Aya Tsuji. Tsuji operates a parlor themed after the story of Cinderella, where she plays the role of the fairy godmother. She specializes in makeup designed to accomplish goals such as "marry a celebrity" or "capture love". Obviously, the latter of those options is exactly what Yukako is seeking, so she decides to entertain the idea. Of course, it wouldn't be a Morioh adventure if Tsuji didn't have Stand powers, and her ability "Cinderella" is all about making impermanent, subtle altercations to someone's physical form designed to affect their luck.

Yukako goes through a few different sessions, such as softening her eyes and eyebrows and later having her whole body changed ever so slightly. It seems to work gangbusters once she's running into Koichi by accident, and all the uncanny differences begin to peel his reservations away. It works so well in fact that Koichi even decides that he's fallen in love with her, but in a cruel monkey's paw twist of fate, Yukako's changes begin to backfire. Part of the ritual to maintaining her new look came from applying a certain kind of lipstick every thirty minutes, and forgetting to do so means that even her real face will begin to peel off in all sorts of body horror ways. Now she wouldn't dare allow herself to be seen by the boy she loves.

The finale of this episode involves Koichi following Yukako into the beauty parlor and confronting the doctor. Tsuji uses her Stand to give Yukako a chance to restore her old face when Cinderella creates a plethora of Yukako "masks" that she can pull out of the air and wear as her own, but only one of them is based on her original face. Whichever one she chooses will be her new face for life, and she will be stuck with whatever luck and fortune accompany it. In a moment of clarity within desperation, Yukako lets Koichi choose the face for her. Koichi accepts, but on the condition that he be blinded if he fails to pick the original, since he's sure Yukako would hate for him to ever look at her with the wrong face. Tsuji is so impressed by this that she cheats the game and gives Yukako her original face back regardless. The episode ends with Yukako and Koichi seemingly on good, possibly romantic terms.

This episode is decked out with a Cinderella aesthetic, with many shots drawn in that stained glass art style often associated with fairytales. It's a notable visual touch that emphasizes the original theme of the episode. Everybody wants their love to feel like a story. We all get these ideas in our head about the whos and whys that need to happen before our fantasies can come true, and ironically we're not above trying to fake some of the details if it means the end results will make us happy.

I'm curious as to where the relationship between Yukako and Koichi will go. Koichi did fall in love because of the cosmetics, but now that it's happened he doesn't seem to be as anxious about her original form. Yukako probably won't be returning to Dr. Tsuji, but the experience seems to have worked out in her favor regardless. A story like this is ripe for authorial opinions on the nature of inner and outer beauty, but very little of that shows through in this episode, in favor of being kind to its characters. I guess we can wait and see if "happily ever after" happens or not.

Rating: B+

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Sam Leach writes and records about One Piece for The One Piece Podcast and you can find him on Twitter @LuckyChainsaw