The Deeper Plan (Episode)

The Deeper Plan (深く罠をはれ!) is the seventeenth episode of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime. It is also the eighth episode of Battle Tendency. It covers half of Chapter 75 through Chapter 80 of the manga.

Summary
Somewhere in a pyramid, Kars looks to his Stone Mask and a red stone and explains his problem to Esidisi. The Red Stone of Aja can refract light at least a billion times, unleashing a powerful, pure light. Unfortunately, he needs a large stone called a Super Aja if they ever hope to conquer the sun.

Lisa Lisa explains to Joseph and Caesar how the creator of the Stone Mask, Kars, is seeking a gem known as the Red Stone of Aja to power the Stone Mask and become the ultimate life-form. Lisa Lisa reveals she herself possesses this gem which can amplify the power of the Ripple into a powerful beam, saying that it is needed to defeat the Pillar Men. With a week left until the rings inside Joseph dissolve and kill him, Lisa Lisa pits Joseph and Caesar against Loggins and Messina respectively for their final lesson. However, when Joseph reaches his destination, he finds Loggins has been killed by Esidisi. Angered, Joseph decides to confront the Pillar Man over a bed of spikes. Thanks to an intricate trap, Joseph manages to use a wire set-up on Loggins to sever Esidisi's arm. However, Esidisi manages to repair himself by taking Loggins' arm before attacking Joseph with his burning blood. Despite nearly falling for a trap himself, Joseph manages to ensnare Esidisi in conductive wool thread and hit him with the Ripple, managing to destroy him and retrieve his antidote, safely dissolving the ring around his neck. Relieved, Joseph heads back to the castle, unaware that Esidisi's brain is clinging onto his back.

Manga/Anime Differences

 * In the manga, the scene where Lisa Lisa reveals the Red Stone of Aja took place on a boat. In the anime, it was on a balcony.
 * A short scene is cut after Lisa Lisa reveals the Red Stone of Aja to Joseph after the thief is chased off: she puts the Stone in her dress, flustering Joseph (to her confusion) and Caesar appearing behind Joseph, causing Joseph to accidentally slam into Caesar's face with his mask.
 * The anime removed a scene where a man was harassing Lisa Lisa and tried stealing the Red Stone of Aja, but was quickly stopped by Joseph.

Commentary
"Taizo Yoshida is in charge of the storyboard like in Episode 15, which we finished early. Episode 17 will also be finished in advance.

The episode is entirely dedicated to the fight against Esidisi. Frankly, it was rather difficult to approach because of so many elements to manage. Whether it was directing or animating, it raises the bar high. It is Yuta Takamura, the episode director, who had to bear with all this. We needed not only good animation, but to also present very unusual things. You don't see many people fighting with their blood vessels (laughs).

The entirety of the battle is happening in the same place, so we made the arena feel particular, isolated. It's our only background, it had to be as immersive as possible. I think it works well. Esidisi's sudden recovery greatly contrasts with his earlier tantrum. Keiji Fujiwara gives us a captivating symphony of cries (laughs).

We showed Suzie Q earlier than in the manga. Since the next episode was centered around her, we had to avoid the audience asking themselves "Who is she?" Thus we've introduced her in Episode 17 near Lisa Lisa to reinforce Episode 18's stakes."

- Naokatsu Tsuda, Blu-Ray limited edition commentaries