Mohsin Lag 
Updated with the Episode 2 recap. After six months of silence — and one of the loudest fan backlashes in recent memory — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run is finally back, weekly, on Netflix. The race across America resumes, and the first new episode wastes no time reminding you why this is Araki’s masterpiece.
Episode 2: “The Sheriff’s Request to Mountain Tim” — Recap
The 2nd Stage begins, and with it the race changes shape: a 2,000 km stretch of Arizona desert where survival becomes as dangerous as the competition itself. Waterholes turn into battlegrounds, the lawlessness of the frontier allows other racers to target Gyro and Johnny outright, and a brutal triple murder on the racetrack sets the tone for what kind of story this stage wants to tell.
The episode introduces Mountain Tim — the cowboy lawman whose request gives the episode its title — and begins seeding the season’s central mystery: the Devil’s Palm, a cursed, migrating region of desert that draws travelers in. Gyro and Johnny crossed it in the first stage, and they picked something up they don’t fully understand yet: a Corpse Part — ancient human remains with miraculous properties. Johnny’s left arm briefly fuses with a mummified hand that emerges from inside his own body, and this is what awakens his Stand: Tusk.
Meanwhile, on a train shadowing the race, organizer Steven Steel meets with President Funny Valentine — and the conversation makes clear the race is cover for something much bigger. The President of the United States wants the Corpse Parts. All of them.
When and where to watch
New episodes drop every Friday at 17:00 JST on Netflix worldwide — that’s 1:00 AM Pacific / 4:00 AM Eastern / 9:00 AM UK. The block covers the 2nd and 3rd STAGE: 11 episodes total, numbered 2 through 12.
The backstory: why fans were furious
Steel Ball Run premiered March 19, 2026 with a single 47-minute episode — and then nothing. No schedule, no date, no word. For a fandom that waited 16 years after the manga ended for this adaptation, a one-episode drop followed by radio silence went over like a lead balloon. The backlash was loud enough that the production confirmed the weekly schedule openly.
The new opening: “Spin” by Kroi
Netflix also revealed the new opening — “Spin” by Kroi — and David Production does what it does best: Araki’s supermodel characters rendered in crisp 3D, horses at full gallop, and spinning steel balls set to the kind of song that gets stuck in your head for a week. It’s a proper return to form for the JoJo opening tradition.
Can you start with Steel Ball Run?
Yes. Steel Ball Run is Part 7 but set in an alternate universe: new JoJo, new cast, new rules. You can jump in knowing nothing but “a horse race across America gets increasingly unhinged.” Veterans will catch extra flavor, but nothing blocks a cold start.
Why this matters for the fall season
The fall 2026 lineup is stacked — we have the full premiere schedule here — with Apothecary Diaries Season 3, Blue Box Season 2, and Ranma 1/2 Season 3 arriving through October. Steel Ball Run going weekly is the first domino, and the one with the most pent-up demand. And 2027 is already booking up too.
We’ll update with each new episode as the season runs.
FAQ
What happened in Steel Ball Run episode 2?
The 2nd Stage begins: a 2,000 km Arizona desert crossing where Gyro and Johnny are hunted for something they picked up in the Devil’s Palm — a Corpse Part that awakens Johnny’s Stand, Tusk. President Funny Valentine is revealed to be after the remains.
When do new episodes come out?
Every Friday at 17:00 JST on Netflix — 1 AM PDT / 4 AM EDT / 9 AM BST — for 11 episodes.
Is Steel Ball Run on Crunchyroll?
No — it’s a Netflix exclusive worldwide.
What is the Corpse Part?
Ancient human remains with miraculous properties — collected by the President of the United States for reasons the story hasn’t fully revealed yet. Johnny’s brief fusion with one awakens his Stand, Tusk.
Do I need to watch the other JoJo parts?
No — Steel Ball Run is an alternate universe and works as a fresh start.
