Isekai

Great Rimuru has Returned to us!!!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , ,

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime S4 Ep 1 Review

RIMURU-SAMA, WE MISSED YOU!!! ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ญ

If you remember all my reviews of Mushoku Tensei, then you remember my concept of the Seven Summits of Isekai. They’re the series that I consider to be the pinnacle of the genre that has become so prevalent over the last decade. And while I still have a soft spot for Shield Hero and Mushoku Tensei, we here at the D&A Anime Blog are huge fans of one isekai above all others: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. It’s got an amazing world, great and lovable characters, and Rimuru might be one of the most OP, broken protagonists in all of fiction. So it is with great fanfare that we welcome back Lord Rimuru as we begin the first cours for the monumental fourth season of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime!

It’s been a while since the Great Festival where the nation of Tempest made its grand debut on the world stage. And for Rimuru and his friends and allies, life couldn’t be better! His plans to build a magic-powered train system are progressing nicely. More and more humans are visiting or living in Tempest, making the idea of human- monster coexistence more of a reality. Rimuruโ€™s beloved students are now attending class in Tempest and away from Yuuki, with Hinata serving as a guest teacher. And, as crazy as it sounds, Shion managed to make a tea he can actually drink!

All of it adds up to Rimuru being able to enjoy a happy and fulfilling life. Except for one problem: their new Dungeon isn’t working.

The Tempest Dungeon is Like Dark Souls

Despite all the advertising and work they put into it, too many newbie adventurers keep trying to take on the Dungeon. They’re getting lost, starving, or owned by even the most basic of monsters. At this rate, the Tempest Dungeon will be a financial flop! All of this is leading adventurers to lash out at the citizens of Tempest and say their Dungeon is unfair. Something has to be done, and it’s the kind of thing that a gamer can fix. A gamer like Masayuki.

Gamers Rule

I already enjoy the fact that the world of Slime Tensura has a lot of gaming mechanics, as that serves as the basis for a lot of isekai. However, it made me so happy to see the mild-mannered hero Masayuki come up with the solutions they need. Quick-save points, loot drops from monsters, tutorial lessons and rest stops! It’s everything that goes into making a good video game, and the best games are the ones that show you how to play without holding your hand.

Rimuru and Mjรถllmile take it one step further. They put out ads saying that anyone who makes it halfway through the Dungeon or beats the whole thing will win a hefty cash prize.

Their little advertising campaign works perfectly. More adventurers start pouring into Tempest, eager to get the chance to win money and fame, solving the financial problems of the Dungeon. Though I can’t but feel like they’re overlooking one crucial: what if someone actually does beat the entire Dungeon? Getting past Veldora seems too absurd to consider, but if reading shonen manga has taught me anything, there’s always going to be someone who will wind up doing the impossible. They’re gonna have to eat their words when that happens!

That issue aside, as a gamer, I applaud what they are doing with the Dungeon. As a gamer, I can tell you that having a tutorial and training courses can mean the difference between winning a game or getting owned like a scrub. That, and I like the concept altogether.

Haters Gonna Hate

It’s not all sunshine and flowers, though. Whenever someone is riding high, there’s always a pack of haters ready to take them down. And Rimuru has been dealing with plenty of haters. Falmuth, Clayman, the Seven Luminaries, and now, the Rozzo family. Introduced during the last season, they’re a secret cabal thats trying to dominate the human world from the shadows loek they’re the Templars or Illuminati. And the Jura-Tempest Federation is getting in the way of that, so they’ve been trying to take them down. So far, their plans haven’t worked, but that doesn’t make them any less of a problem. Fortunately, this is Rimuru weโ€™re talking about; heโ€™ll be fine.

This was a good, solid start to the long-awaited fourth season of Slime Tensura. I know not everyone is interested in the more mundane aspects of world-building and just wants to see more fights, but it’s those aspects that make the series so entertaining. A lot of isekai only do the bare bones when it comes to developing their worlds, but Slime Tensura is one of the ones that is a cut above the rest. That, and its sense of humor and fanservice are pretty good!

I give โ€œNew Daysโ€ a 3.5/5

The Mad Dog is Returning to Mushoku Tensei

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A Look at the New Trailer for Season 3 of Mushoku Tensei

Mushoku Tensei is coming back for its third season this July, and that means weโ€™re getting into one of, if not the most important arcs, in the entire story. No spoilers from me, though! That would ruin the fun! However, our latest look at what comes next has confirmed that we are getting one arc that some people were worried weโ€™d miss. And it has to do with the most divisive and controversial girl in the series: Eris Greyrat.

I could go on another tangent about how Eris messed up big time by sleeping with Rudy and then leaving him to go on her training arc, but I think I made my opinion on the matter clear. She screwed up, and when she reunites with Rudy, she is going to have to spend a long time making amends for breaking his heart and leaving him depressed for three years. Instead, letโ€™s just focus on what this trailer revealed: weโ€™re going to see Erisโ€™ training arc.

In the anime, the last time we actually saw Eris, she and Ghislaine had left to train and get stronger. Eris had realized that she was too dependent on Rudeus for her own good, and that she wanted to be strong enough to protect him like he had been doing the same for her. With that goal in mind, and wanting to beat the snot out of Orsted, the two women head to the best place for a swordsman to train: the Sword Sanctum, home of the Sword God Style of swordsmanship. And, save for that quick cameo at the end of season two, that was the last time we saw Erisโ€ฆin the anime.

What did Eris do on her Training Arc

Since the anime focuses on the story of Rudeus, it never really shows us what has happened to Eris while Rudy has been living his life. In the light novels and manga adaptation, though, readers periodically get glimpses into what Erisโ€™ life of training at the Sword Santcum is like. She even gets a brief spin-off manga chronicling part of her time there and the adventures she went on. As is the case with a lot of Mushoku Tensei, though, there are going to be gaps during which we know nothing about the lives of the characters, but thatโ€™s not a bad thing. And while we donโ€™t know how much of her time at the Sanctum that the anime will cover, the trailer shows that itโ€™s including the most important parts. That includes the people that she meets, several of whom become important or recurring characters in the story from this point forward. In fact, weโ€™ve already seen one of them back in season two.

Remember that time Linia and Pursena holed up in their room during the mating season of the Beast People and made Rudy fight off all their suitors? And then Badigadi showed up looking for a fight with Rudy? Right before Rudy got his first challenge, we saw a young, blue-haired woman looking at him. That same woman appears in this trailer for the Sword Sanctum arc as someone who knows Eris.

This is Nina Farion, another student training at the Sword Sanctum, and she and Eris come to have an interesting history. I canโ€™t spoil too much about what happens, but letโ€™s just say that Eris’s showing up has a major impact on Ninaโ€™s life, for both better and for worse.

While I canโ€™t speak about how the rest of the fandom views Eris, I think a good chunk of us were probably hoping that the anime would cover her time at the Sword Sanctum. Given how she left Rudy to train there, it’s too important part of the story to simply gloss over! As for whether this will be a special episode like what we got for Sylphie or take place over multiple episodes, that is left up in the air. Regardless, Iโ€™m looking forward to seeing this gets adapted by the anime. And Iโ€™m looking forward to the return of Mushoku Tensei.

SO MUCH PEAK FOR SPRINGTIME

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Everything RJ Writing Ink Wants to watch Spring 2026

Time to put away the snow shovels and cold-weather jackets, people. Itโ€™s finally spring. That means going outside to touch grass, watching the flowers and cherry blossoms bloom, and most importantly, enjoying a new season of anime. And there is a lot of anime for us to enjoy this year. From a new season of a few of the Seven Summits of Isekai to the return of some legendary Shonen anime, we have a lot to look forward to over the next few months. I donโ€™t know how much I will actually be able to watch, but here are a few of the ones that I know are on my list. And who knows? I might end up reviewing them for the D&A Anime Blog!

Rooster Fighter, March 15th-

When it comes to fearsome animals, chickens arenโ€™t exactly high on peopleโ€™s tier lists. But then you remember that theyโ€™re related to dinosaurs like the T. rex and that some people pay to watch them fight each other and think, โ€œdang. These birds are tough!โ€ And someone in Japan to take that premise and run with it with a web manga thatโ€™s now getting welcomed onto Toonamiโ€™s block. Set in a world where demons have appeared in Japan, Rooster Fighter follows Keiji, a rooster who wanders the land like a ronin of old, beating the snot out of demons in search of the one that killed his sister. If it sounds incredibly silly and over-the-top, thatโ€™s because it is. But the fact that Keiji acts so serious despite being a rooster somehow makes it both funny and awesome. Plus, heโ€™s dubbed by Patrick Seitz, the voice of Franky, Endeavor, and DIO. The idea of man who voices DIO playing a fighting rooster is too good to pass up!

Speaking of DIOโ€ฆ.

Steel Ball Run: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, March 19th

Let the race begin! After four long years of waiting, JoJoโ€™s Bizarre Adventure returns with the long-awaited adaptation of Part Seven, Steel Ball Run. Serving as Hirohiko Arakiโ€™s love letter to spaghetti westerns, the premise behind Part Seven is the titular Steel Ball Run, a race that stretches from one end of the United States to the other with a massive cash prize awaiting the winner. Since this is JoJo, though, that means that thereโ€™s a bizarre conspiracy at work and supernatural powers at play. Regarded by many as Arakiโ€™s magnum opus, Steel Ball Run also has the distinction of being the first part to take place in an entirely new timeline, featuring reimaginations of many characters fans have come to know and love. Jonathan Joestar is now Johnny Joestar, Zeppeli is a mysterious vagabond, and best of all, Dio is now a cocky horse jockey. And thatโ€™s just the start, from what I hear! The best part is that it seems Netflix will be releasing new episodes weekly rather than dumping an entire cours at once!

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Season 4, Pt. 1-April 2nd

We here at the D&A Anime Blog are massive fans of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and if youโ€™ve seen the show, itโ€™s not hard to understand why weโ€™re excited for his return. Having solidified his status as a Demon Lord and debuted his country on the world stage, Rimuru and his friends continue their efforts to build a world where humans and monsters can live in harmony. Much like before, though, there are people working in the shadows trying to knock him down, and he will have to show them why that is a terrible idea. It should also be noted that this is just part one of the fourth season, with the entire thing being broken up into a staggering 5 coursโ€™ spanning 50 episodes! Thatโ€™s either madness or sheer brilliance, but either way, weโ€™re not complaining.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm, April 4th-

Fullmetal Alchemist is considered by many to be one of the greatest anime of all time and a must-watch for anime fans. But did you know that weโ€™re about to get an anime adaptation of another one of its creatorsโ€™ works, Daemons of the Shadow Realm? Set in a world where people can control supernatural creatures called Daemons, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, much like Fullmetal, is a story about two siblings, Yuru and Asa. Separated while young, the two embark on a journey to reunite as they discover that they are meant to control all Daemons in order to save the world. So, pretty standard shonen stuff. But the fact that it was created the woman behind FMA and is getting animated by Studio Bones should be all the reason why fans should check this out.

Dr. Stone-Science Future Part 3-April 2nd

Full disclosure: I actually skipped over watching the second part of Dr. Stoneโ€™s fourth season. I know that everything works out in the end, but given how close Senku and the others came to biting it in part two, I didnโ€™t feel like dealing with that kind of stress. However, given how close the series is to the end, and Senku and the Kingdom of Science are to making it to the moon, I think Iโ€™m going to hop back on.

Now before we get to the last anime Iโ€™m looking forward to seeing, letโ€™s talk about the one that I wonโ€™t be watching.

The Beginning After the End, Season 2, April

Last year, one of the founders of D&A Anime Blog had told me about this webcomic that was getting an anime adaptation, and I wound up binge-reading most of it in a few days and loved it. It combined the best aspects of Mushoku Tensei with powers systems and abilities that reminded me of Avatar: The Last Airbender, one of, if not, my favorite show of all time. Unfortunately, the anime has gone down in infamy as the biggest disappointment of 2025. The animation was complete trash. I knew it, the fans knew it, and I think even the creator of the series himself knew he got screwed over. I stuck with it out of principle, but Iโ€™m not going through that again!

One Piece, Elbaph Arc Cours 1-April 5th

I donโ€™t think that everyone was happy when Toei announced they were moving One Piece to a seasonal release schedule, but letโ€™s be honest: it was inevitable. Anime that release every week year-round have been phased out for years, with One Piece being the last big holdout. Having read and covered the manga on my own blog, though (which I welcome you to read), I understand why theyโ€™re doing this. Next to the island where the One Piece is located, Elbaph, home of the Giants, was the most anticipated location that fans wanted to see the Straw Hats visit. And Oda has made the decades-long wait worth it, as Elbaph is one of the most fantastic places in the entire series. If youโ€™re not caught up on the manga, then you are going to be in for a wild and crazy ride as the Straw Hats make it to the land theyโ€™ve dreamt of for years. In addition to the usual Straw Hat shenanigans, weโ€™re poised to get one of the most important flashbacks in the entire series, while Luffy has his first encounter with one of the two characters I consider to be in the running for the ultimate antagonist of the series. Honestly, Toei needed this extra time to cook!

All Hail Empress Raphtalia!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 12 Review

It’s over, everyone. The liberation of Qโ€™ten Lo is over, and Raptaliaโ€™s ancestral homeland is free. Sadly, anyone who hoped that things would end in a big, epic final battle like in a movie has had their hopes dashed. Instead of a great final battle, we have to settle for a more personal one as Raphtalia undergoes a great trial: earning the approval of her ancestors to lead the nation.

Good Riddance, Makina

So, to recap the end of the last episode, Shildina was possessed by the spirit of Raphtaliaโ€™s ancestor, the former Emperor(or Empress) of Qโ€™ten Lo. Said ancestor then flew to the capital and killed the wicked Makina for her crimes against the nation. However, Makina had one last trick up her sleeve, using a failsafe she put in place to allow her soul to possess Shildinaโ€™s body. Fortunately, she’s about as smart as Bitch the Witch, so it doesn’t work. Some people might not like how anticlimactic this feels, but there really was no need for Naofumi and the others to fight Makina. She was a worthless piece of trash and she died like one.

The real focus of the episode, though, is what happens after that. Raphtaliaโ€™s ancestor is willing to give Shildina her body back, on one condition: she wants to scrap with Raphtalia. The logic behind this is simple. As Emperor, it will be Raphtaliaโ€™s duty to be strong enough to stop the Cardinal Heroes if they stray from good. So she needs to be strong enough to do that. Ergo, she needs to prove her strength.

Decent Fight!

The fight itself is actually pretty good, at least by the showโ€™s standards. Raphtalia gets to show off how strong she really is, and we see how much she has to improve upon herself. At the same time, I canโ€™t help but feel like the fighting has lost a bit of its edge. Then again, my standard might have gone up from watching other anime.

In any event, Raphtalia wins, and Shildina is freed. Which means that Qโ€™ten Lo is now free!! However, itโ€™s what happens next where the anime fumbles the bag.

We Missed Naofumi Preaching the word of Raph-Chan

In the light novels, after defeating Shildina and bringing the rebels in, Naofumi and the others go to capture the young Emperor, Raphtaliaโ€™s cousin, Ruftmilia. He tries to remain composed at first, but just like in the anime, Naofumi has Filo mess with him. The reason being that he wanted him to understand why forbidding people from fighting monsters in self-defense is a bad idea. Whereas the anime glosses over things, though, Filo pretends to try to eat the boy! It helps fake his death so they can take him away from Qโ€™ten Lo, but itโ€™s not as dramatic in the anime.

Also, it skips over the part where Ruftmilia takes an immediate liking to Raph-Chan. Which means that Naofumi now has a new member of the Church of Raph-Chan, much to the dismay of Raphtalia.

Next Season is Gonna be Crazy

Regardless, though, this brings an end to the big side quest that was Qโ€™ten Lo. And that is basically what the entire season has amounted to: a major side quest. Because while all of this is happening, time is running out until the next of the Guardian Beasts emerges. That is when the fight to save the world will begin anew. And things are already being set in motion.

Elsewhere, a moment that should make people ecstatic takes place when Motoyasu corners and apparently kills Witch. Normally, that would leave people jumping for joyโ€ฆor at least lamenting the waste of life. However, it happens far too easily for everyone to buy. And theyโ€™re right. Witch is still alive, and will likely return to cause trouble in the future.

And that brings us to what comes next, Season Five. The anime includes a teaser for the next season in its final moments, and from what we see, things are about to get bad for Naofumi. Very, very bad. I havenโ€™t gotten that far in the light novels, but Iโ€™ve heard the stories about how bad things get.  

I Give “Return of the Emperor” a 4/5

No Peace As Long as Jerks are In Charge

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 10 Review

You know who we hate? Witch, AKA Bitch, W***, and formerly known as Malty S. Melromarc. She might be one of the most loathsome, contemptible, and disgusting excuses for a sentient being in all of anime. And as this season has revealed, Q’ten Lo has its own version of Witch in the form of Makina, AKA the one running Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland into the ground. Bitch #2 is such a waste of life that even when it’s obvious she’s going to lose, she’d rather drag everyone else down with her, even if they’re just kids like Sadeena’s little sister.

You Can’t Negotiate with Jerks

At the end of the last episode, Naofumi, Raphtalia, and the other rebels had made it to the gates of the Old Capital of Q’ten Lo. Right when it looked there would be a huge fight, Sadeena’s little sister, Shildina, AKA Zodia, asks to talk things out. Despite her future subjects calling it a trap, Raphtalia agrees to go, and alone at that. It’s rather sweet to see that Naofumi and Sadeena trust Raphtalia to take care of herself, even when their followers act paranoid.

As it turns out, it’s not a trap. Shildina does want to end the civil war peacefully, asking the rebels to lay down their arms so their lives will be spared. She even offers Raphtalia a job in the government. As we’ve seen about her character, she’s completely sincere about her offer. She hates seeing people suffering as much as Raphtalia and wants to end things without any further bloodshed. With how hard it can be in real life to get people to talk things out, I can’t help but respect the young priestess’ willingness to know when it’s time to compromise.

Unfortunately for Shildina, her efforts to end the war without any more fighting were doomed from the start. I didn’t need to be Naofumi to see that fact plain as day.

Is this Woman Witch’s long-lost relative?

First of all, it’s implied, and later confirmed, that Shildina is acting of her own accord. Her master, the horrid Makina, is like Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones: if you’re not with her and doing what she wants, then you’re an enemy to be crushed. Needless to say, she is neither understanding nor willing to even entertain the thought of peace. Not that it would matter for her. After allowing Raphtalia to become an orphan, be enslaved, and then have assassins sent after her, any peace deal Naofumi would want would involve her facing justice.

Second of all, this episode pretty much confirms that the child Emperor is a figurehead with no real power. Even when he tries to speak up for Shildina’s, likely his only real friend, Makina shuts them both down. Any attempts to act in good faith are never going to work with her in charge. Case in point, when Shildina comes back having given up the Old Capital to Naofumi’s forces, she proceeds to verbally abuse the girl, playing on her feelings of inferiority towards the sister she’s never met. In other words, she’s a horrible woman and the world will be better off when she’s dead.

All Hail Empress Raphtalia!

The good news, though, is that thanks to the government abandoning the Old Capital, the group’s able to perform the ritual to make Raphtalia the new Heavenly Emperor of Q’ten Lo. Or Empress, in this case; the story doesn’t make it clear if “Emperor” is gender-neutral here. Regardless, the important thing is Raphtalia is now able to perform the blessings of the Heavenly Emperor. Even better, the Cardinal Heroes manage to learn a new way to power up that basically amounts to the use of Ki. With the Phoenix’s arrival on the horizon, they will need all the power-ups they can get.

The bad news? The road to the new capital is now blocked by Shildina. And judging by the amount of sake she’s drunk, she’s not here to negotiate.

We are nearing the end of this season of Shield Hero, and knowing what the story is like, we can expect at least one climatic fight before the dust settles. In the meantime, here’s hoping that the next episode won’t see Sadeena or anyone else forced to fight Shildina.

Also, we saw a glimpse of Motoyasu, and it looks like he’s raised some Filolials into potential queens like Filo

I Give “Prayers” a 3/5

Now there are two Sadeena’s

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 9 Review

What can be said about Sadeena? She has a dark and troubled past as the former water miko of Qโ€™ten Lo. Sheโ€™s Raphtaliaโ€™s big sister figure. Sheโ€™s another one of Naofumiโ€™s unwanted suitors after he beat her in a drinking contest. Sheโ€™s a fun person to be around, all things considered.

So, who wants to see a mini-Sadeena? Because thatโ€™s basically what we get with this episode. 

Now They’re Gonna Worship Filo, too!

The liberation of Qโ€™ten Lo continues apace as the rebels march towards the old capital. Thanks to Naofumi showing off Raphtalia in her miko outfit and helping everyone, their ranks continue to swell. In an extra stroke of good fortune, Filo is a dead ringer for the countryโ€™s national bird, so they have her happily walking around and befriending everyone like the floofy angel she is. Once they get to the old capital, they can perform the succession ceremony that will give Raphtalia the formal, and mystical, powers of the Emperor.

Thereโ€™s just one problem: the puppet regime has decided to make its stand at the Old Capital. And theyโ€™re being led by the Water Dragon Miko.

As Sadeena explains, the role of Water Dragon Miko has always been in her family, and itโ€™s more than just a religious role. The title-bearer also serves as the Emperorโ€™s enforcer and executioner. Basically, Darth Vader without the cybernetics and angst. And Sadeena is unhappy knowing her decision to leave led to another taking up her burden.

As it turns out, though, Naofumi doesnโ€™t have to wait to meet this potential enemy. While he and Sโ€™yne are going to meet with Motoyasu II and Elhart, they run into a young girl whoโ€™s a dead-ringer for Sadeena.

It’s Mini-Sadeena

The anime doesnโ€™t say that this girl, Zodia, is related to Sadeena. It doesnโ€™t need to; the fact that she looks like a mini-Sadeena is a big enough hint. The fact that she loves drinking alcohol and immediately asks Naofumi to marry her when he shows he canโ€™t get drunk cinches it. This little girl is Sadeenaโ€™s little sister, and we all know it. Naofumi may not say anything, but heโ€™s smart enough to put two and two together for himself. And as Sadeena herself states, any little sister she might have wouldโ€™ve had to take up that role. And Zodia is only a kid.

Let that sink in. The system would have a kid become a religious leader and executioner. Thatโ€™s messed up. When this is all over, Naofumi is going to have to go and have a talk with Sadeenaโ€™s family. Better yet, forget the talking. Make Sadeena the new head and banish the old ones. 

In any event, things stop being so easy once the rebels arrive at the old capital. The regime chooses to stand its ground and asks to parley with the rebels. It would also seem that the puppet masters opted to strike at the villages under their control without Zodiaโ€™s knowledge. As a result, Naofumi has to send Atla, Fohl, Sโ€™yne, and Gaelion away to help. Itโ€™s clear that while Zodia is willing to play fair, her superiors have no such desire to play fair.

Time to Fight Dirty

I canโ€™t remember what exactly is going to happen next from the light novel, but I do know that things are only going to get worse before they get better. It doesnโ€™t help that Sadeena is likely going to have to fight the sister that sheโ€™s never met before, either. Which is incredibly sad, since Zodia is such a sweet girl. Plus, seeing her get lost so easily reminds me of Zoro from One Piece, so bonus points in my book. 

This episode wasnโ€™t that exciting, but to be fair, that seems to be the case for a lot of this season. Itโ€™s mostly drama and talking with action in between, and thatโ€™s fine. Iโ€™m still going to watch it, regardless.

Also, it gets shunted to a smaller scene, but after Raphtalia gives Fohl advice on how he needs to stop spoiling Atla, he starts calling her “big sis.” She has come full circle!

I give Zodia a 3.5/5

That Time We Fight a Giant Snake Monster

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The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 8 Review

There are many myths and legends in Japanese mythology that remain alive in the modern day, but I think my favorite is that of the Yamata No Orochi. Like the Hydra of Greek game, Orochi was a massive, multi-headed serpent that ran amok killing people for years before finally being slain by a great hero. The story of Orochi remains popular in modern culture, with it being referenced in many popular anime and manga like Naruto. Given how Qโ€™ten Lo is essentially a fantasy version of Japan, it was perhaps inevitable that the monster would show up. Itโ€™s just thatโ€ฆthe animation is mid.

The CGI Snake was Mid…

The episode (which skips the OP), starts off on a rather humorous note: the rebel army being absolutely wasted. They made the mistake of competing with Sadeena in a drinking contest. Once they drag themselves off the floor, though, they provide exposition on the current situation. In a nutshell, the country is controlled by a horrible woman called Makina, whoโ€™s using the child emperor as a puppet. She moved the capital from the ancient one to the east and is responsible for extorting the population, so she has to die. However, sheโ€™s not going to go quietly. No sooner is Naofumi brought up to speed than the enemy makes its moveโ€ฆby unleashing a giant monster.

Remember how the puppet Emperor passed laws to protect all monsters? They extended that protection to monsters that threatened to destroy Qโ€™ten Lo, providing them with the Emperorโ€™s blessing. And one of those monsters, an Orochi that Raphtaliaโ€™s ancestor sealed, has been freed. And it isโ€ฆkind of mid.

Cool Fight

Thereโ€™s no getting around it, everyone. The animation for the Orochi and its multiple forms is not that good. In fact, it reminds me too much of how bad the Spirit Tortoise looked in what little I saw of Season Two. Itโ€™s big, but it doesnโ€™t look that intimidating. The hydra that Rudeus and his father fought in the Teleportation Labryrinth looked scarier, and that one cost the former his arm and the latter his life! This one feels a little like a joke in comparison. Maybe itโ€™s just the limits of what CGI can do here, but it doesnโ€™t look that scary.

At the very least, the actual fighting of the beast, which makes up a good part of the episode, is decent enough. While everyone does their own part, the main MVPs are Raphtalia and Sadeena, the latter of whom gets her own beast transformation that turns her into a flying killer whale. It doesnโ€™t make any sense, but it looks cool!

Okay, the Killer Whale Was Cool

At the tone, that is Naofumi and the Rebellion 2, Evil Bitch running Qโ€™ten Lo 0. And they got a cursed sword that they can eventually use. As soon as Motoyasu II gets it under control.

Things will only get harder from here on out. Now that the rebellion has shown that it means business, it’s only a matter of time before it hits its first wall. We shouldn’t be too worried, though. Naofumi and the others have got this.

I Give “Orochi” a 3/5

The Spark of Rebellion Ignites

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 7 Review

Everyone, we’ve got some good news and we’ve got some bad news. The good news is that Naofumi and Raphtalia have successfully made it to Q’ten Lo, Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland. The bad news is that only they, Sadeena, and Gaelon have gotten in. The rest of their group is stuck at sea thanks to a magic barrier. If they ever want to settle things with the corrupt leaders of Q’ten Lo, they’ll need to bring down that barrier. And to do that, they’re going to need some help from the locals. And to do that, they’re going to have to start a revolution.

Sweet.

Welcome to Q’ten Lo

So, Naofumi managed to make it into Q’ten Lo, but most of his allies are stuck outside with no way to get in. Fortunately, this isn’t the first time that he’s had to move around in a place where everyone’s out to get him. After he and his companions blend in, they get to go around seeing what Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland looks like. Having read the light novels in anticipation for this season, my expectations saw the nation as a more fantastical version of medieval Japan, like Wano Country in One Piece. In this case, though, the animation style’s more grounded in realism (to the extent that a fantasy world can be, that is), so not as many Sakura trees as I hoped. The silver lining is that the amount of tanuki statues makes the place feel like a wonderland for Raphtalia-lovers everywhere. Raph-Chan will likely be worshipped as a deity.

PETA Taken to Logical Extreme

Despite it’s beauty, though, the suffering of the inhabitants is made blatant. When the group sees someone being attacked by a monster and no one’s doing anything, Gaelon steps in to save the day. That’s when they learn something scary: by decree of the Heavenly Emperor, no citizen is permitted to attack a monster for any reason.

Let that sink in. Even if you’re about to be targeted by a wild animal that intends to hurt and kill you, you’re not allowed to fight back. Not even in self-defense. And considering how dangerous the wildlife is in the series, thatโ€™s tantamount to saying their life has no value. Itโ€™s like PETA taking their mindset to its logical conclusion, with disastrous results. Itโ€™s not always kind, but sometimes you have to kill to survive.

Let the Revolution Begin

Regardless, Naofumi and Raphtalia find that between this and the unbearable taxes, there are plenty of people fed up with things. Sure enough, they find the local official, who knew Raphtaliaโ€™s father, is more than happy to help them launch their rebellion.

The raid to bring down the lighthouse keeping the barrier up proves to be a challenge for Naofumi and the rebels. In keeping with previous fights, the enemy can negate the powers of the Cardinal Weapons. Thanks to the intervention of a blacksmith, though, they win the day. And give us a pretty cool-looking final move.

As it turns out, the blacksmith in question is Elhartโ€™s old master whom he had come to find. Heโ€™s also a massive simp who flirts with every pretty lady he meets. It gets to the point in the light novels that Naofumi dubs him Motoyasu II, which is hilarious.

The episode ends on a positive note for the heroes. With the beachhead secure, theyโ€™re able to begin landing the troops. Whatโ€™s more, with Naofumiโ€™s backing, Raphtalia has (reluctantly) staked her claim to the throne. Which means the rebellion has begun! And by the time it comes to an end, Raphtalia might very well be called the Heavenly Empress of Qโ€™ten Lo. Knowing Naofumi, heโ€™s probably going to use it to sell Raphtalia merch or spread the word of Raph-Chan.

I Give “Arriving in Q’ten Lo” a 3/5

Q’ten Lo, Q’ten Ho!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , ,

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 6

Fun fact about Japan: not counting how the Allies occupied it after World War II, no foreign power has ever successfully invaded it. Besides being home to a historically warrior culture, thereโ€™s also the issue of Mother Nature to deal with. Legends say that the storms that thwarted the Mongol Invasion were conjured by the gods. Gods or not, though, nothing is stopping Naofumi from getting into Qโ€™ten Lo. They tried to kill the tanuki goddess Raphtalia, and for that, they must pay! And now that Naofumi has a ship, heโ€™s able to bring his crew in to march on Qโ€™ten Lo. Let the invasion begin!

โ€ฆis what I would like to say. Dang weather and divine intervention.

Q’ten Lo, Q’ten Ho!

Having returned to Melromarc in triumph, Naofumi meets with Queen Mirella to tell her that Siltvelt will be much more cooperative from now on. In return, she reveals what I already told you: Atla and Fohlโ€™s mom was Trashโ€™s sister, making them his niece and nephew. Itโ€™s sad to think that this had to be revealed in a manner that screams afterthought. Given everything that has happened, it feels a bit of a disservice to the two. Regardless, the pair had their time in the spotlight. Now itโ€™s time to focus on the main side quest of the season: stopping Qโ€™ten Lo.

Raphtaliaโ€™s ancestral homeland hasnโ€™t given up trying to kill her or her companions. Their assassins have kept trying to attack their village, only for Motoyasu to storm in and kill them before they can do any damage. Thus, Naofumi opts to leave him and Ren in charge of watching the village. He, Itsuki, Rishia, Raphtalia, Sadeena, Filo, Raph-Chan, Galleion, Sโ€™yne, and the Hakuko siblings will proceed full sail to Qโ€™ten Lo. They will invade the country, bring down its leaders, and put a stop to things so they can focus on the coming of the Phoenix.

Things are easier said than done, though. Not only do they get attacked by more assassins at sea, but they have to deal with nature and divine intervention preventing them from entering. The outskirts of Qโ€™ten Lo are covered in fog, whirlpools, and a magical barrier. If they donโ€™t want someone to come in, then they are going to have a hard time getting in! To make matters worse, one of those whirlpools proceeds to separate Naofumi, Raphtalia, Sadeena, and Gaelion from everyone else. Itโ€™s like the start of a JRPG!

Welcome to Q’ten Lo

From what I can remember, the entire sequence is pretty faithful to the events in the light novel. When the group wakes up, theyโ€™re in a cave inside Qโ€™ten Lo itself, having been brought there by the nationโ€™s guardian dragon. To put it bluntly, the dragon wants Naofumi to restore Qโ€™ten Lo to its rightful purpose.

In the animeโ€™s lore, the Four Cardinal Heroes are beings summoned from other worlds to save it when the Waves of Catastrophe hit. As we have seen, though, being called a hero doesnโ€™t exempt a bearer from being corrupted by darkness. Thus, it makes sense that there would be a nuclear deterrent in the form of weapons that can kill the Cardinal Heroes. That is what Qโ€™ten Loโ€™s role is supposed to be, but it seems theyโ€™ve either forgotten it or have been isolated so long that they no longer care until it starts affecting them. Either way, they couldโ€™ve stepped in and put the other Heroes in check well before Naofumi had to, which wouldโ€™ve saved a lot of time, energy, and lives. The fact that they didnโ€™t is just another reason for Naofumi, and by extension, the audience, to want to see this country brought to heel. Except that the rest of his group is stuck outside the barrier, meaning theyโ€™ll have to find a way to bring it down from within.

Itโ€™s a little annoying that it took us so long to get this point, but now that we are here, we might as well enjoy Qโ€™ten Lo. This is the closest Naofumi will get to being back home for the foreseeable future, and Iโ€™ve been reading the light novels to see what happens. From what Iโ€™ve gathered, we are in for some interesting events. Welcome to Qโ€™ten Lo, everyone! Weโ€™ve got a rebellion to start.

I Give “Leaving Port” a 3/5

Wow, Fohl Got Quite the Glow-up!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 5 Review

Have you ever seen The Lion King before? Remember that climactic scene where Simba and Scar clash atop Pride Rock as the land burns around them? That was one of the coolest things that Disney did during the 90s, and throughout the duel of Fohl and Atla vs Jaralis, Iโ€™ve gotten similar vibes. From Fohl fighting to avenge his father to the fact that the three combatants are humanoid cats, it just feels so similar. And much like The Lion King, Fohl succeeds in his mission, while also getting a glow-up in the process.

Bad Kitty

After turning into a lion the size of a tank and calling his drugged-up followers, Jaralis goes from fighting a duel to attempting a coup and assassinating Naofumi. His thugs prove to be no match for the Shield Heroโ€™s party, but the crazy thing is that they wonโ€™t stay down. They keep respawning, making them a major pain for Naofumi. Even worse, when Jaralis continues to lose to Fohl, he absorbs them into his body, turning him into a monstrous chimera. He starts to think that heโ€™s a god who could conquer the world. In actuality, though, heโ€™s only succeeded in outwardly becoming the monster he always was, and everyone knows it.

Naofumi, though, manages to put him in his place. Using his Shield and connection to Fohl, he gives the boy his own power-up, turning him into a full-on white tiger. Between him and his sister, they make short work of Jaralis, simultaneously avenging their father while also silencing any skeptics. Naofumi is the Shield Hero, and anyone who denies it is deluding themselves.

Fohl got a glow-up

The duel is thus over, and the leaders of Siltvelt keep their promise. The ship will be ready in three days. Truthfully, though, Jaralis had forfeited the second he called in his back-up and commit high treason. What was most puzzling, though, was that before he died, the lion mentioned how someone had given him the drug he used. Someone else had been pulling the strings, but at the moment, we donโ€™t know who it is. Nor will we know anytime soon, as Qโ€™ten Lo remains the priority.

Besides restoring their familyโ€™s honor, though, the biggest change from the duel is Fohl himself. Thanks to being half Demi-Human, when Fohl got his big level up, he aged into a teenager, showing how strong heโ€™s gotten. In fact, Naofumi says that in his white tiger form, heโ€™s stronger than Raphtalia and Filo! Sadly, the drain on mana means the form can only be used sparingly, preventing it from becoming a cheat code. On the plus side, though, the latter half of the episode sees Fohl and Atla returning to their childhood home and visiting their parents’ graves. Fohl sold it to pay for Atlaโ€™s medicine, but a friend of theirs kept it and is nice enough to return it. There, the group enjoys a home-cooked meal that fuses the best of Siltvelt and Melromarc together, a symbol of who Atla and Fohl are.

Time for the Truth

And since the anime isnโ€™t going to say it, Iโ€™m going to rip the band-aid off: the Hakuko siblings mom, Lucia, was the younger sister of King Trash of Melromarc. For years, Trash thought that she had been killed while attending a supposed peace summit between Melromarc and Siltvelt. In truth, the whole thing had been set up by war hawks, and Lucia had somehow fled with Tyranโ€™s son, their father. That led Trashโ€™s hatred for Demi-Humans to boil over, hence why he treated Naofumi so badly. To him, Naofumi was a reminder of what he thought he had lost. But now that he knows that his sister had kids before she died, he has the chance to change for the better.

This entire part of the season has really been the story of Fohl and Atla. A good story knows when to develop its supporting cast, and that is pretty much what the Siltvelt Arc has amounted to. While it couldโ€™ve been done in a much shorter timeframe, though, I canโ€™t complain about the results. From here on out, though, weโ€™re focusing on Qโ€™ten Lo. Itโ€™s time to settle things for Raphtalia, and I canโ€™t wait to see what her ancestral homeland looks like.

I Give “White Tiger” a 4/5