Isekai

Now there are two Sadeena’s

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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 Q’ten Lo. She’s Raphtalia’s big sister figure. She’s another one of Naofumi’s unwanted suitors after he beat her in a drinking contest. She’s a fun person to be around, all things considered.

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

Now They’re Gonna Worship Filo, too!

The liberation of Q’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 country’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.

There’s just one problem: the puppet regime has decided to make its stand at the Old Capital. And they’re being led by the Water Dragon Miko.

As Sadeena explains, the role of Water Dragon Miko has always been in her family, and it’s more than just a religious role. The title-bearer also serves as the Emperor’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 doesn’t have to wait to meet this potential enemy. While he and S’yne are going to meet with Motoyasu II and Elhart, they run into a young girl who’s a dead-ringer for Sadeena.

It’s Mini-Sadeena

The anime doesn’t say that this girl, Zodia, is related to Sadeena. It doesn’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 can’t get drunk cinches it. This little girl is Sadeena’s little sister, and we all know it. Naofumi may not say anything, but he’s smart enough to put two and two together for himself. And as Sadeena herself states, any little sister she might have would’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. That’s messed up. When this is all over, Naofumi is going to have to go and have a talk with Sadeena’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 Zodia’s knowledge. As a result, Naofumi has to send Atla, Fohl, S’yne, and Gaelion away to help. It’s clear that while Zodia is willing to play fair, her superiors have no such desire to play fair.

Time to Fight Dirty

I can’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 doesn’t help that Sadeena is likely going to have to fight the sister that she’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 wasn’t that exciting, but to be fair, that seems to be the case for a lot of this season. It’s mostly drama and talking with action in between, and that’s fine. I’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 Q’ten Lo is essentially a fantasy version of Japan, it was perhaps inevitable that the monster would show up. It’s just that…the 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, who’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, she’s not going to go quietly. No sooner is Naofumi brought up to speed than the enemy makes its move…by 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 Q’ten Lo, providing them with the Emperor’s blessing. And one of those monsters, an Orochi that Raphtalia’s ancestor sealed, has been freed. And it is…kind of mid.

Cool Fight

There’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. It’s big, but it doesn’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 it’s just the limits of what CGI can do here, but it doesn’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 doesn’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 Q’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

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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, that’s tantamount to saying their life has no value. It’s like PETA taking their mindset to its logical conclusion, with disastrous results. It’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 Raphtalia’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 Elhart’s old master whom he had come to find. He’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, they’re able to begin landing the troops. What’s more, with Naofumi’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 Q’ten Lo. Knowing Naofumi, he’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!

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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, there’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 Q’ten Lo. They tried to kill the tanuki goddess Raphtalia, and for that, they must pay! And now that Naofumi has a ship, he’s able to bring his crew in to march on Q’ten Lo. Let the invasion begin!

…is 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 Fohl’s mom was Trash’s sister, making them his niece and nephew. It’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 it’s time to focus on the main side quest of the season: stopping Q’ten Lo.

Raphtalia’s ancestral homeland hasn’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, S’yne, and the Hakuko siblings will proceed full sail to Q’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 Q’ten Lo are covered in fog, whirlpools, and a magical barrier. If they don’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. It’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, they’re in a cave inside Q’ten Lo itself, having been brought there by the nation’s guardian dragon. To put it bluntly, the dragon wants Naofumi to restore Q’ten Lo to its rightful purpose.

In the anime’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 doesn’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 Q’ten Lo’s role is supposed to be, but it seems they’ve either forgotten it or have been isolated so long that they no longer care until it starts affecting them. Either way, they could’ve stepped in and put the other Heroes in check well before Naofumi had to, which would’ve saved a lot of time, energy, and lives. The fact that they didn’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 they’ll have to find a way to bring it down from within.

It’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 Q’ten Lo. This is the closest Naofumi will get to being back home for the foreseeable future, and I’ve been reading the light novels to see what happens. From what I’ve gathered, we are in for some interesting events. Welcome to Q’ten Lo, everyone! We’ve got a rebellion to start.

I Give “Leaving Port” a 3/5

Wow, Fohl Got Quite the Glow-up!

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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, I’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 Hero’s party, but the crazy thing is that they won’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 he’s a god who could conquer the world. In actuality, though, he’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 don’t know who it is. Nor will we know anytime soon, as Q’ten Lo remains the priority.

Besides restoring their family’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 he’s gotten. In fact, Naofumi says that in his white tiger form, he’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 Atla’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 isn’t going to say it, I’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 Tyran’s son, their father. That led Trash’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 could’ve been done in a much shorter timeframe, though, I can’t complain about the results. From here on out, though, we’re focusing on Q’ten Lo. It’s time to settle things for Raphtalia, and I can’t wait to see what her ancestral homeland looks like.

I Give “White Tiger” a 4/5

White. Tiger. Power. ‘Nuff Said

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The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 4 Review

The duel for Naofumi’s freedom has begun. After losing all patience with the leadership of Siltvelt for not giving him a ship to get to Q’Ten Lo, Naofumi’s decided to force the issue. Fohl and Atla will fight Jaralis and his champion in a duel on his behalf, and if they win, Siltvelt will stop stalling. But if he loses, he’ll be stuck in Silvelt and forced to have an unwanted harem of Demi-Humans and Beastmen. While that’s already enough motivation for the siblings to win, they have another motive. Fohl has a score to settle with Jaralis regarding what happened to their late father on the day he died, and he will have his answers and his justice.

Fohl and Atla’s Lineage!

Starting with their introduction in the previous season, Shield Hero has been dropping hints that there’s something about Atla and Fohl that’s special. It’s not just the fact that they’re Half-Human or their incredible strength and will. The fact that Trash, who has a grudge against Demi-Humans, was so nice to them was a big hint that they’re special. As these last few episodes have revealed, there’s a good reason for that: by blood, they’re Siltveltian royalty.

Their father (whom I’m not sure ever gets a name-dropped) was the son of Tyran, the late king of the Hakuko, one of Siltvelt’s greatest military leaders, and the arch-enemy to Trash of Melromarc. While hewas every bit as skilled a leader and warrior, though, Tyran’s son didn’t like war, leading to him being disowned by his father. After that, he met and married his wife (who is important for her own reasons), had Fohl and Atla, only to be forced to fight in another war alongside Jaralis and die on the battlefield. His family lost everything after that, with his wife dying of illness, his kids having to give everything to their staff, and selling themselves into slavery so Fohl could pay for Atla’s medicine.

Jaralis is a Low-Class Hater

And despite Jaralis trying to claim to Fohl’s face that their father died a coward, the boy knows right away that he’s lying. So the lion just admits the truth: he murdered their father in cold blood.

Everyone watching should’ve already figured out by now that Jaralis is scum; so much so that the anime wasn’t able to fully capture all the things that make him scum. For example, that incident where Naofumi was almost assaulted by all those beastwomen in the bath? That was likely his idea! That’s strike one! Strike two was him trying to poison Naofumi and his party, and then doing everything he can to deny it like he’s Littlefinger from Game of Thrones. And if you’ve read Allen Blaster’s Shield Hero fanfic, then we see much earlier how slimy he is. But this is the moment where goes from being a slimeball to a hater of the pettiest degree. The man hated the Hakuko siblings’ dad because he was everything he wasn’t: kind, charismatic, and so good at being a leader that even when Jaralis deliberately put him in a position to be killed, he still won. So he pulled a Scar from The Lion King and just killed him himself!

And just like Scar, Jaralis doesn’t play fair. He must have known Fohl could beat him, because he coats his weapons in poison to paralyze him. When that doesn’t work, he dopes himself on a drug that turns him into a giant, four-legged lion. And when that still fails, he resorts to flat-out calling in some thugs to kill everyone, dropping all pretenses of a duel. The man is a hater!

Villain Rule One: Never Monologue

Jaralis, though, managed to make a classic villain mistake: he monologued and told Fohl everything. Between hearing how Jaralis killed his dad, and being pushed into a corner, Fohl gets the push he needs to unlock new power. He manages to transform into a full-on Beastman Hakuko. He looks like a white tiger god!!

As bad as the situation looks, fans should know that Naofumi and the others aren’t in any real danger. Jaralis is the kind of villain who thinks they’re hot stuff, but in truth, is a chump. He has to resort to using drugs, poison, and brute strength to fight a kid, and he can’t even do that. The Shield Hero team can handle him no problem. What fans should care more about is getting to see what Fohl can do in his El Tigre Blanco form. It could end up being what gives him a leg up on his sister! That will have to wait until next week’s episode, though, but we should be in for a satisfying beatdown.

I Give “Entrusted Power” a 4/5

It’s Official: Atla is terrifying!

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The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 3 Review

Ever since Naofumi arrived in Silvelt, I have been very consistent in my opinion about the country: it’s a fan club that is also a nation. Everyone in Siltvelt worships the Shield Hero and would jump at the chance to help them. But like any large fandom, there are going to be toxic elements. The worst of them are the fans who claim to support what they want, but are really trying to manipulate it for their own ends. And having seen how the leaders of Siltvelt are acting, Atla puts on her Tims and gives the adults the verbal beating they deserve.

Atla Grills All the Adults

As we saw in the last episode, someone tried to poison Naofumi and his party, though everyone knows that it was Jaralis who did it. However, instead of arresting him on the spot, the leaders of Siltvelt went back to arguing amongst themselves. That is when Atla finally reaches the limits and proceeds to crash out and tells them the truth: THEY ALL SUCK.

What follows is three minutes of a child proceeding to verbally tear a bunch of foolish adults a new one, and it is glorious. And in keeping with the fandom analogy, she’s basically the one who’s calling out everyone for making that which they claim to love so unwelcoming to others. Having seen and heard stories about how toxic the fanbases of certain franchises have gotten, it’s nice to see someone not letting something similar slide. And if you thought Atla was cool in the anime, that’s nothing. She starts aura-farming so hard, she breaks the floor underneath her while Naofumi sees the figure of an angry tiger forming around her! PURE EPIC!!

Yet despite everything, and despite Naofumi getting the cook for breakfast to admit being told to use poison, what does Jaralis do? Lying through his teeth.

Jaralis Suckz!!

One would think that the end of the world would be a good motivator for people to put aside their wants and needs. However, the stupidity of some people cannot be so easily cured. In this case, Jaralis outright says that the Waves the world is facing are not the ones of legend, and that Naofumi isn’t the real shield hero. It’s like watching Littlefinger from Game of Thrones. The man will lie straight to people’s faces to get what he wants! It also doesn’t help that the Lion is a racist who continually belittles Atla for being half-human.

As this episode makes abundantly clear, Atla and Fohl are hybrids. Their father was a White Tiger, but their mother was human. And a very important human, at that. However, the fact that Jaralis, a grown man, is willing to play the “hybrid” card on children, just shows how pathetic he truly is. And he’s not going to let this go anytime soon.

So, Atla decides to pull up and put him in his place. She challenges Jaralis to a duel.

Let the Duel Begin!

If you’ll recall, Naofumi once fought a duel against Motoyasu over the matter of Raphtalia’s freedom, completely ignoring the fact that she was a slave in name only and was choosing to serve him out of her free will. This time, though, the terms are simpler. Atla and Fohl will fight on Naofumi’s behalf against Jaralis and a champion of Siltvelt. If they win, the Council will give them their ride to Q’ten Lo and let them go on their way. However, if they lose, not only will Naofumi have to stay in Siltvelt…he’ll have to form a harem.

ATLA, FOHL, YOU HAD BETTER NOT LOSE!!!

Naofumi’s chastity aside, this fight is just as important to Fohl as it is to his leader. He’s got questions for Jaralis, and he will get answers.

Grab some popcorn! This will be good!

I Give “A True People” 3.5/5

For the Last Time, NAOFUMI DOESN’T WANT A HAREM!

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The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 2 Review

It’s only been one day since Naofumi and his party arrived in Siltvelt, and he’s already growing sick of the place. His only goal right now is to get to Q’Ten Lo and stop them from coming after him and Raphtalia. However, Siltvelt’s leaders seemed determined to keep him in their country for as long as possible; likely forever! And as the follow-up episode demonstrates, the leaders of Siltvelt will play dirty to make sure that that happens. Fortunately, Naofumi has a zero-tolerance policy for red tape and stalling, and when one of the country’s leaders tries to make a move, he decides to put them all on the OPP’s list unless they give him what he wants.

You got to admire someone who refuses to deal with baloney.

Before we get started, let’s back up to the season premiere. A few days before it premiered, I remembered I had the light novels that this season should be covering on my smartphone. I started reading through them, and thanks to that, I’m better able to notice a few things that the anime has changed or rearranged. More importantly, it made me remember that the story established earlier than the anime that Jaralis was going to be a problem. For example, in the light novel version of his audience with Silvelt’s leaders, Jaralis starts by singing Naofumi’s praisings before twisting his words into saying that they should go out and crush all who oppose them. And then he basically ends the meeting early by having everyone walk out.

Naofumi vs. an Army of Horny Demi-Humans

Unfortunately, this episode, while rearranging the order of certain events, still meets with the same outcome: irritating Naofumi. Firstly, he’s told that his party must stay in a separate bedroom while he sleeps in one meant for royalty. It’s clearly an attempt to separate him from those he trusts. It’s only thanks to his insistence that Raph-Chan stay with him that it falls through.

And it’s a good thing that Raphy (Raph-Chan’s name in the dub). Without her, he might not have made it through what happens next with his chastity intact.

While the light novel doesn’t have the water laced with aphrodisiacs and the women were waiting in advance, everything else is accurate. If Raph-Chan hadn’t been there for backup and to call Raphtalia, Naofumi would’ve had his chastity stolen that night. Not lost, stolen. And considering what Witch did to him messed him up so bad he’s all but sworn a life of celibacy, this experience was one giant trauma button for him. Needless to say, his blow-up at Werner is more than justified.

Atla and Fohl are more important than you realize

Unfortunately for Naofumi, the rest of his experience in Siltvelt isn’t any more productive. He’s forced to attend parties, banquets, and other social gatherings in his honor, all while listening to the elites trying to outdo themselves in their efforts to glaze him. He doesn’t buy it for a second, and the longer they stall, the more Naofumi decides to just figure things out on his own.

Thankfully, this is where Fohl and Atla manage to come in handy.

I’m not sure how much of their story has been revealed thus far in the anime, but Fohl and Atla are not ordinary Demi-Humans. They are part of the Hakuko, AKA the white tigers. Years ago, they had been one of the four most powerful races of Demi-Humans in Siltvelt, and their father had been a prominent leader. However, when Siltvelt lost the war against Melromarc, and they lost their parents, the Hakuko fell from power. And we know how Naofumi found them.

In any case, though, the siblings still have allies in Siltvelt. Through them, Naofumi starts making his own plans to get to Q’ten Lo, since it’s clear the country is useless to him. But then something happens that makes everyone leading the country into an OPP: someone tries to poison Naofumi and his party.

Jaralis did it. We all know he did it!

Well, to be fair, it’s Jaralis who did it. The smug look on his face says it all. However, when Jaralis and Werner continue to be at each other’s throats, Naofumi decides that this farce has gone on long enough. In a rather surprising twist, though, he’s not the one to start blowing off. It’s Atla.

This should be interesting to watch. That girl is Naofumi’s number one stan, so seeing her get mad at the people in charge of Siltvelt should be entertaining. Still, it’s a little frustrating to see multiple scenes from the light novel get removed from the anime. But the plus side is that this makes me look forward to seeing what will happen when Allen Blaster’s fanfic gets to this point!

I give “Official Welcome” a 3.5/5

Naofumi Arrives at Shield Hero Stan HQ

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

The Rising of the Shield Hero S4 Ep 1

Q’ten Lo just made the biggest mistake it could ever make: it made the Shield Hero mad.

When we last left off with The Rising of the Shield Hero, things got crazy. One minute, Naofumi had Raphtalia cosplaying in a miko outfit because he thought she looked good in it (and she did.) The next minute, his village was attacked by Demi-human ninjas saying that Raphtalia would die for “making her claim to the throne.” It turns out, Raphtalia’s royalty from the isolationist nation of Q’ten Lo! Her parents had left the country to be together, but their countrymen had had assassins keeping watch over them the whole time. In other words, they knew that she had been captured and enslaved and didn’t do a thing about it. Naturally livid, Naofumi and his group have gone to settle things with Q’ten Lo. There’s just one problem: they have to get there via a nation of Shield Hero stans.

Welcome to Siltvelt, Home of the Shield Hero stans!

The new season picks up as Naofumi, Raphtalia, Raph-Chan, Sadeena, Atla, Fohl, and others are headed to Q’ten Lo. With the Phoenix due to revive in a few months, Naofumi can’t afford to worry about fighting another enemy out to get him and Raphtalia. However, since Q’ten Lo is an isolationist country, the only way to get there is to travel by ship from Siltvelt, AKA Shield Hero fan club global HQ.

For those needing a refresher, Siltvelt is a powerful nation comprised of Demi-Humans. Since the Shield Hero is historically known as a protector of Demi-Humans, they exclusively worship the Shield Hero as their god. That makes them the exact opposite of what Melromarc was at the start of the series: an entire nation of Shield Hero stans. Thus, one would think that Siltvelt would be more than happy to assist their god in his time of need.

One would be forgiven for thinking this.

No, Really. They are Shield Hero Stans

Calling Siltvelt a nation of Shield Hero stans isn’t just an exaggeration on our part. The official definition of stanning is being a fan of something to an extreme degree; in other words, potentially more than what should be healthy. Many real-life fandoms have members who engage in behavior that can be considered toxic. One could even argue that being an overzealous fan of something is itself toxic, as it can lead to behaviors like gate-keeping and disparaging people they don’t consider “true fans.” Even worse, though, there are members of fandoms who claim to like something but are just using it for their own benefit or to manipulate the thing they claim to like for their own ends. And as Naofumi quickly discovers, the leadership of Silvelt is filled with those kinds of fans.

After Naofumi and his party arrive in Siltvelt, it’s not long before they’re met by their adoring public. The entire population shows up to greet their hero, and Atla is praising them all for seeing his greatness because she’s Naofumi’s biggest fan. However, it’s when they meet with the leaders of the nation that it becomes clear that things won’t be so easy.

Rough translation: they don’t want him to leave.

Why Must Politicians Be Politicking?

Even in the face of Armageddon, there are going to be people who only care about being on top. In this case, Siltvelt is doing the same thing that Melromarc did to the other Cardinal heroes: glazing them to get their support while planning on using them as pawns. Thankfully, Naofumi has learned not to let this happen to him, and will be quick to put people in their place. However, that still makes it an issue. Especially since the final moments of the episode involve the introduction of a certain someone, a lion Demi-Human called Jaralis.

It’s been a while since I’ve read Allen Blaster’s fanfic, but I remember Jaralis all too well. That man is a problem, and he will need to be dealt with.

All of that can wait, though. For now, I’m just looking forward to seeing more of Naofumi. After the spring disaster that was TBATE, I need an Isekai palate cleanser.

I Give “Siltvelt” a 4/5

Lord of Mysteries Has me Tripping Balls

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

Lord of Mysteries Ep 1-3 Review

This past spring, we were robbed of a good isekai. The Beginning After the End was a disappointment, especially when it came to animation. Anime watchers have been needing a palate cleanser since then; a real isekai that can make people’s eyes go wide and their jaws drop! And about two weeks ago, we may have gotten just that with this new donghua: Lord of Mysteries.

If only we could fully understand what’s going on!

This is a Donghua

First things first, lets clarify what Lord of Mysteries is. While it is being marketed as an anime by Crunchyroll, its not Japanese in origin. Its a donghua, or Chinese animation, and its based on a popular web novel series written by someone called Cuttlefish That Loves Diving. And to put it bluntly, trying to understand it as a newcomer is going to be an exercise in brainpower.

The story starts when Zhou Mingrui, a young man from modern day China, wakes up in another world in the body of one of its inhabitants, Klein Moretti. This new world he finds himself in is overtly Victorian steampunk in nature, and is one filled with supernatural forces. What’s more confusing, though, is the fact that Zhou’s new body has a bullet hole in his head, the result of a mysterious suicide. Obviously, Zhou is not happy about being yanked from his life into this new world, and he makes it his goal to try and find a way home while blending in as Klein (and we will refer to him as such,) while piecing together what happened to the OG Klein. Unfortunatetly for him, he swiftly becomes embroiled in various supernatural events as he attracts the attention of people known as Beyonders. Some of them are good, and some are bad, but all of them are dangerous.

If you’re lost regarding what Im talking about, do not worry. Apparently, a common issue newcomers have with Lord of Mysteries is how thorough it is on the mystery aspect. There are plenty of different media that include an element of mystery to the plot. Part of the appeal behind that is allowing fans the chance to figure things out as they go along. What makes Lord of Mysteries frustrating to some, though, is that it seems to take this concept to its extreme. Other shows like Gravity Falls will sprinkle clues and hints meant to keep the audience privy to more than what the characters may know in-universe. But when we arrive in this steampunk world, we’re as clueless about how things work as Klein is! Its not even until the third episode that we get an explanation behind the power system that the series runs on; and even then, I had to rely on a YouTuber to best explain it. But to save everyone some trouble, I’ll just explain it here as best as I can.

The Powers of the Beyonders

At the core of this story is what it calls Beyonders. Beyonders are beings who have drunk one of ten magic potions that allow them access to supernatural powers. Those powers get split into twenty-two separate skill-trees called Pathways. Each Pathway has its own abilities, advantages, and drawbacks, and all of them have ten ranks, from zero to nine. The lower the Sequence Number, the stronger a Beyonder’s powers are, with the strongest being on par with gods. The drawback is that the stronger the powers, the greater the risk for a Beyonder to lose their sense of self. If that happens, they go mad and turn into monsters.

Its complicated, I know. And the show has yet to fully explain it. Nonetheless, its impressive that Cuttlefish came up with such a deep power system for the story. That shows genuine effort put into it!

I Wanna Go Home

At any rate, Klein wants to go home, but until then, he has to lay low and gather more information. The first thing that he does is pose as a being known as ‘The Fool’ to a pair of Beyonders and establishes a club to gather more intel. The second thing is that he gets a job with a group called the Nighthawks. They’re a police force that deals with Beyonder-related crimes, one of which involves the recovery of a book that Klein came into contact with.

Again, this is all very confusing that doesn’t fully make sense. Nor is it going to fully make sense for a while! Its like the show has the opposite problem of TBATE: the story was easy to understand, while Lord of Mysteries can make your head hurt.

Lord of Mysteries has Dang Good Animation

The irony is that Lord of Mysteries has the animation that TBATE should have had. I have no idea who did the animation for this series, but it is downright god-tier. Imagine the best animation of Solo Leveling, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Attack on Titan, and Mushoku Tensei fused into one, and you’ll get the animation for Lord of Mysteries.

I’ll be honest with you guys: I’m not sure if I’m going to keep reviewing The Lord of Mysteries. It’s a very confusing story to try and follow, and I’m not sure if I’m capable of doing so. That being said, it’s existence and the attention its getting seems to reflecting a larger trend that started to gain traction with Solo Leveling. The world of anime is evolving, and what was once a term used to refer to animated shows coming out of Japan is changing to refer to shows coming out of the Far East altogether. With how badly Japan managed to fumble with TBATE last season, the execs are likely going to be sweating when they see what Lord of Mysteries has to offer.

Though I don’t know if I’m going to be reviewing this series.