It's simply less enjoyable to me right now by comparison. There's more to watching a show than seeing the story, that's all

For me it was when Yuri shows, so about episode 13-ish.

Saber got his berserk form, Primative Dragon, and I'm kind of mixed. I'm not a fan of how it basically mind controls him into using it. I do enjoy that he holds his sword by the blade though. Nice touch.

Generally speaking, I'm not really a fan of berserk forms, though. It tends to be the same story, different dressing for how they resolve. When Revice of all things manages to turn the berserk form story on it's head, you know things have gotten too repetitive :lol

Saber's solution is quite unique. Perhaps the most unique of all. Plus, Primitive Dragon is different from other forms of berserker and is closer to possession than madness.

Yeah, I love the way that storyline plays out. Very uniquely Saber.

Finished up 11 episodes of straight mid so far, but I am fascinated by Kento's storyline, if only a bit

So Saber got control of Primative Dragon, that's all well and good.
Can anyone remind me why Legeiel had such beef with him, again? I genuinely can't remember what happened that made him so obsessive over beating him.

He lost to Saber and wants revenge. Hurt pride. Legiel was unlucky enough to be the first of the Megid trio to leave, so his character consists of pride and playing the organ.

So Blades has gotten his final form. Looks neat. Love the mane. That may be my Kurojishi Rio bias shining through, but hey, if it works it works.

In other news, good lord, Yuri has been jobbing lately. For a guy who became a living sword, it certainly seems like it wasn't worth it for how much he's been tossed around. At least Buster has the excuse of carrying around a literal buster sword for why he's losing.

Reika also seems to be losing her faith in the guild now. It's a damn shame she spent the previous 20 episodes being an absolutely horrible person, or else I'd care. Durendal at least had the decency to only show up 3 episodes ago so he doesn't seem like a total ass.

Well she is a villain (and a redeemed one, even if not tamed), so ofc she'd be shown as a horrible person before losing her faith in the guild as a path to redemption.

But Reika's traits (or characters similar to her) seems to be commonly viewed (and sold) as tough, cool, and badass capability, making it viewed as a hallmark of how she's a "strong female character". Her scheming to turn people against each other and beating up those who don't comply (e.g. her Sabela debut) is depicted as as cunning, competent, and mysterious, getting the job done, and torturing Sophia is seen being no-nonsense girlboss. It's common that "strong female character" is depicted by giving them toxic masculinity traits like making them cold, unpleasant, emotionally distant, ruthless, merciless, with feminine and vulnerable traits being viewed as weakness.

True that she is cool and badass, as being a highly skilled fighter and her power usage as Sabela dominating both Slash and Buster is that, but wish that those horrible traits won't be twisted as being strong, like what you noticed here if they're perhaps selling those as being tough (her hate came due to being reduced to fawning to Ryoga). U̶n̶p̶o̶p̶u̶l̶a̶r̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶w̶h̶y̶ ̶I̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶Z̶i̶-̶O̶,̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶b̶o̶t̶h̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶e̶n̶e̶v̶o̶l̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶T̶s̶u̶k̶u̶y̶o̶m̶i̶ ̶m̶a̶k̶e̶s̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶a̶g̶a̶i̶n̶s̶t̶ ̶S̶w̶a̶r̶t̶z̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶a̶p̶r̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶r̶u̶t̶h̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶O̶r̶a̶,̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶ ̶T̶s̶u̶k̶u̶y̶o̶m̶i̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶d̶v̶a̶n̶t̶a̶g̶e̶s̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e̶.