[DreamSword]

Episode II: Divine Flame

Real quick before I get into the episode itself, I just wanna make a note here, since I forgot to bring it up in my post about Episode I. I really dig the OP. not just the song, but the animation style they went with for it. I'm a sucker for artsy opening animations like this one. The 3rd OP from Blood+ being a prime example. So glad they went this direction with the Garo anime.

Onto the episode itself, there's really not much to talk about in terms of its plot; It's very straight-forward and simple. And that's not a bad thing. It's about a Horror who's disguised as a Priest that likes to torture women to death and how the Knights need to take him down. That's about it.

Again, not a bad thing though, because this episode seems alot more focused on establishing the character arcs for, well, our characters. Just like how the first episode is meant to set up everything in terms of the setting and plot backdrop.

Which reminds me, I gotta ask, are we sure this show is based off of a Toku show called Garo and not an abandoned script for a JRPG? Because no joke, so far this show really feels like someone wanted to make a JRPG, but then couldn't so he just kinda added Garo stuff to it and called it an anime, haha. Again, not a bad thing, because I'm digging it so far!

So, with that out of the way, let's spend the rest of this post talking about the characters as they've been presented so far, shall we? Starting with our main character, Leon:



I like how despite this show taking place in like the 1600s or whatever, Leon looks like a modern Scene Kid, haha. He also has psychotic triggers, brought about by memories of his mother being burned at the stake. How he can remember something that happened as he was just being born is beyond me. Magic, I guess. He's focused on fulfilling his family honor, and getting revenge for his mother's' death. Serious, determined, yet still very much a Makai Knight in training.

I also rather like the dynamic he has with his "father." Because while his dad's' antics are definitely entertaining to watch from a viewer standpoint, they would certainly be annoying to deal with on a constant basis in real life, like how Leon has to, making his annoyance towards his dad understandable, without being overblown.

Speaking of his dad, considering his arc seems to be about finding an heir, I'm calling it here and now, Alfonso is going to become the next Silver Knight. Either via reveal that he's literally Herman's' son, or via some magic stuff with the pendant, natch.

On that note, I do dig how the Makai Armor seems to be a magical bloodline thing, and having the characters talk about and look at murals/artifacts related to the Makai really does help to sell the Armor as being something that has been around and will be around for all time, as long as the bloodline keeps going. I like the generational aspect in that.

The last character I wanna talk about right now is the one we're introduced to in this episode, Emma:



This lady absolutely oozes coolness, making me like her instantly. They paid special attention in making her job as alchemist more than just a mere title too. I like that at various points you can actually see her setting up her various alchemy traps despite being chair-bound, like when she's carving the circle into the floor with her heel. Good attention to detail. But yeah, props to her actress for making her personality really shine.

Aaand that's about all I can think to talk about. It's an interesting set-up episode, and I'm curious to see how everything will pay off in the end. Thinking about it, this show seems like a Rated-T version of Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog, which is a 90s Toku show I really like, and also a show I really wish would get released on DVD at some point.

But yeah, good set up, liking the show so far. Yeah.