[DreamSword]

Episode 7: Flash

An episode wherein Koga has to escort Quirinus Quirrell to deliver the pelt that's used for the brushes that Alchemists use.

As one might expect, it's not going to be that simple.

On the surface, this is essentially Makai Senki's' equivalent to the seventh episode of the first season; Featuring an absolutely bombastic duel wherein the over the top action just continues to escalate.

But um, great action aside, I personally don't think it works quite as well here?

Part of what episode 7 of the original GARO work as well as it did was due in part to the great character work that was used as a build up beforehand. We got to know Rei as a character, and the way inwhich he ran polar opposite to Koga fueled nearly every event in the episode.

Here? I barely have any idea who Red is, and as such I'm not nearly as invested.

That's not to say the episode in and of itself is a total wash or anything. The fight between Koga and Red is really good, featuring some great wire stunts done across some really cool set pieces. And I get the idea of adding to the mystery of who exactly Red is by showcasing how powerful of a foe he's making himself out to be.

And yet, my favorite stuff from the episode was pretty much everything else.

Koga getting embarrassed by the antics of his friends was such a wonderfully humanizing moment for the guy. The interactions between Kaoru and Leo were really touching despite how simple they were. And as always, Zaruba continues to have absolutely no filter which leads to some great laughs. It's all the little character moments that really worked for me. They're just totally unconnected to big fight during the climax.

Plus, you know, the sound design wasn't nearly as good in this episode as it was in episode 7 of GARO, so this episode loses by default.