[DreamSword]

Episode 41: Ryujinoh Becomes a Doll

Toshiki Inoue has a weird backstory.

Okay, jokes aside, I've said it a couple times before, but I'll say it again: Koichi works so much better as a support than as a frontliner.

In this, he's here to offer a guiding hand to a kid named Toshiki; A bullied kid who's having confidence troubles. And while Koichi's' wording isn't exactly the best, his message comes across well enough: Stand up for yourself.

What follows is a fun chase episode wherein Toshiki does his best to protect a doll housing the soul of Ryujinoh(it makes sense in context), and in turn working on his own brand of courage and standing up for what he believes in. To the point that he even manages to ward off Baron Bloody(very temporarily, but still).

And while it's unfortunately played for a joke, I will also give this episode credit in that it portrays anxiety actually rather well. Especially the scene wherein Toshiki misunderstands the words and intent behind Kenji and Fudo asking him to cooperate with him. The scene wherein Toshiki hesitates to cross the bridge was another good example.

We also get the return of the Caster Knuckle! We haven't seen that in like 20 episodes! I honestly felt like the showrunners just kinda forgot that it existed. Regardless, the brutal beating of Baron Bloody that followed was fun, but something tells me that he's not gone for good yet. Maybe it was the little barrier effect that happened as he blew up, maybe it was the minion running off with his stave afterward, but I'm sure he'll be back.

I liked this episode. A good bounce back after the disappointment of last episode.