“I’m not a bad slime!”
What They Say:
“Shizu”
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Now that we’re hitting the halfway point of the first cour, it seems like it’s about time to meet the character that appears to be the heroine of the series from the OP, ED, and other foreshadowing here and there. Clearly there are still plenty of characters to meet, but we’ve definitely established a good group of allies for Rimuru without any prominent female characters, and all indications are that this masked woman will be an important addition to the cast. Without spoiling anything I can say that those who haven’t experienced the story in another medium are likely to be surprised by her role, but she does finally make her first appearance in an episode named after her, and assumes a starring role alongside Rimuru for much of it. This is particularly amusing in a very Slime way as Rimuru was just shown an image of this girl as the one they’re meant to be with, and in their usual nonchalance, they essentially acknowledge that it’s rather convenient writing for that extremely important character to appear so soon thereafter.
Although the slime form that Rimuru has been reincarnated into is clearly influenced primarily by Dragon Quest, the series wants to make sure you know how explicitly it’s referencing the series by having Rimuru quote an iconic Slime line, having apparent heroine Shizu recognize its origins, having that be the first indication that Shizu was also transported to this world from our world (specifically from Japan), and even having them discuss it as a quote from a game. Yes, this series is such a love letter to Dragon Quest that it builds the biggest connection between the protagonist and the one they’re destined to be with by using a Dragon Quest quote, and that’s straight from the source material. I’d say it was perfect timing for this adaptation to begin less than a month after the release of the most recent game in the main series, but it had already been out for over a year in Japan.
In fact, the use of this reference as a means to identify Shizu as a Japanese native seems like a bit of a stretch when we learn that she was actually transported to this world during the air raids of World War II, which was obviously before any video games existed, and over 40 years before Dragon Quest began. The idea that she happened to be familiar to that very specific quote from yet another person who came from a later era of Japanese history, despite not even having a concept of what a video game is, requires that you just accept it for its purpose of establishing her unique connection to Rimuru while adding in a fun reference. More importantly, evoking the imagery of the air raids on Japan introduces a somber element that most wouldn’t expect to find several episodes into a fun isekai series with no other characters from our world. It can come across as an easy target for sympathy, so it’s important that the matter is treated with respect and utilized effectively to build Shizu’s character rather than exploiting the pathos of iconic Japanese tragedy. A series about a slime hanging out in a fun fantasy world shouldn’t be tasked with the deftest handling of that material, but it does a serviceable enough job of making it feel like Shizu is a well-realized character with a background that contributes to her rather than defining her.
While not poignant by any means, Rimuru is able to be serious long enough to share a tender moment with Shizu, showing her how their country has rebuilt since she was ripped out of it. Of course, that doesn’t mean we don’t get some erotic Lodoss references in the same sequence. Shizu’s story truly is a tragic one in all respects; while Rimuru simply died a quick death and came into this world with no baggage and a bevy of overpowered abilities, Shizu was summoned here in her burned state and, in the cruelest irony, forced to become a fire-wielder and share her body with the fire being Ifrit. It’s a bit much, but as a means to derive sympathy from combining history and fantasy, it’s about as decently executed as one could ask for.
In Summary:
Shizu has finally arrived, and her story is a sad one, a story surely intended to resonate deeply with anyone familiar with World War II history, especially those in Japan. While some of these elements may be unexpected given the nature of the series up to this point, they’re integrated with the existing concepts well enough to work, and the idea that we could meet more characters from our world opens up new possibilities that could be fun to explore. Moreover, Shizu’s characterization is treated well thus far, as well as her interactions with Rimuru, who is able to use the Great Sage to give Shizu some hope for her homeland. Throw in some very direct otaku references, and it’s still a fun time when it wants to be.
Grade: B+
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
LG Electronics OLED65C7P 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick
