What They Say:
Dale is a well-known and highly skilled adventurer despite being so young. One day he’s on a quest deep in the woods and finds a little devil girl named Latina, who is just skin and bones. Latina is branded with the mark of a sinner, but Dale decides he can’t just leave Latina there and decides to become her guardian. Thinking to himself “Latina is too cute, I don’t want to work,” he ends up doting over her before he even realizes it.
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
As is his want since adopting Latina, Dale does not wish to leave home and is obsessed in finding excuses for skipping work all to spend more time with his new daughter. However this instance he has been summoned to the capital by old friend Lord Gregor and cannot do anything to get out this request, and so as has become a tiresome habit begins to complain and whine to Rita in his need to object this responsibility. It is only her reasonable suggestion of looking to this extended trip as a chance to buy Latina souvenirs which gives Reki a new outlook on the job, and thus happily accepts the task as a new opportunity to spoil his child. As all wake the next morning very early, the situation is made more difficult as an obvious sleepy Latina drags herself out of bed and accompanies Dale to the pub’s door to say goodbye as she rubs sleep out of her eyes. It is evident this parting is not easy on either as they warmly embrace at the door, all as Kenneth and Rita look on with concern in their eyes.
This separation has complicated things for Latina as the normally happy girl spends the morning sulking in the kitchen, with a concerned Kenneth overlooking his young apprentice and wondering what he can do. It is only as he questions the child does she voice her true feelings: can she really stay with Dale if she is a bad girl? Troubled by complex anxieties for a young girl the giant of a man decides to focus Latina’s concerns in a different direction – a desire to please Dale when he gets back with a treat to satisfy his hunger and delight a parent’s caring nature. The former adventurer teaches the unsettled adolescent how to make shepherd’s pie, which she attentively watches bake in the large stone oven as he talks to his wife of his decision on how to help the girl. As numerous failures come from the cooking area and normally gruff bar patrons happily consume her efforts, two weeks of waiting quickly pass by for parent and child … however, has either learned from this parting of the ways?
In Summary:
While one cannot but laugh or smile as we watch Dale suffer from his indecision on whether to stay home or go to work, as the same time you cannot but accept this joke are starting to get old with the triteness being the basis of his personality. Although we can accept it has only been a few weeks since he adopted Latina and her absolute cuteness is addictive, to watch a grown man and experienced adventurer throw what is essentially a tantrum is tiresome after seeing it so many times. However what redeems this episode is the opportunity to gain more information about the characters, especially the true nature of Reki’s determination to keep humanity safe and how Latina has been suffering due to her tragic past. These grievous elements help to humanize their personalities – one a human forced to slay demons and an unfortunate banished devil who must confront suffering and unknown causes at such a young age. Although the comedy of the series helps to lighten these insecure moments, I also hope the studio does not rely on the same quirks of Dale and Latina’s undeniable adorableness to drive the story forward, otherwise, it will grow tedious very fast.
Grade: A
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
