“Those Remaining”
What They Say:
In a world where magic is everything, Asta and Yuno are both found abandoned at a church on the same day. While Yuno is gifted with exceptional magical powers, Asta is the only one in this world without any. At the age of fifteen, both receive grimoires, magic books that amplify their holder’s magic. Asta’s is a rare Grimoire of Anti-Magic that negates and repels his opponent’s spells. Being opposite but good rivals, Yuno and Asta are ready for the hardest of challenges to achieve their common dream: to be the Wizard King. Giving up is never an option!
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Tiulyu was just a regular town. It wasn’t too big nor was it too small. It wasn’t rich but it wasn’t poor. This is a story about a woman who lived in that town named Dazu. When we first see her she’s being treated for an injury. It seems like she and the lady treating her are really close. Like really, really close. More than friends close. Well, it seems that way to me at least. Dazu has a husband and she has to get back home to him. Hmm, she doesn’t seem too thrilled about that. It makes sense why she feels that way when we’re introduced to her husband and mother-in-law. They’re jerks who look down on her. They also make fun of her catalyst magic which I actually think is pretty cool. She can borrow people’s magic and use it as her own. She can even combine their magic.
During this fateful night, the Eye of the Midnight attacked the town. Dazu’s husband and mother-in-law were killed in the ensuing chaos. Once the battle with the reincarnated elves is over, she mourns their deaths. Honestly, I didn’t think she’d be this distraught over them. They weren’t nice people. Heck, her husband called her stupid just before he died. If anything, she’s finally free! And hey, she can be together with that one healing lady. We all know she fancies her. Speaking of that lady, she convinces Dazu that they should get revenge on the Devil’s servants who the newspaper blames for everything. Sadly, Asta is the poster boy for the Devil’s servants. His picture cracks me up every time. They travel to the royal capital and enlist the help of Kabwe, a member of the Magic Parliament. His nephew was killed during the battle and he adamantly wants Asta and Nero to be executed. They didn’t do anything! People need to chill. He agrees to help them with their plan of revenge.
In the present, Asta and Noelle are training together. Noelle is a bit tired though and leaves to get a drink. While waiting, Asta decides to do ten-thousand pushups while Nero watches. Noelle runs into Finral and Gauche and they start talking about how their training is going. Well, except for Gauche. All he cares about is Marie. Also, Noelle randomly decides to make Asta a sandwich. Adorable. But back to Marie, she’s being targeted by a group of people. She was possessed during the battle with the elves and did many terrible things. The group plans to eradicate her because she was a servant of the devil. Hey, that’s not cool. It wasn’t her fault! And she’s just a freaking kid. When they try to kidnap her, all of the kids from the orphanage try to protect her. Niege also tries to save her but he’s soundly defeated by the group. If only Theresa was here! She would have whooped their butts. The group manages to grab Marie and then disappear.
Firal and Gauche are off to see Marie. Noelle has finished her sandwich but it doesn’t look like a sandwich at all. At least she tried! Asta is still doing pushups while Nero watches. Randomly, one of the members from the Devil Banishers group collapses near him. Since he’s a good guy, Asta checks on her as does Nero. They get poisoned for their trouble. Rude! They’re both fading fast! Noelle shows up just in the knick in time! As she’s preparing to attack, she gets her wand slapped out of her hand and sand thrown in her eyes! I’m sorry, but this was way funnier than it should have been. For all the wrong reasons, too. Noelle uses her Valkyrie Armor and chases after the group. She knocks the guy carrying Asta down. The group decides to leave Asta behind for now and vanish with Nero. Those bastards! The episode ends with Gauche being told Marie was kidnapped and he is PISSED.
In Summary:
I don’t know how to feel about this episode. I do think it’s a cool idea to show how people are dealing with the aftermath of the battle from the perspective of the citizens themselves and not the Magic Knights. On the other hand, the way everything went down in this episode was just very silly. For example, what is even Dazu’s motivation for being in the Devil Banishers? Her husband and mother-in-law were clearly jerks. I don’t even think she liked her husband. It’s obvious she likes that one healing lady. And speaking of her, I don’t get her motivation either. I don’t think anyone she cared about died during that battle. I could be wrong. But it sure didn’t seem like it. Kabwe’s motivation did make sense though. I understand his feelings perfectly. It’s just silly to me that Dazu and her want-to-be lover are the ones that started the Devil Banishers. It’s also silly that a group that wants to get rid of devils wears devil masks. A group that spreads misinformation and preaches it. Kind of hits close to home, huh? I was also not a fan of Noelle being unable to save Nero. I’ll chalk that up to her being caught off guard and getting sand thrown into her eyes. Simple yet effective. When I think about it, that was actually pretty smart. I’m not happy about it though. I will end by saying that Noelle makes the most interesting-looking sandwiches.
Grade: C-
Streamed By: Crunchyroll, VRV
