Episode 4 – Fairy Tail: 100 Yr Quest

Now, I mentioned that final week’s tonal whiplash towards the top was an actual signal that the collection is again in full pressure, for higher or for worse, however this week’s episode undoubtedly tops it in that regard. It took me on a significant rollercoaster of combined feelings: over the course of 20+ minutes, I went from feeling probably the most exhausted by this sequel but to genuinely inquisitive about the place it was going. In that regard, it seems like a reasonably good microcosm of what works and what doesn’t in regards to the collection, because it showcases a few of its finest strengths and worst excesses concurrently.

So let’s begin with the unhealthy, because it’s fortunately(?) concentrated at the start of the episode. After their battle with the Dragon Eaters, Group Natsu is cut up up, as Lucy and Grey are left stranded in the midst of the ocean, whereas Natsu, Wendy, and Erza are captured. Erza will get a very arduous time, as she’s led round like a canine by Kiria whereas nonetheless underneath the affect of her disgrace spell, and… yeah, it is not nice. It is actually nothing new to the collection or Mashima’s normal writing habits, however even now that I am pretty used to it, I nonetheless want humiliation hadn’t been certainly one of his normal types of fan service or no less than that he might be rather less attractive in that regard.

However even with all that mentioned, I discovered the way in which the entire thing was resolved a little bit odd; for that matter, Erza… snaps the collar whereas Kiria is asleep and goes to free the others as they put together for spherical three with the Dragon Eaters. The reason is that Erza’s magic eye numbed the consequences of Kiria’s spell and brought on it to put on off after some time (one way or the other not quick sufficient to avoid wasting her from just a few hours on a leash, I digress). Whereas that is logical sufficient to dismiss issues, it feels a little bit anticlimactic in its execution. It comes off because the final occasion of Erza getting herself out of conditions she most likely should not have been capable of get out of on her personal. Nonetheless, it is not like we would have liked one other 10 minutes of her being Kiria’s pet, so that is one case the place I am keen to forgo the outdated “As a result of it is Erza” excuse.

Fortunately, the episode makes up for it elsewhere, whereas every thing on the ship is a significant letdown. Whereas Lucy is making an attempt to trace down Natsu and the others, she runs into Brandish, who occurs to have saved Grey, and fills her in on what occurred to the Spriggan 12 after the ultimate battle. With Zeref gone, just a few of them have taken over the dominion, whereas the remaining survivors have been imprisoned for his or her crimes. Since it has been some time since I final noticed the occasions of that arc, I am undecided how effectively their fates will play out, nevertheless it’s good to have no less than some semblance of a follow-up to it. Whereas Brandish herself has left the group, she’s not fairly able to be pals with Lucy but, as she reveals that the Golden Key to Aquarius is someplace within the land, and she or he desires to get to it first. Whereas I used to be anticipating the Aquarius factor to return again sooner or later, it is good to see it come again once more. And figuring out that no less than one different particular person is in search of it makes it much more pressing for Lucy to trace it down. Hopefully that search will get some extra consideration within the coming weeks.

What finally ends up being the episode’s largest saving grace is, oddly sufficient, the Touka plot, which has in any other case been dragging on up till this level. As Jellal tries to confront Touka straight about her identification, he is stopped by Laxus, who warns him to not get his fingers on any of Fairy story‘s members. Jellal decides to retreat for now, however not earlier than warning Gajeel that the factor that makes white mages like Touka a menace is their perception that magic may be overused and that her sect of white mages, referred to as Rebellious, has drained the magical energy of different mages to the purpose that they’re on the verge of loss of life. Laxus, for his half, decides to face up for Touka anyway, telling her that so long as she has the guild crest, she is taken into account household, and that he and the opposite members will do every thing they’ll to guard her. Nevertheless, he additionally tells her that because of this it’s important for her to be sincere with them and that if she is hiding one thing, it’s best to inform them in public. It’s actually a little bit tacky, however as repetitive as the entire story in regards to the guild members and their household can get within the collection, there are undoubtedly occasions when it really works. And once you see Laxus specific these emotions, you see how a lot he has grown from the self-centered, hot-tempered man he was at the start of the collection.

Sadly, this sentiment isn’t sufficient to open Touka up, however we ultimately be taught her large secret when she confronts Jellal himself. Whereas her try to assault him and drain his magic confirms that his fears of her have been well-founded, she hesitated lengthy sufficient for Gajeel and the others to subdue her. This led Jellal to understand that Touka and the White Mage aren’t fairly the identical, as they’re two totally different personalities residing in the identical physique. If there’s one factor Mashima is sweet at on the subject of storytelling, it’s pumping out plot twists which can be partaking sufficient to maintain you curious about the place he’s in the end going with them. Whereas the early elements of this episode left me annoyed, this was a adequate twist that I’m rather more all for studying extra about Touka than I used to be earlier than, so I suppose it labored. After all, contemplating Fairy storyGiven the general monitor file of this matter, the solutions are prone to be as disappointing as they’re satisfying. So solely time will inform which manner this can go.

The dub has additionally returned this previous week, and other than just a few replacements (who sound so good I may not have seen if it hadn’t been introduced beforehand), it looks as if they’ve gotten the entire band again collectively roughly. Though final time I did not dub Someplace within the early phases of the Alavarez arc, everybody sounds roughly on level, and it is enjoyable to see folks like R.Bruce Elliot as Makarov, Brina Palencia as Juvia, and particularly David Wald and Gajeel, as a result of their performances nonetheless sound simply as pleasant. Of all the ensemble, the latter is my private favourite.

Oddly sufficient, Group Natsu cannot fairly say the identical, whereas the supporting actors appear to have delved into their characters fairly shortly. Newton Pittman‘s grey and Brittney KarbowskiWendy sounds the identical as at all times, and any adjustments in Colleen ClinkenbaardErza’s are most likely only a facet impact of how taking part in Luffy all these years has completely modified her voice, Todd Haberkorn And Cherami Leigh sound a little bit out of sync with Natsu and Lucy. The latter does not fairly have the power I am used to on the subject of comedic timing and bouncing off the opposite characters’ loopy antics, whereas the previous seems like Haberkorn is struggling to maintain the voice a bit. After all, it has been some time since they final performed these characters, they usually’ve had different work. So they could want a little bit extra time to completely get again into character. That gripe apart, the dub nonetheless sounds as constant as ever, so in case you’re a fan you may virtually actually nonetheless take pleasure in it.

Judgement:

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Crispy bread.