English Dub Review: Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid “Troupe Dragon, On Stage! (They Had a Troupe Name, Huh?)”

Well, at least it was better than Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark.

Spoilers Below

It’s Christmas time! Wow, already? We were doing summer fanservice only a couple episodes ago! Tohru is doing some shopping in her favorite district when she notices that one of the vendors has hurt his leg. Apparently, he had volunteered to put on a show for the elderly home nearby and got carried away. He suggests that Tohru put it on instead, as no one could represent their shopping district better than everyone’s favorite maid who tears up the concrete to stop a shoplifter. I’ll leave you to think that over.

Kobayashi is kind of excited that Tohru is doing this, but a bit dismayed that her work would keep her from participating. Instead, Tohru gathers up the dragons, plus Riko and Shota. Even Elma is there, upset that there was none of the promised candy. She states that she too must get back to work. Except that nobody at her work wants her there. She’s so useless, she only gets in their way, and it’s crunch time again. So, Elma joins up. But what to do? The dragons all propose various activities, but Tohru brings up that these suggestions require the audience (a bunch of seniors with artificial hips) to participate. Riko suggests a play, The Little Match Girl. At first, Fafnir is chosen as director. It’s perfect. He can’t act. But, he also can’t direct because he’s too sadistic and cruel in his feedback. So, the job is given to Lucoa. Of course, she wants to give the lead part to her Shota-baby. The lead part of the little match girl. Problem? No. Just put him in a dress. He dies of embarrassment, and Lucoa’s off the job.

How about Elma as director? Well, a dragon of Harmony getting everyone to work together for a goal seems like a good fit. She casts Kanna as the Match Girl, Lucoa as the Grandma, Riko as the narrator, and everyone else as heartless humans. They rehearse relentlessly, and Elma tries her hardest to keep everyone on script. Problem is, this classic story is also very dated. Each dragon adds their own revision to the script to try and make it appeal to modern audienc- Oh, no. This will not end well.

The night of the performance and Kobayashi arrives with Takiya to watch what the children and dragons have made. Little Match Girl, selling matches, nobody buys, she’s so cold, it’s so sad. Wait, who’s this guy Shota’s playing? A straw hat salesman? Burn the hats for warmth… this isn’t the story! Fafnir shows up as some form of genie and turns both of them into magical girls (Shota’s in a dress again). Fairy Princess Lucoa steps in to stop this from becoming a magical girl version of Hunger Games. How did we get there? Wow, this is getting convoluted. Then, out of nowhere, Elma is #SuddenlySamurai! And an evil warlord dragon played by Tohru! They do battle right there on stage! With real fire breath and real magical wards. Kobayashi! Time to step in!

But, Kobayashi looks around. The elderly audience aren’t frightened. They think it’s all special effects! One guy proclaims that this must be that CG he was told about. She hangs back and lets it all play out. It’s a real success, and the seniors loved all the effort they put into it. They even gave them a Thank You Cake! Elma likes the Thank You Cake. After the wrap party, everyone goes home and Kanna goes to bed to wait for Santa. Kobayashi and Tohru go out for a late-night flyby of the town to see the lights. Kobayashi explains how she almost felt like she’d have to put a stop to the play, but was glad she didn’t. She praises the green dragon. The two exchange Christmas gifts: Kobayshi gives Tohru a red and green dragon-themed scarf, and receives… an ointment for lower back pain? And it can’t be shown on TV? Oh, my! Tohru, you’re so forward!

Throughout the episode, we are treated to Kanna’s quest for Santa and the fact that their apartment has no chimney. So, she makes one in her room. I’m pretty certain that isn’t up to code. But, when time came for Kobayashi to put presents in the stockings, her foot lands on a creaky board. This wakes Kanna, who is aggravated that Santa hasn’t come. Kobayashi spends the rest of the night hiding under Kanna’s bed.

This was a cute and funny episode, and despite the train-wreck of a play, it was rather enjoyable. I find it funny how much the dark and wrathful Fafnir fought to bring magical girls in. It was all he talked about, really. He’s such an otaku. The episode actually features some really good animation spattered throughout, and there’s tons of adorable things happening in the background. Voice acting was solid throughout, and I got some enjoyable performances out of Rachel Glass and Leah Clark. All in all, I give this episode eight censored back ointments out of ten.