English Dub Review: Black Clover “In Zara’s Footsteps”

Overview (Spoilers Below)

While visiting his father’s grave, Zora Ideale sees a young man named Ina, being bullied by an asshole rich noble kid named Kaito. Ina swears to prove peasants are equal to nobles, like his hero Zara. Kaito attacks Ina with fire magic so Zora scares him away. Ina’s father arrives and Zora recognizes him as a flower seller from his village who also admired Zara. Ina becomes angry at his father for them being peasants. Angered at his attitude Zora reminds him Zara was a peasant but always believed he could become a magic knight because he could do something nobles couldn’t, and Zora advises Ina to figure out the specific answer to what that is…

Our Take

So we once again have another filler episode that much like the previous & recent ones, Asta doesn’t overshadow the focus. This time, it’s on the masked Magic Knight Black Bull member Zora Ideale. Surprisingly, this is one of the better filler episodes we’ve gotten so far. As I previously stated in a past review, one of the many things that remain constant throughout the Black Clover Universe (Aside from the infuriatingly unrequited romance between certain characters) is the massive divide between the upper and lower classes as well as those with Magic and non-magic. Nobles that were raised in luxury and never learned to care about the defenseless beneath them can never aspire to be the kind of true Magic Knight that Zora wants to be, while you can also take into account the poor background Asta and Yuno both had who are quite capable of excelling in the face of adversity.


Through the eyes of Zora’s past, we not only see the ugly side of the Magic Knights between peasants and nobles but more importantly, how he’s come to deal with an entire lifetime of discrimination just for being a magic knight who grew up a commoner. As a character, Zora is outspoken and straightforward with what he conveys. And despite being a brutally honest jerk to everyone, Zora embraces that aspect of himself and believes it with all his heart and soul when he gleefully calls out the injustice and hypocrisy of the Nobles and uncaring Magic Knights who are often the repeat offenders of this show.


Overall, while many of these filler episodes are a mixed bag at best. This however has such a simple layout but was well-executed. My respect for Zora shot up significantly as you come to see him in a different light which helps recontextualize his attitude towards the upper class and their rich consequence-free bullshit lifestyles which I really hope is further touched upon in future episodes despite this being a slow-burn for this whole “Megicula” arc this current season is building up to.