English Dub Review: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? “(Stigma) Downfall”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Ikelos acts as the scapegoat for the events because of his familia’s trafficking and leaves the city. However, the aftermath of yesterday’s battle brings a stigma upon the Hestia familia thanks to Bell’s actions. Meanwhile, the Loki familia are combing the streets for any more monsters which place the Xenos in a tight spot. Hermes stops by the Hestia familia with how he’s been clued in on the Xenos by Ouranos.

When Bell goes out with Hestia the people blame him for the damage and giving adventurers a bad name. After a run-in with Ais and Loki, Bell runs into Syr who asks him to join her for a walk. The Xenos are unable to return to the dungeon and ask for the Hestia familia’s assistance. The Hestia familia agrees to rescue the Xenos shows his work to the rest of the Hestia familia to help the Xenos sneak back into the dungeon. With the time not on their side, the Xenos make their move as the Loki familia prepares for any interference.

Our Take:

There’s a lot of things going on in this episode. Bell’s actions earn him the ire of everyone in town. From gods to discussing the Xenos to the adventurers making plans to either help or hunt the Xenos. Admittedly I consider this episode to be like a pot just waiting to boil over with these families and the Xenos.

The public opinion of Bell and by extension, the Hestia familia was expected. The adventurers being mad at Bell’s attempt for bragging rights, and the common folk expressing their frustrations on him. It’s a good effect from Bell’s actions as the familia takes it in stride. When Hestia and Bell go out, Hestia defending Bell with her excuse was heartwarming and amusing to watch with her claim about him doing it for her.

Bell’s talk with Syr about his fears about everyone leaving him worked well to offer a moment of introspection on his actions. It reminds him that he’s not alone and that he has people that he can trust. The Hestia familia agreeing to save the Xenos by sneaking them back is a good idea. However, the Loki familia armed and guarding four of the six doors to Knossos. Therefore the task will be difficult for the Hestia familia even with the magic tools like the disappearing cloak.

Finn’s intelligence isn’t something to be trifled with his goal to restore his family’s honor is on the line. When he makes the call to ignore Bell and focus on everything else, you know that the Hestia familia is going to have a rough time sneaking the Xenos back into the dungeon. It’s a good foreshadow for a confrontation with Ais and Bell based on one of the scenes in the opening.

Overall the episode was a good episode starting off with Ikelos’s exile and the public opinion on Bell and his familia. Now with the prep work laid out, it’s only a matter of time before these groups start another incident. I look forward to seeing how the Hestia familia will manage under the eyes of the Loki familia.