English Dub Review: Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina “The Land of Truth Tellers”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Elaina arrives in a country where the people can’t tell lies because of their king’s magic sword. Even as a witch, Elaina can’t lie and she notices that the people of the country aren’t saying anything. Then a girl approaches her asking if she’s the witch from the United Magic Association. Elaina explains that she’s not because those witches have additional brooch. Afterward, a fight starts and a familiar face breaks it up: Saya. Saya overjoyed to see Elaina and they catch up. When Saya says that she’s on a case Elaina directs her to the voice witch, Eihemia who mistook her for Saya.

Eihemia explains to the two witches that she performed the ritual at the king’s request. The king wanted honest people in his court and she used all her magic and her own voice to complete the barrier. The trio of witches then sneak their way into the castle and take the sword away from the king. When Elaina takes the sword out of the king’s hands she destroys it which frees the country from the spell as the king realizes the error of his ways. After the country returns to normal Saya gives Elaina a matching necklace as they part ways on their journeys.

Our Take:

In this week’s episode of Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina we get an unexpected surprise in the form of one Saya.

Elaina reunites with Saya who is now a part of the United Magic Association. Saya’s occupation is an interesting addition to the worldbuilding with the country where no one can lie. Admittedly this does make me curious about what Elaina does for money since she’s been traveling so much. At any rate, the episode is pretty standard with Elaina noticing how people aren’t talking. Then there’s how the people get by with voiceless agreements or letting off steam by seeing two men fight. Another way is through paper and pencil as Eihemia when mistaking Elaina for a United Magic Association witch. Lastly, she confronts the king and breaks the barrier before leaving to continue her journey.

Speaking of Eihemia, it turns out that she’s the witch responsible for the barrier at the request of the king. Her spell shows the consequences of magic when a witch needs to compensate for the lack of magic as Mirarose did with her memories. Her actions definitely caused problems for the people, but she did believe in the king’s earnest desire. Elaina’s conversation with the king on lies worked well. It got the king to realize how his idea ended up causing problems for his people.

Elaina and Saya not journeying together after that did surprise me a bit. After all, Saya did cling to Elaina throughout the episode. However, her job requires her to make a visit to the association office while Elaina goes wherever she likes. Either way, Saya’s gift to Elaina was sweet with the matching heart-shaped necklaces.

Overall the episode was a fun episode offering a glimpse of how a good idea can end up having negative results. I look forward to where Elaina travels next, perhaps another place with a dreaded secret.