English Dub Review: Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina “A Deep Sorrow from the Past”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Elaina is out of money as she’s in the Clock Village of Rostolf. She picks up a flyer for a job that needs a witch. Elaina meets the Lavander Witch, Estelle who requests her help to change the tragic event that changed her best friend, Selena into the killer known as the Second District Killer. The tragic event involves Selena’s parents murdered by a burglar while Selena was out shopping. The job’s reward is a large sack of money and Elaina agrees to travel back in time. They arrive in the past, but they only have one hour to save Selena’s parents. While Estelle gets Selena’s parents out of the house, Elaina searches for the burglar as the ring that connects the two witches activates.

Elaina finds Estelle but is horrified to see that the bloody scene before her as Selena stands over the fallen bodies of her parents and Estelle’s while the fire burns around her. Selena confesses that she’s the one who killed her abusive parents and then she targets Elaina. Estelle still alive uses magic to throw Selena against the wall. Estelle uses her memories of Selena to kill her former best friend again. Once they return to the present Elaina runs out and laments on the fact that she couldn’t stop Estelle from killing Selena again.

Our Take:

The truth hurts especially when it hits close to home. This episode of Elaina’s journey starts off with Elaina in a financial predicament. Then it transitions to her meeting the witch who requested help. The episode gives the audience the general part of the Second District Killer’s history but leaves enough mystery for the shocking truth. The clock that ticks on helped to build tension in the episode leading up to when Estelle had to kill Selena again as the clock’s hand reached the top.

The ominous music that plays in some of the scenes helped emphasizes the creepy tone of the episode. Not to mention the voice acting of Selena was chilling with how innocent she sounded in comparison to her brutal actions. Selena’s character design of having a bloody mouth to reveal her creepy smile definitely cemented her role as the Second District Killer.

The two witches have similar backgrounds with receiving their witch brooch at a young age. However, Estelle took longer than Elaina to complete her apprenticeship. Furthermore, Estelle’s reason for going back in time is to save her friend, Selena from the fate of the present. Estelle’s story definitely strikes a chord in Elaina in comparison to the other witches who have sacrificed for love.

Sacrificing part one’s self is common for witches who lack power. In this episode, we get to see another example of it. Estelle’s been using her blood to prepare the time-traveling spell. However, this places her in a vulnerable state and therefore she needs Elaina’s magic to defend herself if necessary. In the past, Estelle uses her memories of Selena to kill her friend a second time. It’s a tragic and bitter tale that leaves even Elaina horrified.

After returning Elaina confirms that Estelle lost her memories and tells the witch not to worry about what happened. She runs out of the place knocking over the sack of gold that she needed to continue her journey. On a bench, Elaina realizes that she’s not anyone special. Even with her abilities, she couldn’t prevent Estelle from killing Selena again. There are even two kids playing together nearby to emphasize that tragic fate she witnessed. It’s a truth she has to admit to now, but what she’ll do in the next episode is anyone’s guess. Hopefully, the effects of this horrifying tale will give her some growth as a person.

Overall this episode was grisly and tragic which is what I would expect from Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina. I look forward to seeing if Elaina grows from her haughty self into something more from this experience.