English Dub Review: Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon “Trap of the Two Perils”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Jyūbei returns Riku’s green rainbow pearl to him. Riku confirms he’s done with it, then heads to a cave where Konton is drawing up a mysterious chart.

The villain explains he’s designing a field. Riku suggests he enlist Totetsu, the only other remaining member of the Four Perils, to aid his endeavor. Konton sends Riku off to find Totetsu, and tells him to lure Moroha, Towa, and Setsuna to the trap as well.

Setsuna and Towa are still on the hunt for the dream butterfly, and coming up dry. Moroha’s stuck on cleaning duty at Jyūbei’s.

Riku gathers them up and sets them after Totetsu. The three find themselves trapped in an illusion of the real work, facing Sisyphean-style tasks. Moroha is stuck forever climbing cliffs, while Towa and Setsuna walk endlessly towards a tree.

Can the three escape? Or have they finally met their fate?

Our Take:

I’ve been dreading it, but it’s finally here: the infamous “flat Kirara” episode.

I was hoping the rumors (and screenshots) were exaggerated. Unfortunately, they were not, and my poor baby nekomata has been rendered in as low of quality as was legally possible. For shame!

There’s a few other glimpses of the art quality slipping a bit in this episode. Notably the monk when he’s being “eaten”, and later when he’s nearly killed by Moroha. It’s like the entire visual budget when to the glowing “field” and misty, tree-strewn ravine. Overall, it probably balances out, but at the cost of a much-beloved character.

Since this episode ends on quite the cliff hanger, the most important story developments come well before the end. Notably, we have confirmation that Riku is COLD BLOODED, goddamn. I realize he’s only out for the pearls for his own purposes. But leading the girls to their (potential) doom seems extreme. But who knows! This characterization could change as early as next episode. He seems to kind of serve whatever purpose the plot needs him to at the time. Hero, villain, annoying love interest, narrator. A Renaissance man, of sorts.

Kirinmaru’s moment was interesting, if brief and rather uneventful. In a move that’s probably funny exclusively to me, his ignoring his sister calling him lazy and simply continuing to read his book definitely brought me a chuckle. Also, is Zero the dream butterfly or what?

Guess I’ll have to wait until next time to find out!