English Dub Review: Black Clover “Dante VS The Captain of the Black Bulls”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Grey recalls her Cinderella-esque backstory and how it led to her meeting Gauche and eventually joining the Black Bulls. In her fear of losing Gauche, who is mortally wounded, she unlocks Arcane Stage powers with her Transformation Magic that allows her to heal him. This interests Dante who plans to abduct her and Vanessa, who is also Arcane Stage. Luckily, Yami arrives to defend them and assist Asta. Meanwhile in the Heart Kingdom, Luck fights and defeats one of Vanica’s minions.

OUR TAKE

This week’s episode is a bit scatter shot in its focus, bouncing between the Asta and Dante fight from last time, Luck getting a disposable and short fight with an unremarkable goon, and Grey’s sudden backstory flashback. I feel the need to comment on the last one first, mainly because halting a potentially interesting fight for character backstory that barely informs character action is a habit this story has had for a long time and I finally get to comment on it. Not only that, it’s probably the worst of these we’ve seen yet and is used for the purpose of shoehorning in a really weird potential ship between Grey and Gauche. These flashbacks from the Black Bulls (aside from Asta and Yami) typically are about the members having escaped some horrible childhood before suddenly being found by Yami out of nowhere and having them join from there. In an odd twist, Grey actually escapes her legally distinct (the best kind of distinct) totally-not-Cinderalla rip-off childhood and meets Gauche first and has since had a secret crush on him that has gone unmentioned until now. And frankly I wish it had stayed that way because Gauche is a creepy motherfucker who I wish would have died multiple arcs ago.

But great, fine, whatever, that’s out in the open now, and I guess with the added benefit of revealing Grey as the fifth Arcane Stage Magic Knight. So that’s her, Vanessa, Yami, Secre/Nero, and Vangeance. Meaning that Dante basically has three targets to abduct in one basket, so thanks for that, Grey. Thankfully it doesn’t really sour the fight going on beyond that, which is good because this fight is going to be going on for the next four episodes so it better stay at least somewhat entertaining, and it’s that much more likely to do so now that Yami is here, so I’m sure there will be at least something to talk about for the next four weeks. Not sure if I can say the same about Luck’s fight, which may be his last of the series, which was against someone completely unremarkable and was mainly to get him to unlock a new technique that really doesn’t add a whole lot to his character. Sorry Luck, I guess your luck’s run out in terms of getting the spotlight in this series. Better pray there’s a revival within the next decade! And next time, it’s Charmy’s turn to get one last time in the spotlight!