English Dub Review: Battle Game in 5 Seconds: “Trueblade”

Overview: Akira (Robbie Daymond), Yuri (Laura Stahl), Madoka (Billy Kametz), Shin (Bill Butts), and Satoru all discuss their abilities as they prepare for the team battle. 

Our Take: In what is a true testament of this show’s potential coming to fruition, “Trueblade” represents all the best aspects I had hoped the series could deliver on. 

Akira is finally forced into a team building situation that allows him to play his mental game of chess against the other members. It’s engaging to see how he views various situations from different outlooks in deciding how to proceed with his teammates. Also, not to mention what will be advantageous in the long run of their conflict as a whole and trying to be judicious. His calm and methodical nature along with his intriguing thought processes not only make him an exciting character to watch on screen but also how he will choose to interact with others as a result. 

Akira and his new merry band of misfits are thrown into a pot and seem to mix well with one another, developing their team dynamic as time goes on. Each one is unique in not only their abilities but also their disposition in how they treat others as well. Akira and Yuri were already known quantities with their backstories, with the latter being the strongest between the two. Their relationship plays out according to what’s been established. Yuri is strong but kind. With it instigating some misunderstood comedic hazing with her mistakenly thinking Akira to be a pervert when in reality he is testing her agile capabilities when her increased strength is activated. Madoka’s uncouth personality acts as an effective firestarter too, both in lighthearted affairs and creating tension, with ridicule from Satoru about losing to Akira and him disregarding Satoru’s quick demise, angering Yuri and Shin as it clashes with the honor he feels is deserved on Satoru’s part. Madoka very much seems he will be the instigator in a lot of internal conflicts moving forward, but an equally strong ally in how powerful his ability seems to be. 

The series plays to its strengths by continuing the stimulating mystery of what the enemy team’s abilities are, like it had been doing beforehand with Akira, Yuri and and their opponents in the solo matches. Although interestingly enough this one plays around with expectations in the cat and mouse way it chooses to reveal what information to whom. The five member team battles set this precedent with Satoru dying pretty quickly by the cause of the deadly vicious redhead, Rin Kashii, with no clear indication of the specific conditions that need to be met for how her power is activated, with Akira’s team losing the first match. Then afterwards goes in a completely unexpected direction with Ringo Tatara conceding defeat based on her copy ability that gives 1/10 of her opponent’s strength. While Rin’s mystique lies in the true nature of her ability, Ringo’s is in how Akira and his entire team are still in the dark about what her power is but also in how Akira, specifically will be able to combat such a power that is dependent on misdirection, an aspect that Ringo’s power eliminates. 

Finally, Madoka’s bout with his opponent, Saeko, acts as the last part in the constant push and pull of the proceeding battles with both abilities being on full display seemingly not leaving much to the imagination in how they operate. However, the way this match works so well is in how not only is the match still undecided but potentially what possible strategy that Saeko could have, as a result of being on the ropes against Madoka. Each and every match offers a unique enigmatic thrill that keeps you questioning the design of Rin and her team’s abilities, how they will be used along with the master plan each are using accordingly. Each fight moves at a brisk pace but still leaves excitement for the future with them feeling like it’s merely the appetizer to the main course later on, not to mention also because the episode leaves on a cliffhanger with Madoka and Saeko’s match still without a victor.