English Dub Review: How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom “Thus Saith the Elder”

Overview:

Souma uses his living poltergeist magic to move a doll. Using the doll he helps out a band of adventurers with a quest. Souma decides to build a port town but an elder advises against it. There have been tsunamis that appear there often and Souma takes the necessary precautions.

Our Take:

I really wish this show was updated on a more regular basis. It is always a pleasant surprise and is just fun to watch. I really like the characters in this one too. They border on tropes sometimes but veer away in just the right way. There has yet to be a tsundere though which is odd cause this genre is geared to them really often.

If Souma is the best boy on the show then without a doubt that makes Liscia the best girl. Souma couldn’t ask for a better partner and I really hope that their engagement becomes the real deal. I like how he has said that he won’t force her to marry him but I think it’s clear after this episode she has fallen for your boy. Souma said that if anything happened to him they could just summon another hero. Liscia said to the sleeping Souma “Yes, but that hero would not be Kazuya Souma” and I just thought that was adorable.

Souma finding unique ways to use his magic is also really fun. He puts his consciousness into a doll and sends it out on adventures. He even helped one of the adventurers and I hope this isn’t the last we see of him using his power this way. If any battles come up maybe he will make use of it there.

I also like how for once the elderly old person spouting warnings was listened to. Usually, they are disregarded as not knowing what they are talking about but Souma in his wisdom listened. Yeah, the monster the old man spoke of wasn’t actually real but it was a warning of a tsunami that comes around the area every few hundred years. Picking up on this Souma can make the necessary precautions.

This show is really interesting and Souma is a unique protagonist. I am really enjoying how it isn’t super battle-themed. I am sure some battles will come later but for now, I like how Souma’s main weapon is his brain. Really the only thing this show could be doing better right now is being on a more consistent dubbing schedule. But I know that Funimation is doing the best they can.