English Dub Review: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: “The Signal to Begin the Banquet”

Overview: Benimaru (Ricco Fajardo), along with the Three Beastketeers, Suphia (Terri Doty), Albis (Elizabeth Maxwell) and Phobio (Stephen Fu) as well as Rimuru’s (Brittany Karbowski) forces finally draw first blood against Clayman (John Burgmeier) and his army. 

Our Take: The battles finally begin with nothing notably shocking going down this episode mostly because everything is going as expected, according to Rimuru’s plan in how his forces finally converge onto Clayman’s troops and completely overwhelm every single side of them. This is very much a precursor to the imminent commencement of Walpurgis as well as the beginning of the impending conflicts to come with Tempest and the Three Beastketeers. Pacing, while slow burn, has never felt arduous due to how each entry that builds towards the war reveals and/or sets more plans in motion each time. Like how Rimuru had the foresight to think through what to do with war prisoners for Eurazania’s benefit after Benimaru’s victory, further showing just how far ahead he thinks. 

The stage is set with the return of Footman and Tear, as Phobio seeks revenge for getting duped like a complete fool, with the help of the Orc Lord, Geld. Did the ominous clown make-up really not give it away? Suphia is revving up to take on Malim’s worshippers, Midday and Hermes. Albis is going toe-to-toe with one of the fingers, Yamza, with Gobta acting as backup for any of his surrounding forces The one surprising aspect I took from this was just how much Gobta has developed, with Rimuru’s ascension to demon lord no doubt a factor as well. What makes this so interesting is that if he’s powered up that much where he can, at the very least, fend off one of Clayman’s fingers, it’s sure to make Benimaru, Shuna and Hakuru’s infiltration of Clayman’s castle a true spectacle. And of course, it goes without saying that Rimiru’s confrontation with Clayman has the potential to be unlike anything we’ve seen thus far in terms of brutality and scale.