English Dub Review: Requiem of the Rose King “I remember when Christmas was approaching. The time when I lost Father.”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Richard and Henry continue to hide in the forest while Richard struggles with his feelings towards him. Later, as the war draws near between York and Lancaster, George rejoins his family after encountering his father’s spirit.

Our Take:

Christmas is usually the best time of the year, but this episode proves to be the opposite. I should’ve known that earlier since the series is set in the 1400s. The ninth episode sees the continuation of the internal struggles of Richard and George. Richard is still grappling with his feelings towards Henry despite not knowing that Henry’s the king of Lancaster. Meanwhile, George is still struggling with Warwick’s intentions during a Christmas banquet until he sees a familiar face.

To put it lightly, this isn’t the Christmas-themed episode that you would want to watch every year with your children. I would even say that it’s not something to watch after viewing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The reason? The two kingdoms are still at war with each other! Aside from that, however, the episode offers a compelling turning point for Richard and the kingdom of York.

The main reason was that George had finally gone back to the good side. This happens after George discovers his father’s spirit. Although, the ghost is actually part of Richard and Catesby’s plan to win over George. This part got me a bit confused about how they managed to pull that off without getting caught. Based on what I saw, I think this sequence would’ve been better for George’s development if the Duke of York’s ghost is real.

Another reason is that York has successfully gained the upper hand by invading Lancaster. That alone would be enough to send Warwick over the edge. The episode also provides some more suitable development for Richard, as he is one step closer to figuring out Henry’s true identity.

Overall, the ninth episode of Requiem of the Rose King may not be the perfect Christmas gift. But it does offer some bright spots to maintain the show’s dramatic impact, mainly George’s return to York. The moment with the Duke of York’s ghost did have me scratching my head regarding Richard’s intent. Otherwise, it’s a festive holiday gift that’s about three months too late.