English Dub Review: Requiem of the Rose King “Good night. Brother.”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Richard and Buckingham have successfully framed George for a sorcerous plot against King Edward and now scheme to ensure he does not leave his prison cell alive. As Edward’s health fails, the conspirators grow more urgent and ruthless.

Our Take:
Richard’s second quest has started in a way that none of us didn’t expect. Although, since this is Shakespeare we’re dealing with, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Last week, we were introduced to Jane, a witch who placed a curse on the kingdom, mainly King Edward and George’s wife. She then blames George for committing a sickening act, resulting in Richard and Buckingham arresting him.
I originally thought that Jane would be another big bad for the season’s second half. However, this episode shows that this isn’t the case. Not yet, anyway. The storyline represents Richard and Buckingham plotting to kill George, so the former can continue his path to obtain the throne. Their plan was successful, with the assassin being none other than Richard himself. Meanwhile, King Edward is still ill from Jane’s curse, leaving everyone feeling concerned about who will lead York to the future.
Aside from an unnecessary sequence involving Richard, Beth, and the others hanging out in the village, the episode is another strong showcase that things won’t be full of sunshine and rainbows from here on out. The first half of the season has displayed Richard as a tragic hero whose appearance alienated everyone, including his mother, Cecily Neville. However, the second half may represent the character as a tragic villain who seeks the throne and eliminates his brothers, whom he believes don’t deserve it. Regardless, the series’ writers are still doing a remarkable job maintaining the main character’s complexity and providing a consistently engaging adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic stories.
It’s easy to say that “Good Night. Brother” is no exception for how far they’ve gotten to impress me with its storytelling, dialogue, and animation. The scene with Beth is something I would leave out to keep the pace going. Other than that, it’s another compelling and beautifully grim chapter of Richard’s life that sees the unfortunate demise of a family member. With one brother out of the picture and Edward still feeling sick, I won’t be surprised if the king bit the dust sooner than later.