English Dub Review: The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody “Beyond Our Determination”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Ard squares off against his alternate self, the Demon Lord, Rogue. The two are evenly matched when the Demon Lord reveals a new fact to Ard. Lydia throws herself into battle with her resolve to be the Champion. Ard and the Demon Lord lay out their decisions regarding Lydia’s salvation, the resolve of all three clashing together. After confronting his own past and facing himself, what answer will Ard choose…?

Our Take:
Things are continuing to heat up as Ard faces off against himself. There’s no better way to end the series’ first season than having someone battle their own inner demons, especially when their demons are alternate versions of themselves. This show has been an enjoyable ride filled with magic, comedy, and two girls fighting for a nobody’s affection. So now we see if the showdown between the two Ards is enough to close off the season.
The season finale picks up where the previous episode left off, with Ard and Rogue continuing their duel. Meanwhile, Ireena and Ginny set off on a mission with Latima to destroy a powerful crystal that seems to be the source of Rogue’s immortality. However, as soon as they reach it, Latima’s secret is revealed. It turns out that Latima is working for Rogue to capture the girls to force Ard to join Rogue’s side. The plan failed as the girls escaped, and the battle between the two Ards continued, with Ard eventually being the victor thanks to Lydia’s apparition.
While it’s far from a spectacular finale, I will say that this episode definitely brought some satisfaction to the season’s closure. Aside from the battle between Rogue and Ard, the episode did a suitable job focusing a bit more on Ireena and Ginny and their roles in defeating Rogue. While the two are at odds with each other sometimes, they support one another even when times get tough. The scene with Ginny motivating Ireena by mocking her doubt is another good example of their development.
The showdown between Ard and Rogue failed to match the epic scale of the season’s previous action scenes, but that doesn’t make it less entertaining. Along with its vibrant animation, the sequence provided one final insight into Ard’s guilt: as Varvatos, he had a fight with Lydia that he regrets. Thankfully, Ard forgives himself for killing Lydia to destroy Rogue, and he and his friends are transported back to the present, but not before Lydia asks the girls to pass a heartfelt message to Ard.
“Beyond Our Determination” is a solid way to end the first season of an average show that’s surprisingly enjoyable. It may not be one of the best finales in anime history, but it does offer a decent amount of heart in its themes to bring Ard’s time-traveling mission to a close. But, of course, it also leaves some room for a possible second season filled with magical spells from an ordinary boy. Based on my experience with the show’s first season, I don’t mind seeing more of Ard and his friends if a sophomore season happens.