English Dub Review: The Eminence in Shadow: “The End of a Lie”

Overview: Cid (Adam Gibbs) and Sherry (Brittney Karbowski) work together to take down the Gaunt Knight and his forces. 

Our Take: The true identity of Sherry’s mother’s murderer is built up nicely with various hints placed teasing their identity. It makes the events leading up to the end of the lie intriguing as Cid and Sherry deactivate the magic suppressing bubble. 

Overall, the conflict with the fake Shadow Garden is over and done without much real stakes or unique battles. This goes for not only the cannon fodder henchmen, with only the former applying to the Gaunt Knight and his confrontation with Cid. While it lacks any real tensity in Cid being an overpowered monster, it’s fun for the frenetic sword swings bouncing and clashing. 

Ruslan, being the murderer and knight, is an interesting turn of events with his strength crazed lunacy. It’s cliché, but well-executed in calling back to his acclaim and power as a knight that was setup beforehand. 

What’s tragic is where it leaves Sherry in a heartbreaking scene. It also gives a lens into Cid’s warmer side in choosing not to tell her the truth, preserving her memory of him. 

Sherry’s departure from school is intriguing in her secret goal and how she will factor in with her knack for science. Shadow Garden branded as criminals will hopefully offer exciting spectacle and new enemies as knights and other factions hunt them down.