English Dub Review: The Eminence in Shadow: “Advent of the Demon”

Overview: Cid (Adam Gibbs) goes head-to-head in an earth-shattering battle against a formidable duo in Iris (Patricia Duran) and Beatrix (Allison Sumrall) Meanwhile, Alpha (Christina Kelly) presents Rose (Donna Bella Litton) with a tantalizing proposition. 

Our Take: If Chad Cid doesn’t tickle your fancy, Giga Chadow is the sexual awakening you have been searching for. His battle against Beatrix and Iris is that of pure flexing. He is an absolute monster in casually fending them both off simultaneously. What makes the scene even dirtier is how he pares his weapon down to a crowbar, simply to prove his skill and for a nostalgic touch. 

The fight is also meatier than his previous battles that often fall under the ‘short, but sweet’ category. Nexus Studios illustrates a gorgeous lightning fast fight and a well-orchestrated one in driving home his constant pushback whenever they believe they’ve gained an inch. Unfortunately, there are times when Patricia Duran’s battle cries, or just regular ones, feel forced throughout. Thankfully, it’s minimal and she continues to steal the show in portraying her anguish and inadequacy during the fight. 

Cid’s blast to end all blasts is an epic way to end the battle, asserting his dominance and the massive power gap between them. The icing on the cake was him ending the fight before he reduced the kingdom to rubble. This is effective not only in ending the bout on his own terms, but continuing to highlight his moral conscience. 

Iris and Alexia’s never ending thirst for power has a striking parallel despite their differing situations. That becomes especially apparent after meeting Cid and this episode in Iris realizing her own weakness. 

Rose joining Shadow Garden is an exciting update, especially in learning about their base and how they train new operatives. Her pain at having to forget about Cid is heartbreaking. However, it never truly packs a punch considering her new role amongst the Shadows and will inevitably see him again. Sherry’s vendetta is intriguing in how she’ll exact revenge, especially in how that’ll be paired with her sharp mind. 

With Cid ever the theatrical dork, I look forward to more of his dumb shenanigans, all for his ideal storyline. Whether it’s Rose’s development within the Shadows or Perv’s plan for her, there are plenty of storylines to keep the plot engaging moving forward.