English Dub Review: Sweet Reincarnation “Apple Pie and Smiles”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Lumi and Marc are riding high on their accomplishments during the bandit attack, but overconfidence leads Marc to a terrible, and potentially fatal, decision. Can Pastry save his friend against overwhelming odds?!

Our Take:
The bandits have been apprehended thanks to Pastry’s Replication ability. However, they’ll have to be handed over to Countess Brioche of Retes territory for political reasons. Plus, the Countess wants to keep her reputation intact by claiming she captured the bandits since it’s her responsibility. Until then, everyone will have to keep an eye on them, including Pastry’s friends Marc and Lumi, who’ve been given the bandits’ swords and a bag of barley for their bravery. Plus, they’re assigned as Pastry’s lieutenants. Unfortunately, the kids’ confidence over their triumph almost resulted in Lumi’s demise, as the bandit leader tricked Marc, stabbed Lumi, and escaped with him as a hostage.
As a result, Pastry used his Replication ability again to replicate Casserole’s Teleportation magic to rescue Marc. However, his rescue mission also resulted in the bandit leader escaping from captivity but’s that not the worse part. Due to Pastry’s capability to replicate every spell, he becomes a target for many powerful rulers attempting to use him as a weapon. So Pastry would have to use them secretly amid his quest to create a dessert renaissance. But, of course, Pastry’s not the only person facing an unavoidable dilemma. Because of Marc’s mistake that almost cost Lumi’s life, he’s forced by Lumi’s father, Glacage, into an arranged marriage with Lumi to atone for his fault.
The episode basically showcases its supporting characters, Marc and Lumi, and how their obsession with being praised almost got one of them killed. Marc is indeed stubborn when he allows his courageous deed to control his emotions, but that doesn’t make him unlikable. Marc understood the actions that affected him and his friends, resulting in him mustering up the courage to apologize to Lumi. Unfortunately, it looks like marriage is his only option to make up for his actions, according to Glacage. It might not be enough to overcome its formulaic and less-than-stellar narrative, but at least it finally has Pastry cooking something like the concept suggested. Now I want a try a piece of that Bonka (apple) pie.