English Dub Review: Ragna Crimson “Agitation”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Crimson is no hero. He will manipulate and use others if it furthers his goal, and that callousness is precisely what makes him a needed ally against dragons.

Our Take:

Ragna has formed a new ally in his quest to save the future from dragons. However, his new partner, Crimson, is no pushover compared to his previous one, Leonica. While they’re friends in the future, Ragna’s actions lead to him meeting Crimson earlier than expected. So, befriending the mischievous mage won’t be as easy as it seems, especially since Ragna is now promoted as Crimson’s servant.

The episode showcases more of Crimson’s capabilities while preparing for their next battle against a formidable dragon. The previous episode showcased that Crimson has a slimy and cartoony servant by his side named Slime, but that’s not all he has to offer. Crimson can also manipulate people using their deepest regrets, which he used on a group of dragon hunters to assist the duo. He also gives them some of Ragna’s Silverine powers for an extra boost because, as far as we’re concerned, Crimson doesn’t work well with weak minions.

In addition to Crimson’s helpful yet dangerous abilities, the episode offers a glimpse of the next dragon the duo will face: Disas Trois. Disas is a green-haired, self-absorbed dragon Monarch with the ability to control tornadoes infamous for torturing its captured women. It’s not as horrific as what Temruogtaf did to his maids in last week’s episode, but it still sucks to see these poor women in these conditions. Fortunately, Crimson and the dragon hunters have something to say about his cruel intentions.

Since his first introduction, it’s clear that Jade Kelly is a fitting choice to voice Crimson in the English dub, and it continues to show in “Agitation”. Kelly’s vocal performance perfectly fits the sadistic and mischievous personality of the red-haired mage, especially when he suggests holding Leonica captured until the war ends. However, amid his twisted persona, Crimson also has his own way of showing compassion toward Ragna, who opens up about his fear of losing Leonica.  

Considering that this series depicts mental health, depression, and suicide (mainly from Crimson), it’s appropriate that the episode shows a warning label to let viewers know what they’re about to witness. Aside from Slime being a tad annoying sometimes, Ragna Crimson continues to impress me further with its compelling take on its mature themes amid its dark fantasy elements and a surprising amount of humor. Only time will tell whether it’ll wind up being one of the best surprises of the winter season.