English Dub Review: Tales of Wedding Rings “Episode 4”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Alabaster suggests that Satou and Hime move onto the next ring if they can’t get the Wind Ring right now, but they’re stopped by the arrival of the Abyss King and his forces. Going back to defend the elves, Hime breaks Nefritis out, and Satou and Nefritis kiss, giving Satou the power of the Wind Ring and ability to overpower the Abyss King…who turns out to be a double. With two rings down, the group moves onto their next destination.

OUR TAKE

As said, that’s two rings down and three to go, with fluffy elf girl Nefritis joining the party and finally getting away from her creepy brother (what is it with anime elves and being grossly protective of their sisters?). Unlike main girl Hime, Nefritis kinda has to wrap up her character arc for the whole season in these two episodes, with it mainly being about gaining the confidence to get out of her comfort zone and do what is right for her people. It’s just that conveniently happens to be solved by being part of Satou’s polycule. That said, it is kinda nice that it was Hime who came to get her and convince her to help. The more stale version of this would just be Satou charming each individual girl with the barest minimum of general courtesy, but here we see that at least two girls of the five will be friendly with each other, if not just plain friends. Satou very obviously prioritizes Hime since he’s known her for most of his life, but maybe he’ll learn to like the other four in their own ways as the story goes on. Or maybe the other four will be in a tie for second place the whole time, who knows!

It also seems that fighting off the Abyss King’s forces has helped cement that he’s back, which was apparently in doubt. Interesting subversion that happened here with the double, as I had such low expectations that I figured they would keep the figure who attacked cloaked until near the end of the story, then reveal it was a woman the whole time who Satou would then have to seduce. Instead it turns out that this was a double, though I did call it was a woman. Still not ruling out the possibility that the Abyss King is also female, but the mystery of their identity is still up in the air. Maybe they’re someone we already know! Oh, and Alabaster seems to have a previous relationship with the double that he keeps hidden and adds some depth to him as a character, that’s neat and all too. Anywho, the next girl to join the group will be the catgirl to check that fetish box, though it’s anyone’s guess which element it’ll be. Maybe fire, maybe earth, definitely not water though. Flip a coin and we’ll see where it lands next time. And be honest if you lost, don’t make me come and break your thumbs.