English Dub Review: The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess “The Shut-in Vampire Goes Outside”

Overview

Based on the Japanese light novel series written by Kotei Kobayashi and illustrated by Riichu. The story follows Princess Komari. A Low-tier vampire in her royal family is personally aware of how bottom-tier her status is and has questions that need answers. How did she become a Crimson Lord? Why does she have an army? And who is this maid in her room?



Our Take

In the wake of three years spent in seclusion, vampire princess Terakomari “Komari” Gandesblood finds herself thrust into an unexpected role as a Commander in the Mulnite Imperial Army. What’s more, she’s bound by a kiss contract with the emblem on her stomach, compelling her to join the ranks of the 7 Crimson Lords under threat of annihilation if she refuses. Despite her prestigious lineage, Komari’s aversion to blood has rendered her physically weak and magically inept, making her an unlikely leader for the rebellious 7th unit comprised of troublemakers.

With her leadership challenged at every turn and her limitations laid bare, Komari must rely on the unwavering support of her devoted maid, Villhaze, who also serves in the Mulnite Imperial Army. As Komari struggles to navigate her newfound responsibilities and win over her unruly subordinates, she grapples with the consequences of stepping out from the safety of her sheltered existence. Will she rise to the occasion and prove herself capable, or will her foray into the world beyond her room will lead to regrets?

Overall, this was quite a good start for the first episode. It wasn’t very subtle with it’s subject matter and LGBTQ undertones, yet some of the dark humor and jokes worked in some areas. I had to watch both the Sub and Dub versions to see if anything was changed, but apparently whoever animated this felt the need to censor specific scenes, including a decapitation scene that they put a mosaic over. But the rest of the plot was funny in it’s setup for what it was going for and gave Overlord vibes in terms of how our lead protagonist Komari now has to maintain the charade that she’s a super-badass when in reality she’s a sheltered girl with a hinted messed up past we have yet to explore…