English Dub Review: Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest “Haulias Assemble”

Overview

With the Heiligh Kingdom heavily damaged, Princess Liliana travels to the Hoelscher Empire to request their aid. On their way, Hajime spots Haulia tribe members fighting imperial soldiers. The tribe members bring news of a coming invasion.


Our Take

The season opens with a light-hearted recap from Yue, with plenty of humor, especially as we are reintroduced to the quirky Haulia tribe, now transformed into a fearless group with Rambo-like survival skills since season one which adds a fun dynamic, contrasting nicely with the episode’s deeper themes as Hajime’s companions begin to show how much they value him and each other. Notably, Shizuku and Kouki’s conversation reveals two opposing yet valid viewpoints since Hajime’s power mentally came from a rough place where survival and the desire to fight for those he looks out for were above all else.

Hajime’s loyalty to his friends is evident, especially as he faces new challenges from the empire and discrimination against the beastmen (which are in a nutshell, animal people). This season also gives more focus to Shea, highlighting the struggles of her people and showing how far they’ve come with Hajime’s help. As Hajime and the Haulia tribe confront these threats, we get a glimpse of the strength of their bonds and shared purpose.

Overall, the season 3 premiere has quite a strong foundation as it manages to balance humor with action and emotional depth. The animation and visuals appear enhanced, adding to the episode’s impact. With steady pacing and engaging character dynamics, it hints at an exciting story ahead, giving both new and returning fans something to look forward to, and the creative possibilities of Hajime using his powers to make a large-ass airship is pretty damn cool.