English Dub Review: Ishura “Mele the Horizon’s Roar”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

A young boy visits Mele the Horizon’s Roar while Kuuro the Cautious is on the run in Toghie City.

Our Take:

Ishura is another anime that looks and sounds cool on paper regarding the concept but winds up being more enjoyable than great.  While it benefits from its surprisingly solid animation and themes of war, the show’s narrative felt unfocused in exploring the side characters a bit more than its protagonists, Yuno and Soujiro.  Of course, that could be my fault for not realizing its intention, but at the very least, it didn’t hinder my tolerance toward my experience with Ishura.  Now that I’ve grown more accepting of its structure after the season one finale, I have a better chance of becoming more accustomed to the show’s second season.

It’s certainly all the better for it, especially since the season two premiere, “Mele the Horizon’s Roar”, offered more of the same as when the series first started.  Instead of focusing on Soujiro and Yuno, the episode puts the spotlight on two new Shuras who may become prominent roles in future episodes, mainly the upcoming Royal Games.  One of them is Mele the Horizon’s Roar, a loafing yet strong Gigant archer serving as the protector of a village called Sine Riverstead.  Fortunately for the villagers, Mele easily compensates for his laziness with his generosity and impeccable archery skills, making him a worthy contender for the Royal Games.

The second half then focuses on Kuuro the Cautious, a clairvoyant leprechaun and former assassin for the Obsidian Eyes who attempts to escape Toghie City.  Accompanied by Cuneigh the Wanderer, a winged homunculus, Kuuro meets up with Elea the Red Tag to discuss her plans for the tournament.  It’s also when Soujiro the Willow Sword makes his last-minute appearance by saving the others from a monstrous worm, revealing himself as an accomplice to Elea, although Yuno is nowhere to be seen yet.  Perhaps it’s saving her appearance for next week’s episode, considering that they’re both unlikely partners venturing to Aureatia.  Regardless, the second half showcases that Ishura hasn’t entirely forgotten about them amid the other Shuras and their backstories.  Accompanied by its presentation and engaging introductions to characters old and new, “Mele the Horizon’s Roar” is a decent start to the show’s second season that’s hoping to develop more interest in later episodes thanks to the Royal Games.