English Dub Review: Once Upon a Witch’s Death “The Family Bewitched by a Devil”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Meg sees a burn-like scar on a girl’s neck that is only visible to her.

Our Take:

Meg can add one more obstacle in the mix, as the recently announced Planet’s Core Project has put a damper on her time collecting tears of joy.  However, this particular project designed by the Council has now become the least of her concerns, thanks to this week’s episode.  This comes in the form of Meg’s confrontation with devil magic, a forbidden act of magic that’s as dangerous as one would expect from the work of demons.  This occurs when Meg encounters a young girl named Mary, who bears a scar on her neck, marking her as a sacrifice to the devil.  

Despite Faust’s warnings about this dangerous magic, Meg, being the Witch of Lapis, strives to help her break this demonic curse.  However, as it turns out, Mary wasn’t the only person marked with a scar; her mother, Jill, also bore a similar mark.  Meg also discovers that Mary’s father, Ted, is the main culprit behind the sacrificial ritual, as he plans to kill his own family and exact revenge against the people he despises.  In short, we’re dealing with a despicable and downright miserable excuse of a father obsessed with revenge because he couldn’t handle his “depressed” life and family anymore.  It’s sad from a thematic standpoint, but it’s also quite pathetic for him to make a deal with the devil instead of seeking help.

“The Family Bewitched by a Devil” is another episode that diverges from Meg’s tear-collecting journey in favor of expanding the show’s world-building, with devil magic being the central focus.  The narrative reveals the darker side of humanity, showcasing how individuals can succumb to their depression and resort to the devil’s work instead of recognizing and valuing the positive aspects of their lives, including their loved ones.  It also highlights Meg’s determination to become powerful enough to save everyone she loves after her attempt to rescue Ted fails. This is inspired by other anime protagonists striving to become stronger, including Deku from My Hero Academia.  The execution of its filler plot and themes may not make it the holy grail of anime episodes, but its depiction of Meg’s growth and introduction to devil magic is enough to drive away its demonic shortcomings.