English Dub Review: The Beginning After the End “Reunited with the King”

Overview

Arthur is back with his parents and meets his new baby sister, Eleanor. Later on, his parents discuss thoughts about his future…

Our Take

After leaving behind the elven realm, Arthur arrives in the floating city of Xyrus to reunite with his parents and meet his younger sister, Eleanor, for the first time. The warm welcome is heartfelt, even if Arthur must keep parts of his journey hidden. As he settles in, he crosses paths with the Helstea family, who show keen interest in his talents, especially after witnessing the level of magical control he’s achieved at such a young age during a duel with his father. 

The rest of the proceedings attempt to balance moments of levity with more serious undertones, highlighting the pressures faced by characters like Lilia, who struggles with expectations placed on her future. Arthur’s return also sparks reunions with familiar adventurers, adding some emotional weight and lighthearted charm. However, despite the wholesome moments, the animation in certain places left more to be desired… 

Overall, this episode is a transitional one, paving the way for what’s to come while grounding Arthur in the bonds of family and friendship. While the storytelling maintains interest through character interactions and setup for potential plot paths, the execution suffers from a lack of energy in both animation and pacing. Still, it does just enough to keep the journey moving forward, for better or worse.