Overview (Spoilers Below): Ace searches for a way to convince Riddle to remove the collar around his neck.
Our Take: Thanks to Ace’s big mouth, Yu and the group now find themselves face-to-face with Riddle once again. Unsurprisingly, the dorm leader doesn’t seem too thrilled to re-encounter them. Considering his short temper akin to the Queen of Hearts’s, should we really expect anything else from the guy? Well, Ace doesn’t seem to think so regarding his dismissal of Riddle’s obsession with the Queen of Hearts’s strict yet absurd guidelines. This week’s episode shows that he isn’t the only student who takes an extreme dislike to Riddle’s rules, as the other students are looking to transfer to another house after losing their heads over drinking tea past their specific time. However, it also looks like Riddle’s obsession could be taking a toll on his life on account of the darkness invading his red jewel. Besides that, “A Mealtime Chat” offers pretty much what we expect from the episode’s title: conversations between friends over a sweet dessert. Of course, the dessert they made, a chestnut tart, is for an unbirthday party hosted by Riddle as a way to get him to remove Ace’s collar. It would also be better if their generosity could help Riddle be less of a jerk before he goes off the deep end. If you played the game beforehand, then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Additionally, the episode offers another piece of character development, as Deuce attends the academy to curb his bad-boy attitude and make his mom happy. Given his own temper towards those who did him harm, that’s easier said than done. While perceived as a filler episode at first glance, “A Mealtime Chat” utilized this mealtime to highlight more of its supporting characters and the events that’ll play a role in future episodes, including the appearance of Savanaclaw’s Housewarden.