English Dub Review: Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! “Signaling Departure with a Pillar of Flame”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Melphy and Aristade finalize their engagement.

OUR TAKE

Well, that has to be record time for a couple in an anime to meet and get engaged! I mean, probably not, since there are likely dozens of shows about couples meeting and getting married within the first episode (actually, I think there’s even a Gundam show that does that), but it’s still a bit surprising that we’re already at them being betrothed. I’m covering a couple other romcom shows right now and both of them are almost over and never got this close, though I guess this being in a more medieval setting where engagement is more ceremonial and necessary has an impact on things. But regardless, the happy couple has managed to get past their respective insecurities and secure being betrothed. That in and of itself wasn’t unexpected, as these two clearly have been head over heels for each other since they day they met in the first episode, so obviously this is setting up further, more complicated conflicts down the line for the latter two thirds of the series. But we will likely get to those in due time, as for now the main thing to focus on is Melphiera transitioning to her new house and new life with Aristade as his fiance.

Not everyone is as jazzed about this as she is, though. Her father is understandably both proud of his daughter and sad to see her go so suddenly, while her stepmother Celia is…well, I don’t quite know. She seems mad at Melphiera for even existing as a reminder of her mother Elise, but makes it clear that Melphiera will no longer have a home there even if she gets dumped by Aristade, and also that her son is the rightful heir to the estate, which it doesn’t seem like Melphiera cares about in the first place. It does seem like it hints at a more significant relationship that Celia and Elise once had, one that we’ll likely learn more about in episodes to come. It kinda seems like Celia is going to be an increasing problem in the future if only because of her sheer disdain for Melphiera and Elise, though that doesn’t seem like enough to fill up eight or so more episodes with. Anyway, I’m not sure when they’ll have the actual wedding, but now begins the couple’s new days as fiances, which I’m sure will consist of normal things like killing and eating monsters.