English Dub Review: Tales of Wedding Rings “Episode 20”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Satou enters the illusory world of Hime’s tower to confront her fears and bring her back from the Abyss.

Our Take:  

The Abyss sure knows how to constantly rain on our parade, especially when it comes to Satou and Hime’s relationship.  What’s even worse is that it got a hold on Hime, transforming her into a dark and seductive version of herself and surrounding her with her deepest phobias.  This prompted Satou to travel into the Abyss version of the Spire to bring Hime back into the light while avoiding the sexual temptations that stemmed from her.  This dangerous trek puts Satou’s love to the test as he encounters several versions of his girlfriend, ultimately leading to the moment we’ve been anticipating since the beginning of the series.

It bears repeating that Tales of Wedding Rings is pretty seductive through its fan service and moments of nudity.  However, it’s also worth noting that the series’s heart continues to stem from the developing relationship between Satou and Hime, which was constantly challenged by the Ring King’s destiny and Hime’s personal jealousy.  This episode further highlights this strength by showcasing Satou overcoming temptation and helping Hime embrace the true meaning of love, not just through sex but also through compassion and the courage to face the challenges together.  More importantly, it reflects Hime’s fear of losing Satou to the Ring King’s prophecy, leading her to doubt whether she and Satou will have a future together.

The series may not be anything special in my eyes regarding its isekai harem formula.  However, I can still admit that it makes Satou and Hime one of the most compelling anime couples worth rooting for amid its sexually arousing content.  The eighth episode of its second season is further proof that this romance can work despite its seemingly risqué premise.  Additionally, we’re finally able to see Satou and Hime moving to the next part of their relationship, and by that, I mean sex.  This certainly serves as some type of closure to the couple’s concerns, but their battle against the Abyss still rages on.