English Dub Review: Witch Hat Atelier “The Test In Serpentback Cave”
Overview:
In the latest installment of Witch Hat Atelier, “The Test in Serpentback Cave,” Richeh shares her view on spells that are not her own, while Agott gets some news regarding her next test.
Our Take:
Throughout this series so far, when it comes to the apprentice witches, the focus has mostly been placed on Coco and Agott, what with their dynamic as the main character and her rival of sorts. Between the two remaining, Tetia arguably has also gotten slightly more focus than Richeh. This episode finally bucks the trend by focusing on the dour, blue-haired novice witch. However, things start up with Agott musing on her changing views of Coco, though the sequence is a brief one.
When it comes to magic, Richeh doesn’t like to learn from others’ magic. Instead, she prefers to draw on her own. Initially coming off as stubborn, she eventually explains the situation to Coco. She had once apprenticed under another witch, whose treatment of her and someone close to her had caused her to develop this mask of sorts.
A few characters are also introduced outside of flashbacks. This is the Kukrow, the teacher of Euini. The two don’t have the warmest student-teacher relationship, with it being something of a parallel to what Richeh has encountered in the past. It’s tempting to think that the story might play up the connections between the two students, paralleling Coco and Tartah.
As the story draws to a close, the second test for the apprentice witches looms in the background, set up with Agott using her magic in front of people in the previous episodes. Meanwhile, the foreboding masked witch still looms in the background. Similarly, while this might be Richeh’s story overall, things, and possible changes, are hinted at for Agott next. One also has to wonder about all the fantastic beasts roaming the area, such as those Scalewolves.
