English Dub Review: Wistoria: Wand and Sword “A Roar of Ice and Lightning”
Overview (Spoilers Below):
The moment Elfaria moves to accept Will into the ice faction, Zeo swoops in and steals him away. Elfaria erupts with rage, and suddenly, the hall becomes a battleground for the two Magia Vander. Will awakens, bewildered by the fight revolving around him. The epic battle fought between two paragons of the world of magic escalates as they hurl their most powerful of spells at one another.
Our Take:
Don’t you hate it when something is within your reach and then all of a sudden, some jerk decides to get in your way at the last minute? Well, Elfaria does, and she’s not going to give up Will without a fight. The episode involving Will’s childhood showcased that Elfaria can hold her own against a monster with her ice magic, prompting her position as the youngest Magia Vander. For the penultimate episode of season two, we now see how much stronger Elfaria has become compared to when she was young, as she pits herself against Zeo, who wants Will to join his Lightning Faction. The result is exactly what you would expect from a battle between two Magia Vanders, with Will serving as a winner’s “trophy” or, in this case, “bride”.
“A Roar of Ice and Lightning” is another great example of the show’s utilization of superb presentation and stakes to deliver an enticing magic battle. Not only that, but it also highlights more of Zeo’s background and his role in the Magia Vander. While his intentions are as noble as the other members’, Zeo’s barbaric and arrogant nature does leave others questioning his place among them, particularly Zeo. Additionally, I would give special kudos to Kelsey Cruz for conveying Elfaria’s raging resilience through her vocal range, as well as the actor voicing Zeo. Some English dubs often falter in portraying these types of performances amid their exhilarating battles, but Wistoria remains one such occasion where the dub performances are as effective as the vibrant showdowns. It’s too bad that I already spoiled the ending for myself regarding who gets custody of Will. Regardless, the season’s penultimate episode is another highlight worth remembering as we reach its thrilling conclusion.
