English Dub Review: From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman “The Old Country Bumpkin Gets an Invitation from Nobility”
Overview (Spoilers Below):
A banquet is being held in the lands of the Margrave of Flumvelk, a region bordering Sphenedyardvania, and both Allucia and Beryl are invited. The visit is also a chance to confirm the route the soon-to-be-wed Princess Salacia will take to her new home. Along the way, Beryl gives advice to a young knight. When he arrives at his destination, an unexpected reunion awaits him.
Our Take:
With Beryl’s personal problems at home now settled, things should settle down for him at the capital, right? Well, I wouldn’t say that. After just returning to the capital, Beryl has received yet another invitation requesting his presence. Only this time, it came from the Margrave, Warren Flumvelk, instead of from his parents like before, requesting him to attend a special occasion in a country that’s harder to spell or even pronounce. That occasion is Princess Salacia’s upcoming wedding. Fortunately, Allucia gets to come along on this latest mission after being absent from Beryl’s family reunion. This assignment requires both Allucia and Beryl to scout out the route for the princess’s new home while staying over at the Margrave’s village. Of course, it isn’t without a few surprises that could turn the tide of this expedition, including the reveal that Warren is also another former student of Beryl’s dojo class.
It’s no surprise that the old country bumpkin’s work is never done, even after his family reunion, with “Gets an Invitation from Nobility” further proving that theory. It’s a pretty casual start to Beryl’s latest quest that may last for a couple of episodes, besides the subpar dub direction and Allucia’s formulaic jealousy trait. For the latter, she gets another competition for Beryl’s attention in the form of Warren’s younger sister Shueste, which is more concerning than humorous. Given the age difference, I have another reason to believe that Allucia needs to get herself checked. However, considering how crucial the princess’s wedding will be, I won’t be surprised if someone or something threatens to derail this important event. The episode also offers a heartfelt moment as Mewi grows friendlier toward the students, notably Fredra, while trying to sleep better. While I’m still a bit annoyed by the voice direction for Mewi, the character’s growth in human connection remains one of the more interesting aspects of the second season.
