English Dub Review: Clevatess “What’s Reflected in the Mirror”

Overview

Clevatess begins his battle with Vordin as Alicia is trapped in a cold illusion…

Our Take

Picking up from the previous episode, Clevatess continues moving toward its endgame while balancing the larger conflict with some much-needed character development. The confrontation between Clevatess and Vordin is easily one of the highlights, delivering some impressive action while raising more questions about Vordin’s motives. Meanwhile, the subplot involving the real Princess Milea continues as the magic school twins receive some welcome development, helping Milea better understand herself and find the resolve to fight back against her darker personality.

The emotional focus, however, belongs to Alicia. Her latest simulated trial from the Evil Milea forces her to confront her past while finding the strength to move forward, giving us a deeper understanding of what drives her. In many ways, the exploration of dreams versus reality reminded me of “For the Man Who Has Everything,” an acclaimed Justice League Unlimited episode adapted from Alan Moore’s 1985 Superman comic. Like that story, it examines whether a comforting fantasy can truly replace reality, and that idea works especially well with Alicia’s arc.

Overall, this was a surprisingly emotional chapter that shows just how much Alicia has grown while keeping the larger mysteries moving forward. With only two episodes left, there’s still a lot to resolve. Still, the strong character work, Clevatess and Vordin’s confrontation, and the unanswered questions have me curious to see how everything comes together.