English Dub Review: Requiem of the Rose King “My name is Richard Plantagenet.”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
As Edward’s and Warwick’s forces finally clash, Richard races across the misty battlefield in search of King Henry, the target of his vengeance.

Our Take:
The war has begun between King Edward’s army and the traitorous Warwick. Blood will be shed, secrets will be revealed, and more importantly, hearts will be broken. This episode is definitely on a different level entirely regarding its narrative. It’s not just because of the war itself but because of the ending, which is just as heartbreaking as I thought.
The series has displayed the complex relationship between Richard and Henry throughout the season. Despite not knowing who the other really was, the two characters have grown to be more than friends, which is enough to shield themselves from the violence. But, of course, this is Shakespeare we’re talking about, which means their love doesn’t last forever.
After nine episodes, we finally see Richard discovering Henry’s true identity as the ruler of Lancaster, which devastates the former. What more can I say about this shocking finale than that it was worth the wait? Following a series of engaging character moments and a well-paced buildup, the episode’s conclusion marks another emotionally compelling turning point of the series that’s backed up by solid performances from Ciaran Strange (Richard) and Landon McDonald (Henry). I would even say that it’s one of my favorite moments of the show.
Along with its ending, the episode also has a pretty decent journey to get to that shocking point. However, it does continue to show the lack of flashy action sequences that we’ve seen in the other action-packed anime series, as it still portrays images of people being slain or fighting each other. Since the episode only focuses on the war between York and Lancaster, I find it a shame that the show wasted the opportunity to spice things up. It also featured the final heartfelt moment between King Edward and Warwick, who was killed by Buckingham. While not as strong as its ending, they did put some effort into making the viewers feel some empathy for Warwick through his flashbacks, even if he is a traitorous scumbag.
Overall, “My name is Richard Plantagenet” is quite an experience when it comes to its surprises. Unfortunately, I find it disappointing that the war between York and Lancaster is almost nothing but a bunch of still images. Still, it’s an engaging climax that sees Henry being captured by York forces and Richard experiencing heartbreak. Why does love have to be ruined by violence and secrets?