English Dub Review: Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts: “Carpenter Bees and a Court Banquet”

Overview: A banquet is thrown to announce Sariphi (Emi Lo) as queen with her struggling to define what how she can best serve Leonhart. (Ray Hurd)

Our Take: How does a nice girl like Sariphi combat beasts’ doubt and discrimination over a human queen? Kill em’ with kindness, of course. Sariphi being who she is, this won’t come as much of a shock with characters of her ilk. Nonetheless, her persevering kindness is touching and satisfyingly squashes others’ pettiness and cruelty, as a result.   

Chef Todd has a nice dynamic with her, not focusing on her race, but how she handles his food. It’s a nice representation of beasts being more than one-dimensional and fully-ranged. 

Leo’s devotion to others acts adds a nice layer of intimacy between him and Sariphi. It’s especially impactful as someone who was otherwise considered expandable. Sariphi’s greater understanding of his true self also continues to be touching. 

One of Sariphi’s core dilemmas throughout is how she navigates her use to the Leonhart, especially as a human queen. Leonhart’s merciful judgment is a sweet way of showing how her gentler touch quells his savagery. Sariphi’s compassion coupled with the pressure she takes off the weight of his crown makes for a beautiful, warm understanding of her already defined role.