English Dub Review: Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts: “Rescue and a Fated Duel”

Overview: Leonhart (Ray Hurd) arrives to aid Sariphi (Emi Lo) and take down Fenrir (David Matranga) once and for all to protect the kingdom. 

Our Take: “Fated Duel” has a nice ring to it, setting up high expectations for a climactic duel between Leonhart and Fenrir. Unfortunately though, the naming convention is more dramatic than the actual battle itself.

Now, from a visual perspective, the fight is the most stunning in the series to date. The tone has a no-holds-barred, feral feel in how they gnaw and tear each other to pieces. The animation brings a good sense of velocity throughout the fight. Beyond being a treat for the eyes, there is not much more brought to table.

Everything else from here on out is about as plodding as can be. Sariphi predictably acts as Leonhart’s source of strength in his time of need. As for Fenrir and Nir, while their connection is sweet, it doesn’t have enough development or staying power to truly have a lasting effect.   

Nir dispatching Fenrir was a surprise, but also felt like a missed opportunity for exploring the weight of taking a life for Leo. With Leon merely wounded, this mini-storyline lacked true impact, feeling more like a formality than anything else. With any luck, there will be deeper emotional ramifications for Leon and Sariphi moving forward. The one lingering throughline in Set acting as a traitor is an intriguing setup for an enemy within Ozmargo. Although, with how the series squandered this arc, I’m not expecting it to fulfill the promise in any meaningful way.