English Dub Review: Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon “Yesterday’s Enemies Are Today’s…”
Overview
The path through the Everlasting stratum is long, dark, and monotonous, but that doesn’t rule out surprises.
Our Take
Picking up from the previous episode, the story has fully reached a new level of ridiculousness in the most entertaining way possible as Boxxo unveils another unexpected transformation to help the party cross the endless Everlasting Stratum. What initially seems like a simple travel episode gradually turns into a strangely relaxing road-trip adventure, with the cast relying on games, food, movies, and each other to endure the isolating journey. The atmosphere of the stratum itself is easily one of the episode’s strongest aspects, creating a surreal sense of loneliness and mystery that makes the world feel far larger than before.
The rest of the proceedings also does a solid job of resolving the lingering betrayal subplot without forcing unnecessary drama. Sulream especially comes across less as a villain and more as someone shaped by circumstance, much like Kai and the others caught up in the Netherlord’s control. Her growing bond with Kai gradually softens her outlook, making her feel more human and sympathetic as the group slowly comes back together. It gives the episode a more heartfelt tone while reinforcing one of the series’ strengths: watching unlikely characters connect through shared experiences.
Overall, this was a much stronger and more enjoyable episode than the previous one, balancing comedy, worldbuilding, and character interactions really well. The bizarre vending machine transformations somehow continue to work because the series fully commits to its absurd ideas, and the endless highway-like setting gives the adventure a uniquely dreamlike vibe. Ending on the reveal of the massive sealed door also sets up the next stage of the journey nicely while keeping the sense of mystery intact.
