English Dub Review: From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman “The Old Country Bumpkin Sees in the New Year”
Overview (Spoilers Below):
Allucia and Gatoga visit Beryl at his lodgings in Dilmahakha, and Gatoga shows Beryl around the city. Once they’re alone, Gatoga tells him what became of Rose. Back in Baltrain, Curuni and Ficelle put Mewi through special training, while Lucy and Ibroy meet in secret. The new year arrives, bringing Princess Salacia’s wedding, and screams of terror ring out through the cathedral.
Our Take:
Beryl and the others have made it to Dilmahakha without any issues. However, that doesn’t mean they can rest easy, not when Verdapis’s assassins are still lurking around. Granted, the cathedral is heavily guarded to keep the newlyweds and attendees safer. But we all know that, no matter how strong the security, these events are always destined to be ruined by the biggest party poopers in the world. Usually, the new year is supposed to bring good cheer to everyone, especially at weddings, but given the circumstances, Beryl’s journey is anything but cheerful. With Vesper’s injury possibly revealed to be permanent, Beryl is willing to do what he can to ensure everyone he cares about retains their happiness.
Additionally, the episode showcases through Gatoga’s conversation that Rose, the last-minute “antagonist” from season one, was also attacked by the same assassins, resulting in her going on the run. There’s also a short segment where Mewi goes through a difficult training course designed by Curuni and Ficelle. Despite being a tad amusing, I feel like this scene was better off as a side-quest episode highlighting Mewi’s growth. It didn’t add much to the plot other than serving as a comical bit. Besides that, “Sees in the New Year” is another fine enough episode that further explores Beryl’s inner feelings towards his future and the assassins that flipped his world upside down. However, thanks to its twist involving them assisting in defeating the invaders, Beryl would have to rethink his perspective on the assassins before his grudge takes over.
