English Dub Review: BACK ARROW “Why Do Lips that Profess Love Hide Fangs?”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

At the revelation of Princess Fine’s split personality, the trio runs away from her blade. Prax shows up ready to murder them since they’ve seen the Princess’s secret. However, Doctor Sola shows up and reveals himself to be Prax’s brother, Werner Conrad, and the former Armored Supreme. After escaping thanks to a flash grenade, Werner explains how it was his fault for the princess’s condition. The trio debates on what they should do now that the Edger villagers are captives in the palace. In confinement, Elsha makes the plan for their escape determined not to rely on outsiders.

Meanwhile, the Emperor returns to Rekka and frees Kai from his training. He later shows his capabilities when killing the rebel leader without a Briheight. The old Emperor informs his citizens of their invasion of Lutoh. Later Emperor Zetsu declares war against Lutoh on Princess Fine. Unfortunately, her killer personality appears and declares aggressively that Lutoh will take on their declaration.

Our Take:

This week’s episode of BACK ARROW reveals a lot more than just the origin of Princess Fine’s secret. The animation was good, especially the fight between Back Arrow and Prax.

For starters, we finally know more about Sola a.k.a Werner Conrad (Aaron Roberts) after getting hints in the previous episodes. However, it’s hard to believe that Sola/Werner shot the glider because he thought it was a bird. Unless birds are that huge in Lingalind. Either way, he says that he’s looking for a cure and that’s why he became a doctor while his sister devotes herself to the princess.

There’s also Emperor Zetsu (Ben Bryant) and his impressive ability to defeat a Briheight without even using a Briheight. It’s clear that he has a powerful Conviction given Kai’s comment and reaction. He doesn’t let anything slip like with his Chancellor, Tae Howa (Randy Pearlman) hoarding his wealth. The scenes in Rekka mainly establish Emperor Zetsu as an ambitious and powerful leader, but it does lead to an interesting point on Conviction and how strong one would be to be able to destroy a Briheight with a wire weapon.

Meanwhile, there’s development with Elsha and Atlee. Elsha vents about all the stuff that’s happened to them and it’s good that the show takes the time to show their effect on her. Even though she’s completed her goal of finding a place for the villagers, she acknowledges her feeling on her sudden rise to the chief of the village. Furthermore, her selfishness with Atlee’s decision to leave and help Arrow was good. It’s a humanizing moment and I do like how the show is progressing with their friendship. Hopefully, Atlee and Elsha escape with the other villagers without anyone else’s help.

Overall the episode was a decent setup to the beginning of the war between Rekka and Lutoh. Now with the Princess’s secret out in public, I do wonder about the drastic effect it will have on the people on Lutoh or at least with how the nobles will view her.