English Dub Review: Cardfight Vanguard overDress!!: “Fluttering Banner”

Overview: A young boy in distress, Shinobu Kajita (Paige Knickle), asks for Yu-yu (James Higuchi) and Megumi’s (Lily Ki) help in dealing with a card fight group that likes to play dirty. 

Our Take: When I said I hope the series goes back to Tohya and gives him the proper culmination of his arc that he so rightfully deserves, I surely didn’t expect it would be like this.

From the moment “Fluttering Banner” established a flag burning Vanguard team, it struck me as just another villain of the week affair that would be flushed down the drain into obscurity. Shinobu Kajita, the boy who seeks “help” from Megumi and crew, did a good job of keeping his ruse under wraps and absolutely duping Team Blackout, managing to maintain its mystery, fooling me as well, for the first half at least. However, that was until it stumbled in that the whole scheme telegraphed it’s move from a mile away when the boy asks for the exact location of the Yu-Yu and the gang’s flag, and in the most suspicious manner might I add. The real question throughout is: How is Danji connected to their group and what is the relationship with that woman he rendezvous with throughout? This was the most interesting part of the entry especially with theories buzzing around in my head such as if Danji was possibly a part of another past card team that had a run-in with them and the woman is an old teammate, or leader. 

In regards to the banner burning group, the situation only becomes more puzzling with how Tohya and Masanori were the masterminds behind the entire charade, seemingly. This kind of menacing turn feels incredibly out of the blue in how inconsistent and underdeveloped it is in comparison to their characters and development. There needs to be a proper catalyst for this kind of change and it had better be more compelling than merely wanting payback for their losses they suffered for losing previously to Yu-yu and Zakusa. One that will make itself known in the next episode and, hopefully, worth it.