English Dub Review: Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table “Blessings”

 

Overview (Possible Spoilers):

The voting comes and goes. Eins loses but it doesn’t feel bad cause everyone is happy with each other. Eins dropped out of the race a scene after we see citizens voting. Let’s get to it.

Our Take:

Okay, that was disappointing and I can’t really hide it. We’ve been building up to this conflict with Eins and the fate of Akiba since the first episode. We finally get to the vote and it’s over in a couple of scenes? Boo! Boo, I say! The buildup was so nice that I can give it a little bit of a pass but not much.

The worst part is it was jarring, like really jarring. One second characters are saying “This will be too close to call” and “Cast your vote without hesitating. Today is your day to be heard!”. To “Eins dropped out?! We haven’t even counted the votes?!” I know man I’m right there with you. There’s a partial explanation, Shiroe used a transport gate to bring more voters to town, and because of that gate, Utena (one of Eins’ biggest backers), would be in trouble with the senate. This implies they were seemingly FORCED to drop out.

I will admit that is one thing that makes the anti-climatic nature of the episode sting a little less. I had been expecting Shiroe to do something big and he did. It was such a big thing that maybe that election going that way isn’t as jarring as it felt. As usual, everyone is playing checkers while Shiroe is playing chess, in that regard I was not disappointed. Shiroe is just too big-brained for us, usually, I hate the trope of anime characters with glasses constantly pushing them up but I think Shiroe has earned it.

Eins went down with such a whimper it was still surprising though. Him and everyone in the Akihabara Government just kind of peaced out. I thought this was building the big conflict of the season but maybe there is something else planned. It ended a little too neatly, everyone benefits. Shiroe gave Eins gifts and Eins got to a new place that sounds a bit like a paradise. The whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I know Log Horizon isn’t really known for its action, it’s a little more nuanced than that. That’s why it has so many fans and people were clamoring for a third season. I just think we need a little something, especially now. After just letting the air out of the sails like that we need something to remain invested. I know the third season of a show isn’t especially “newcomer” friendly but it’s gotten to the point where I feel ONLY fans of the previous seasons would be watching this.  I hope this was just a rough mini-arc and poor episode. What I know of Log Horizon it will rebound fast.