English Dub Review: Requiem of the Rose King “Use your head more, damn brat. Don’t die even if you are weak.”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
With Buckingham’s rebel army on the march, Richard is forced to make a choice. Driven by feelings of responsibility, the king sets out to meet the duke in combat. But can the erstwhile lovers’ animosity survive their reunion?

Our Take:
If you think things couldn’t get any worse for the new king, you haven’t experienced what this latest episode had to offer. The relationship between Richard and Buckingham screeched to a halt when the latter hired James to murder Richard out of jealousy. Even worse is that Buckingham is planning a rebellion against the king of York and worshipping Earl of Richmond as the new king. This week’s episode makes Richard’s life even more unbearable as he’s forced to confront his lover and his army in the forest.
This episode is yet another emotional roller coaster that leaves Richard torn between fulfilling his duties as king and being with Buckingham. The two have become very close for a few episodes, but Buckingham’s obsession and Richard’s rule have constantly threatened to tear them apart. This week’s episode brings Richard’s latest secret relationship to a tragic yet captivating end, with Buckingham letting himself be captured and executed.
One of the scenes that boasted the show’s storytelling and style is when Richard warns his son Edward about the tragedies of war to keep him safe. It heavily reflects Richard’s dream of being a knight and fighting with his father in the season’s first half. Another scene is when Richard wants Buckingham to flee without him, but not before they share their final kiss. It brilliantly uses its color palette to represent their kiss rather than show the characters front and center.
But, of course, I cannot forget the final scene during the credits in which Buckingham received his final wish before his execution: to see Richard one last time. However, it isn’t what I expected it to be. Buckingham’s executioner is Richard in disguise, meaning that Buckingham died by his lover’s hand, resembling Richard killing Henry VI in episode 12. This moment makes this last sequence a bit more heartbreaking since Buckingham loved Richard regardless of his body compared to Henry VI. With another lover gone, Richard now only has his kingdom to worry about in the final two episodes. But it won’t be long until he finds himself in another battle for the throne.