English Dub Review: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: “Trade with the Animal Kingdom”

Overview: Rimuru (Brittany Karbowski) makes peaceful friends with that of the Kingdom of Eurazonia and travels to Dwargon to have an audience with the King Dwargo (Randy E. Aguebor) 

Our Take: “Trade with the Animal Kingdom” is honest to God as exactly as the name implies and what you’d think this episode entails. Trading that occurs with an animal kingdom in that of Eurazania. If you are familiar with how the series handles foriegn relations with other lands you know what to expect: a truly peaceful second episode. After the very entertaining bout between Shion and Suphia ending in hilarity, Rimuru helps broker the deal for a fruit trade in exchange for their booze. It’s these types of diplomatic arrangements that truly help set this series apart from others. I’ve said this before about Slime but I’ll say it again as this episode continues to display one of the series strongest qualities it has going for it. And rather than just wash, rinse and repeat, it’s always more interesting when Rimuru City fosters kind relations with different walks of life. This is due to how it builds upon the great development the city has carved out for itself and how it is always interesting to see how it will make great strides in becoming a more advanced and established society. 

Also as for the initial battles between the two nations, I’m also glad there was a legitimate reasoning behind it on the Beastketeer’s part as this aspect helps in beginning to establish themselves as more than just mindless demons. One little irksome aspect to point out, however, that I had noticed was the whole scene of Shion turning into a legitimate crybaby all of sudden. While I get it’s there for laughs and all, and while it was by no means egregious and wasn’t entirely unfunny, I do hope she doesn’t just become purely reduced to that and a caricature over time. If that were the case, it would feel a tad inconsistent with what’s been established from her thus far, especially since it really does feel like it comes out of left field this time around. 

As Rimuru, Shion, Shuna and the dwarves make their way to the Armed Nation of Dwargon, he is reunited with the king, Gazel Dwargo. They previously teased him as a potential threat and I’m wondering if that factors in now considering he’s interested in Rimuru and his nation. Or if he’ll just get the cliché sense of foreboding about him and just secretly observes him from the shadows. Either way, this week’s Slime continues to cultivate what makes the anime great while also setting up a rather engaging reunion and a new demonic threat for Rimuru and the gang to inevitably face.