English Dub Review: The Rising of the Shield Hero “Naofumi’s Triumphant Return”

At last, vindication.

Overview (Spoilers Below)

Naofumi awakens from a strange dream to find Melty, Raphtalia and Filo sleeping by his bedside, eagerly awaiting his return to health. The four of them reunite in the safety of Queen Mirelia’s private clinic. Soon they’re joined by Mirelia, who ushers them outside to discuss everything that’s happened.

Mirelia explains that the shield hero has been treated so terribly because she was not present in the kingdom during his summoning. In fact, the four cardinal heroes were not supposed to be summoned in Melromarc at all, rather the four nations of the world had struck a deal to summon one in each kingdom. Mirelia had to then travel the world to soothe the anger of the neighboring kingdoms, which gave plenty of opportunities for those remaining in Mirelia’s stead to abuse their power. Mirelia apologizes deeply to Naofumi, and promises him retribution against Myne and the king for their wrongdoing. Furthermore, while she understands Naofumi’s desire to leave the kingdom, she still asks him to remain and help the kingdom settle its uncertain future.

Naofumi has violent dreams that night, and the next morning goes to the royal palace where he meets with the other cardinal heroes. They meet in the royal court to bear witness to the trial of Myne and the king. Myne protests, but Mirelia brands Myne with a slave brand to enforce her truthfulness. The Queen explains how Myne and the king colluded with the church and how Myne tried to kill Melty and framed Naofumi. She tries to lie, but every time she does her brand gives her a satisfying zap of electricity. With the brand revealing Malty’s lies, the world can finally see her for the monster she is.

Mirelia finds the king and Malty guilty and thereby sentences them to death. The execution is to begin immediately with hordes of crowds looking on. Naofumi looks on, wondering whether or not this is right. Malty begs Naofumi for her life and hearing that Naofumi decides to take action. He addresses the crowd and offers an alternative, to rename the king “Trash” and Malty “Bitch.” The queen concurs with Naofumi, and it is so.

Naofumi decides to help Mirelia and travel the world to help the other nations as well. Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo soon depart for new adventures.

Our Take:

We’ve made it 21 episodes in, and now Naofumi the Shield Hero, who’s been manipulated, discarded, lied to and abused, is now a true hero. Celebrated by all and with his enemies defeated, Naofumi has conquered those that have done him wrong. This is an important episode for Rising of the Shield Hero, as it represents a crucial pivot in what the core of this show is and how it’s characters will find their way within it. This is no longer a story of man vs. the world, rather it is now an adventure that’s more typical, and it threatens to become the kind of isekai that is typically problematic. With adventure stories, so often the reward isn’t nearly as validating as the journey to it, and I feel that that’s ultimately the problem which undercuts this particular episode of Rising of the Shield Hero. It’s not a bad episode, and it’s certainly a satisfying one, but I think there’s something lost here, something essential to the show that has disappeared.

The enjoyment of this episode stems entirely from seeing those that have wronged Naofumi suffer for their crimes, in particular, Malty, who’s had it coming since episode one. There is a certain righteous pleasure that comes in seeing someone who’s caused so much pain finally get a taste of what they deserve. Yet, there is also something rather sadistic which underscores the entirety of the trial and execution sequence. It’s gratifying, but not satisfying in a thematic sense. Stories are about growth and the trials and tribulations people go through during that growth, yet this sort of voyeur pleasure this episode is trying to impart just isn’t healthy. I understand that Naofumi steps in at the last moment and prevents the execution of those that wronged him so, but his solution, which is just to call them vulgar names, feels petty and small. I don’t like seeing that in heroes, and it doesn’t reflect the kind of growth I expect from a hero in an adventure series. Seeing Naofumi fail to become cross the threshold of revenge is a bit disappointing. Not every story needs to be a happy one, but there must certainly have been a better way to checkpoint Naofumi’s story.

Mad, but not disappointed, this episode left a bitter taste in my mouth. It’s still well-made enough and entertaining enough that I can give it a decent score, but it’s not where I wanted it to be. This is supposed to be the kind of episode that elevates this show to something greater, and yet I feel that it’s only backslid into something cruder.