Hiyo! Once again we enter into the world of Garo, and this episode continues to be good without being especially plot relevant. This has been the case for most of the episodes so far, sometimes being short episode plots likely building up to the more serious stuff later on. Its in this episode we finally find out why Leon and Herman journeyed all the way to Santa Bard.
And that explains that. Most of the episode has both Leon and Herman splitting up, going about town their own way, both highlighting their character traits and how they differ. Especially in the matters of women.
Its very clear that Herman’s..hobbies have been a very big sore spot for Leon..for obvious reasons. While I’ve said how Herman is very much more than he appears, he is also…well…what he appears. A guy who really…really likes sleeping with women and drinking. Its very much part of his character, but in some ways it connects to his philosophy of trying to enjoy life rather than be a stick in the mud, like he thinks Leon is. We get to see what Leon’s relations with the ladies is like…that being like an awkward 12 year old. As seen when two women try to seduce him as one caught his eye, and he’s way…way out of his element.
Emma comes to help him out, and learns an incredibly vital piece of information from him.
While its likely he’s been focused on his mission, and has had limited social contact to keep him from…sowing his seeds, we do know he has to do it at least once to pass on Garo. Of course, the episode uses this to demonstrate Leon’s immaturity, not because he hasn’t had sex, but because he’s still focused on revenge and anger and hasn’t grown up. The idea of him becoming a man is a very big part of the series, with comments on how he hasn’t yet fully developed into a warrior.
We also see a different but also crucial part to Leon, his kind streak. When a boy steals food, he is willing to pay for it purely to help, regardless of whether it helps the mission (plus he probably gets a kick spending money his dad can’t use for booze and women).
This warms him up to Julio, who is our character of the episode, alongside his boss, a blacksmith.
We get a lot on Julio this episode. Like the child earlier, he was born in the slums, but was taken in by the blacksmith, and adopted as his son. He was given a family, a means to work and become part of the world, and things were good.
Until of course things went terrible. See, recently, the main head of the military in the area died, and was replaced by the black knight, who began recruiting people to become soldiers. Even if they were common born, they could even get knighted, making it a lucrative offer. The catch is that the training is having to fight your fellow initiates to the death…and Sergi died in the trials.
Sergi’s sword, which his father made for him returned, and it possessed the blacksmith. While sometime he seems normal, other times he goes into a horrible rage, killing guards, not accepting his son’s death.
However, despite how it came to be, a Horror is still a Horror, and must be taken down. However, its Herman who fights him…likely because he feels connected to him as a fellow father.
Gotta say, they outdid themselves with the blacksmith Horror. It looks freaking creepy and cool and it even smelts its own blade to make it more powerful. How freaking creative and badass is that?
For some reason, the Zoro armor remains my favorite. I dunno why, but the silver on it and the chains just is so cool.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again because it remains true. The CGI for the armors looks wonderful. It meshes perfectly with the animated monsters and the fight scenes continue to be so fun and amazing.
As you can expect, Herman dispatches the beast. Julio is naturally devastated, having lost his new family so suddenly. However, allowing grief to overwhelm him was what allowed the Horror to takeover the blacksmith, so Julio finds a way to soldier on, continuing his family’s work. This episode once again shows that, while the Makai knights suffered the brunt of it, the corruption at work in the kingdom is causing more pain and suffering for everyone.
The episode ends with the revelation that the “trials” to join the black knight is really just an excuse to infect people with Horrors. We see a bit of Mendoza, but also someone else, who will take care of the intruders personally. A new enemy?
Overall thoughts, this episode has done what most of the others have. Shown more of the characters, furthered a plot a little, and did so while being engaging and entertaining. While the plot so far hasn’t thrown me for any loops, I continue to enjoy myself each episode. The characters are fun, the action’s great, and I’m eagerly seeing what is coming on the horizon for our silver and golden heroes.