Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu – 02

「存在と証明」 (Sonzai to Shoumei)
“Existence and Proof”

The king is dead, long live the king.

As I’ve said before, King is a character who I was originally neutral on, but has since become one of my favorites. (Tied with most of the cast, this cast is crazy good.) More than being a favorite, he’s one of the most interesting characters, for many of the same reasons I wasn’t particularly attracted to his character early on. Helbram (Kamiya Hiroshi) called him depressed, mopey, and even lazy. He said he cries at the least thing. He even called him a pipsqueak, though as “Harlequin the Traitor” aptly noted, that was just him being mean. (Ahh, friendship!) He reminds me of a more competent Ikari Shinji, and while many people hate Shinji (and I can see why), I always sound the mopey lil f*** to be an interesting lead. King is a lesser version of that, with more strength but almost as many weaknesses, which means he’s got a lot of places he can be punched where it hurts—and this episode got with the punching.

Having the fairies call Ban the Fairy King was, without a doubt, something of a surprise. Having King labeled a traitor was less of one, but it hurt. Ban is an intensely interesting character as well, so getting a subplot that delves into both of their characters—not just in “a day in the limelight” fashion, but really mucking about with what drives them, what scares them, what makes them tick—is swiftly appreciated. And having Jericho (Inoue Marina) tag along in full tsundere mode is just fun. She’s a silly lass. I like her 🙂

For me, though, the subplot with Gowther was the real draw, because I’ve been waiting for them to make good on the menacing cliffhanger from the end of season one since it first aired. The cracks within the Seven Deadly Sins as a group—they’re such a deeply odd, rambunctious bunch—are really cool, because it shows what a writer can do when they create a bunch of really cool characters and then smash them together to see what happens. Gowther is clearly not human (no spoilers as to what he is), and Merlin knows what needs to be done to control him, but he’s shaking free of his bonds. A little internal strife is a good thing. For us as viewers, not the team.

No, that’s a lie. The confirmation that Diane has remembered her past with King and loves him back was the real draw, because I’m so far in their corner, shipping-wise. Funny how quickly King can be pulled out of his depression with the hint that Diane returns his feelings, eh? Just like a boy in love! Er. An undying(?) fairy in love. Whatever works.

Add in the additional confirmation that Elizabeth loves Meliodas, and it was a shipper’s dream. Now to see if the maidenly Diane can do what she’s so good at: kick some ass. I’d put my money on her, though I’ll bet Gowther will give her (and the others) a run for their money first.

Oh, and I guess there’s a bunch of demons to deal with too. Including one that sounds like Meliodas. Should be fun!

Random thoughts:

• I always take twisted pride, as a human, when a story portrays us as, “the shortest lived, frailest, and most weak-willed” of the species in a story—when we’re in charge anyway. That or when we’re the biggest bastards around, which actualy history would argue is probably more accurate.
• Poor Howser. The kingdom is out of princesses for him to woo. Not that he isn’t a smart man to show interest in Diane, but, well. POOR HOWSER.
• “Nobody can erase the really precious memories!” It wouldn’t have been on-brand for Nanatsu no Taizai or in character for Gowther, but I wish he’d said, “I can.” Menacing Gowther to full power! Though what happend was probably better.

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ED Sequence

ED: 「Beautiful」 by Anly

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