Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu – 14

「太陽の主」 (Taiyou no Aruji)
“The Master of the Sun”

Finally, it’s here! The day Escanor (Sugita Tomokazu) joins the cast is finally here! I’m going to discount how the manner in which Jericho and the others stumbled across Escanor is a total deus ex machina, and how his power level is once again so far above and beyond the other Sins that it totally breaks the scales (him being stronger would be fine, but 17x stronger is pretty nonsense), because I’m just so happy that he’s finally here! Not that I knew anything about him other’n what was hinted at by glimpses, previews, and spoiler OPs, but I’m happy to finally learn more about the elusive seventh Sin after all this time.

Even if the lead up to the Escanor meeting was shifty (on a plot level), it was satisfying on a micro level, as Jericho continues to be awesome all over the place as she drags the two idiots to as much safety as she can manage. I also got a good many chuckles out of Galand and Melascula drinking, though maybe that’s because I’m a certified beer nerd and currently buzzed as I watch and/or write this. Maybe. Who knows. No one will ever be able to prove it either way, that’s for sure!

As for Escanor himself, it was just good times to see the demons get dismantled. My big question: Will it stick? (Don’t answer that, manga readers.) I find it difficult to believe that they’ll stay dead, in the same way that I assume Merlin will figure out some way to clear the stone from her body eventually (though it’s taken longer that I expected, to the story’s credit). I’d prefer it if that not be the case, though—for the demon’s, not for Merlin—even though the (A) lack of Melascula’s body, and (2) continued presence of Galand’s body, albeit in stone form, gives credence to my assumption that they’ll reappear. I just don’t believe that a shounen story would off the main antagonists like this, not when they’ve been setting up this big clash between the two groups (and when it would so clearly insinuate that Escanor could assassinate all of the Ten Commandments on his own. Not much drama in that).

Personality-wise, I really like Escanor! It helps that Sugita Tomokazu is voicing him, I’ve been a fan of his for basically forever and he’s great at being both badass and hilariously weak. I also appreciate how his battle persona leans into the pride thing, because without that his brute form would lack any sort of character. Other than that, I’m really waiting to see how he interacts with Merlin. The other Sins, too, but mostly Merlin, given how fixated he’s been on her. I’m curious! Can’t wait to see more, after he, Ban, Elaine, Jericho, and King get done with their ale delivery side quest.

Random thoughts:

• Escanor got a legit 8-pack. Dude is totally overpowered, in all the ways.
• I was just thinking that I missed Diane, but I assumed she was off training so she’d be able to come back and take on the Ten Commandments. Instead, resting and watching Matrona dance. I have no idea what to expect now.

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