First Impressions / Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken

「受け継がれる想い」 (Uketsu ga Reruomoi)
“Inherited Will”

I’m not crying — you’re crying!

General Impressions

After last week’s big battle with Rimuru facing off against the fire lord himself, I was a little concerned how they were going to handle this week’s episode. Seeing how I had prior knowledge of what was generally going to transpire, I think I was most afraid of the pacing of the episode being either too slow or too quick. Something that in either case would have left us feeling a little unsatisfied with the sudden appearance and disappearance of Shizu. Luckily, I think everything was near spot on and I don’t think we could have asked for much more.

If I were to dive into what I really liked though, I really appreciated the story taking the time to really walk us through Shizu’s story. Because even though we learned quite a bit last week, there was something definitely missing. And that something was what Shizu did during her time after she left the Demon Lord. A time that looks like was filled with equally fun and sad moments that led to the creation of the girl who we know as Shizu.

All of which lead to a unexpectedly sad moment where I was caught a little off guard with how many tears I shed. Because if you think about it, we got to witness someone who was whisked away as a child, forced to obliterate people close to her, relearned what it was like to enjoy life, and then peacefully pass away knowing that her wishes would live on through someone who may be powerful enough to actually accomplish them. God, just thinking about what happened makes my stomach ball up into a knot.

Tears aside, it looks like the story is ready to move on to the next big thing with Rimuru finally making contact with humans and leaving a good impression on them. That said, the guy in the mask known as Gelmud and the Orc look like nothing but trouble. With their sights set on the Great Forest of Jura (which just so happens to be the forest that Rimuru is in), I’m excited to see just what’ll go down.

In any case, I’ll catch you guys next week. See you then!

Spoiler Talk

Show Spoiler ▼

 

Preview

37 Comments

  2. There are ninjas in my house, and they won’t stop cutting onions!!

    Major props to the anime again. First it was the comedy, and now it took the bittersweet feels of this emotional typhoon to a whole new level. Damnit, this show makes me look forward to Mondays!!

    Aex
    Reply

  5. Yeah, this episode went a long way towards redeeming what I saw as weird pacing and a complete lack of personality in our bad guy last week.

    I mean, Ifrit is still a non-character, but I feel good about this show anyway.

    Guile
    Reply

  7. Shinzu-san…. ;_;

    I agree that the seiyuu really nailed it with their performances this episode. It was always meant to be bitter-sweet and elegiac but text or manga panels cannot do as good a job as full animation can. Even though I too knew what was coming, it hit me right in the kokoro.

    I would say that this season is another high water mark for fantasy anime. Both Slime and Goblin Slayer are quite good, mixing up the expected tropes and formulae to create their own creature. In Slime’s case, we always expected that Shizu would be a love interest, boon companion or perhaps even familial figure to Rimuro. Hence her designation as his “destined person”. The subversion is not that she is Rimuro’s destined person; he is Shizu’s. Rimuro is the person who will carry on her will and ensure that Shizu can rest with no regrets. In a very concrete way, Rimuro is as much Shizu’s legacy as her students.

    One thing I do enjoy is how overall optimistic this particular work is. Even during sad times, even in the midst of tragedy, the show does paint the picture that everything can be made better.

    Mechamorph
    Reply

  8. Shizu’s last companions will forever remember her as a strong, young
    adventurer; she only appeared old after she passed and only Rimuru saw
    her in that state. Beautifully done – someone mentioned Mitty, and
    this is definitely neck-in-neck for the passing of a companion “feels.”

    I keep thinking why didn’t he save her before she died; I guess it’s
    hard for me to think that this is what she wanted (to no longer live in
    this world). She knew so little of Rimuru (unless there was a greater
    dialogue between them while her was listening to her story of her life)
    besides his previous name, and she had only know about Rimuru for a couple
    of days. I guess you could call it love at first slimte? <sic>

    Shizu appears to have had a mostly full life with the curse, being a teacher
    and a famous adventurer, but I guess she could never get emotionally close to
    to anyone or have her own family. So she was alone in her life in the most
    terrible of ways – it wasn’t just Ifrit that she had to suppress in her body, it
    was her natural desire for close human companionship she had to suppress as well.

    Can’t wait for next week!

    mac65
    Reply

  9. She died of old age
    So Rimuru cannot help her
    Bring fused with Ifrit have stabilize her life
    But once Ifrit got taken out
    She reverse back to old 80ish year human grandma
    That life soon to fade away

    Mickbis
    Reply

  10. Just want to say that it’s very thoughtful of you to keep things vague in your spoiler talk; you clearly realize that some people won’t be able to resist clicking them even though they should know better.

    …Which isn’t me; I’m a WN person. Though I dropped it because I was repeatedly frustrated at imbalances in the writing + the knowledge that the LN fixed them. So glad this got an anime which adapts from the LN.

    Anyway, that was an amazing episode. I usually hate 20-minute “goodbyes” but this one, hmm… it struck just the right tone with me. Not too cheesy. Not too solemn. It built up the setting in ways that still matter even after she’s gone.

    Player
    Reply

  11. It’s clear I’m supposed to enjoy all the different things this anime is doing to stand out from the usual anime seasons, …. but instead I’m kind of put off by it. Maybe it’s because Rinmuru’s acting has no emotion to it. Maybe Brittney Karbowski’s has more? It even came to the point where I didn’t even cry at Shizu’s death (though maybe it’s because I was spoiled for it beforehand).

    Let it be known that we now have an anime that spend a third of its runtime on a prologue.

    starss
    Reply

  12. Ah Shizu. For a character with so little time present in the story, she carries a significant weight by passing on her will to Rimiru and helping to give him a purpose moving forward. For those who are wondering if she is gone for good Show Spoiler ▼

    Gone but certainly not forgotten, Shizu the Destined One for Rimiru. Knowing her sad ending as made the various unspoiled reactions of her being the love interest very interesting to watch.

    The next arc is arguably where the series really comes into its own. The the foundation set down (literally as the village is under construction), I’m expecting good things to come. While I’d be okay if they finish a volume per 8 episodes, there’s stuff later on I’m eager to see animated so I hope they increase the pace a little bit!

    Strong hopes for another season once this one has finished.

    RuneGrey
    Reply

  13. Are episodes like these that show us that this is an anime that was born to succeed, showing us that despite all, the protagonist is not a god he can not do everything, if a character dies he is dead is not another show of only pick up girls in a dungeon or to accumulate triumphs and trophies without any reason or motivation more than the self-insertion of its public.

    orange
    Reply

  14. 8 episodes for just finishing the first volume I do not know if an rush will come now because this next arc should end in 4 episodes to finish in 12 for the middle season before finishing the year.

    Bertz
    Reply

  16. I’m probably an outlier, but I hated this episode.
    Has to do with the fact that I expected this outcome since early on as I couldn’t imagine any other way for him to “become human”. The OP & ED hinting that didn’t really help. So with this in mind I couldn’t enjoy the previous episodes with Shizu and I was just waiting for them to get it over with. Her getting old before disappearing made it worse.
    Would I have preferred the classical “girl gets saved by the main chara” isekai plot? Yeah, I think so.
    This is also a case where the pacing just seems way too slow to me. Considering that these past episodes seem to be considered as the “prologue”, shouldn’t they have left more episodes for the “real meat of the story”?
    Time to catch up on Sword Art Online, I guess…

    boingman
    Reply

    2. What differentiates this isekai from other fantasies of its kind is the fact that things do not come out perfectly to the protagonist, this event marks part of its characterization as its motivation for future actions, if it had saved it, it would not really learn nothing would be like the invincible mc that can do everything, but if the rhythm has seemed extremely, I feel that from now on they will accelerate events or skip things, I prefer the second since there are certain details that are better not to show them, something cliches that do not contribute anything.

      Bertz
      Reply

  18. I didn’t expect that for Shizue, but in hindsight I should have. I kinda thought she was finally saved by last episode, being the destined girl and all, but I’m glad it didn’t go that way.
    I actually didn’t feel sad for it in a personal way, and I don’t think Rimuru would have felt so sad about it either since we barely know her as a character. It feels more of a conscious decision for Rimuru to carry on her wishes, rather than oh no I’m so sad for you, I’ll avenge you. They met as some sort of fate and changed each other’s lives in this world for good, just like how a destined meeting would work out irl, I think, which we should agree doesn’t always have to be with someone you love and know well. That’s why I’m glad the emotions didn’t feel so forced in in this case as well.

    I hope Rimuru still stays in his slime form often from now on, most shows just have the characters don their human form mostly once they get it. Not that worried for this show though.

    ZJZJ
    Reply

    1. SHOW ME YOUR GOBLIN AND I WILL TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE….
      this anime is positive outlook on life, with races thriving on trade and crafts more than on war… I guess the “unbeaten in 1000 years” dwarven state is keeping the warfare in check
      also notice that goblins are not instantly hunted as enemies, so it is “positive feedback” loop
      on the opposite end the grimdark world of Goblin Slayer has goblins as “always chaotic evil”, pure force of destruction which, in turn is hated and exterminated on sight (if without much priority due to greater dangers afoot)
      this is Star Trek versus Warhammer (Fantasy or 40k)

      ewok40k
      Reply

  20. I saw some comments on this show in the RC Weekly Staff Pick and thought ‘lets check this out since these guys like it’ and what a great decision that was! I saw one episode and ended up watching ALL episodes in one sitting. This show is great and reminds me of a more sunny version of Overlord with an overpowered MC. This episdoe was perfectly paced I think as well and the handling of the characters is tastefully done. I know some ppl think Rinmuri is not as emotional as we ould like but think this is also intentional as he is no longer human (like overlord) and adapted to his new form. This and Goblin Slayer are now my best new shows of the season.

    Kurik
    Reply

    2. I make this short and easy to understand:

      Arrigato. Alone the first episode the movement of the Humans where good, very good.. The one know how to draw in perspective and flawless movements…

      Even in some other episode how the Man sit down on the Sofa with the Guild Leader was very good…

      Thank you for point this anime out

      Worldwidedepp
      Reply

      1. Alone the Images of the Elves he has in Mind:

        Well, since i am one of the older Generation, these images are of course from “Record of Lodoss War”…

        And this was…. a mo… just ask Google for more pictures

        Worldwidedepp
        Reply

      2. I get it… Slime loves or likes to ride on the back of some Direwolve, right?

        Where did i saw this?.. Easy… Princess Mononoke

        The Manga-ka did saw some Ghibli movies… Like my.. So thats why i see this easter egg

        Worldwidedepp
        Reply

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