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「凡人の剣」 (Bonjin no Ken)
“Fencer Ordinaire”
While I always knew I’d cover Eminence in Shadow, I do also enjoy knowing I made the right choice. Three weeks in and one weird introductory progression later and things are finally settling down into the usual isekai routine, though as you should know by now this one won’t be entirely your grandmother’s isekai. Oh no, we’re going places here boys and girls, no matter how imaginary they may seem.
The one thing I’m quite liking about Eminence in Shadow at the moment is how unconcerned and blasé it is about its story, in part because of the trappings covering it all up. Cid’s current school life is case in point: we’re doing the magical training thing, the starting at bottom with dweeby friends shtick, and – oh yes – the whole finding romance in the least likely of locations. Except the characters know the training is bullshit, the friends are metaphorically rolling over dead, and Cid’s new girlfriend in Princess Alexia turns all convention on its head. I got to admit, for all I saw the flipped script of coerced confession yielding actual relationship (and the reason behind it) coming from a mile away, the resulting chaos was still pretty damn fun to watch unfold. The ability to poke fun at tropes and leverage the ridiculous is always a useful skill to have, and given how it’s worked so far, I’m quite eager seeing just what this series has up its sleeve next.
Case in point in this regard is the whole matter of the Cult of Diabolos and the inevitability Alexia was captured by it. This isn’t even a major leap, not between Cid’s compatriots running off to pursue them (all the while Cid thinks they’re just being nice and trying to not hurt his feelings) and the previous discovery the very real cult is after hero descendants for their nefarious plans. Alexia’s sister Iris is likely such a descendant after all, would make perfect sense to get to her via Alexia, and doubly so if the kidnapping can occur where a poor dumb fool (in the cult’s mind) can be blamed for it. Might be up for debate if Alexia’s betrothed Zenon is part of the cult (since a purported lack of flaws is a major flag), but there’s no denying who’s responsible for this incident and the likely course of upcoming events.
One way or another, Cid is about to be reunited with his merry band of cutie pies as one princess is rescued in the process. At least, you know, once he can figure out how to talk himself out of royal kidnapping.
Man, they wasted Kana Hana too much in not making Alexia to be perfect princess; the contrast between haughty bitch and overly sweet and innocent would be nice… and the coin scene was better in manga.
Throwing single coin and dumping a whole bag gives different impact; and Cid not kneeling and sweeping the bunch of coins using his arm while looking all dramatic and theatric was kinda missed opportunity. I wish he was voiced by Jun Fukuyama who is used to dorky role like Watanuki from XXXholic and all theatric like Lelouch.
I have to admit the mangaka is genius in comedic timing; even more than the light novel. The anime however give nicer exploration for the world building compared to the all too fast manga…. (well, it is once a month publication, so understandable)
That would be my current evaluation of the series too. The manga has much better comedy timing (and comedy in general), whereas the anime is better at building the world and making it feel more real.
This also affects the characters, with Cid and Alexia being the best examples so far. Anime Cid feels less scummy and more grounded than his manga counterpart, whereas Anime Alexia feels more mature and calculating. I like Manga Cid far more, since the anime one looks to close to the standard Isekai hero for my liking even when he’s trying to pretend being a background character, but I must admit I prefer the anime’s version of Alexia.
Season 1 anime may only cover two volumes of novels at this pace.
2-3 volumes is typical for adaptations so I’d say that’s a good prediction.
Does he even need to talk himself out of the royal kidnapping? He’d probably do just fine during the “interrogation”. He is innocent after all. Besides the eminence in shadow shtick, I don’t think he’s a really good talker.
The episode is a whole lot of fun. There’s a lot of minor details, which I think adds to it.
He might be innocent, but there’s nothing right now saying he couldn’t be framed. It’s the sort of setup I could see this series taking if only to let Cid’s imagination run further wild.
Honestly, the first 3 episodes felt like they were from 3 different anime almost.
That first episode didn’t help in this regard, that was definitely the most unique isekai intro we’ve had in a while. On the plus side though these past three weeks have been tied together well, there hasn’t been the sort of dissociation you get from the usual time skips or rush fests.