Score: A

It feels lazy to just say this was another great episode. But it was! I didn’t think we’d see this character make a return or actually end the episode getting to see Eris again. It definitely feels like we’re near the end of the domestic bliss and something is going to shift. The marriage is obviously going great with Roxy and Sylphie. But something is going to stir up the status quo. We’ve gotten to see an older Lucy, dealt with the past a bit, and now it feels like the future is calling.

Yep, I still really like her

I was curious what the preview was implying for this coming episode. Was it going to be something silly as a bit of domestic trouble? Instead a few minutes in my reaction was more “oh…OH…I see.” I suppose reintroducing Sara would be a good source of drama. My honest feeling was that I didn’t expect to see her again in the story. I suppose that was naive though. This is a well built world so why not bring her back at some point in the future? Too early was too early. But at this point Rudy has honestly developed really well. He’s gotten over the trauma that left him impotent and thus lead to the really painful direction things went with Sara. I still stick by my feelings back then that she was an enjoyable girl that I wouldn’t have minded ending up with Rudeus if things played out differently.

Things end up alright

Totally get Rudeus dodging the issue initially. It’s tough. Things ended with them so painfully that the instinctive reaction is basically…run. What’s painful is that things progressed quickly before he truly processed everything and then it was over before there was any way to progress. In a sense meeting Sara again was a good thing for his character growth. It is a way to conclude that story and not have it feel like a wound. It’s a missed opportunity you can say, but not a devastating one. Because he didn’t end up with Sara he met Syphie again and then Roxy. Rudy is doing alright. And in a sense that’s why it will be important to meet Eris again. That one obviously isn’t going to be about concluding the story, but starting a fresh chapter.

Was good to have them just sit and talk things out. Not exactly about apologies, though they did both offer those. It was just good to hear the other side out and express how they felt then and now. Sara found out later what was up and I’m sure she spent a long time feeling guilty about it. She is a sweet girl after all. But there wasn’t an occasion to meet up again and I get both sides not exactly searching the other out. But this chance came and they could open up. In the end that’s enough. Rudy could open up about what happened with him and how his feelings for Sara hadn’t reached the point of love. There’s nothing bad or evil about it. The feeling just wasn’t there. Sometimes the person you love doesn’t feel the same.

Definitely not ending at two wives!

Props to the show for basically using the reunion with Sara to set up things with Eris. We’ve actually gotten a kind of breakthrough on Rudy’s side even without her actually showing up. Talking with Sara, Sylphie, and Roxy kind of helped put his mind in order. He does end up falling for the girls that save him. And that makes sense. His past life was one where he never felt saved. But this one opened up with Roxy saving him from that trauma, then Sylphie saved him a good while later. But Eris saved him at various times through the first season. Rudy can look at Eris as someone special and even at this point realize that he might fall for her when he sees her again. That any promise he makes at only having two wives will likely last as well as his last promise about one wife.

It shows how far Rudeus has come. He’s finally able to actually absorb Ruijerd saying that Eris abandoning him must’ve been a misunderstanding. And he’s someone to trust honestly. He grew close to both Rudy and Eris and can understand them both to a degree. The man knows there’s no way that Eris simply abandoned him. But it’s not like he’s a psychic that can say what she was truly thinking. We’re one step closer to what could be a spectacular reunion.

Absolute badass

Beautiful transition at the end! Going from Sylphie looking forward to what girl Rudy will bring home next…and going straight to the girl he’s going to bring home next! I presume this test is happening around the present day. So at this point Rudy’s got his two wives and Eris has reached the level of Sword King. And I just love Eris’ mentality. It’s why she is one of the best girls. She doesn’t need her teacher’s approval of her declaration. For her it is resolve. Eris wants to get stronger. That resolve to be able to protect the man she loves next time has powered her all the way here. And I do think Gal enjoyed her response. Eris doesn’t care about titles. Titles won’t protect those she cares about. It’s all about her resolve to grow stronger.

And that one strike duel was all we needed to see how far Eris has come. Reaching the level of Sword King is a huge step. She’s one step above Sword Saint. Admittedly she was given that level years ago. But it’s still a big step. The only ones above her now are Sword Emperor and Sword God. The duel with Nina was both spectacular and just as great as her first. More skill, less brutal punching in the face! Eris took the hit, but kept standing. But she sent Nina flying! Her resolve won the day. It’s a frustrating moment for Nina, but she can grow. And it shows how Eris absorbed the lessen about using her feelings for Rudeus to dial back her intensity and be harder to read.

The family moments mattered

I’m curious to see where things go from here. The preview title is certainly ominous. But more than that…what will Eris do? Is she going to keep training, look for other teachers to take herself to even higher levels, or will she decide she’s developed enough and can go and see Rudeus again? Heck, is she going to find out he’s married!? She’s obviously not going to be in training mode until the end of time. Eventually she needs to take her skills out there and use them for the purpose she’s been developing them!