Score: A

This episode was a great way to cap off the Leon stuff while directing focus back onto Pride herself. It had some strong moments with the Queen, but also just acknowledging the emotional drama going on around Pride. This girl is incredibly sought after and would probably fall over from pure embarrassment if she actually realized it! Which she basically did after that kiss on the cheek!

Val is bringing the heat

I did enjoy Val just roasting the guys. From his point of view of course Pride’s engagement was still happening. So it was a kiss from a fiance to his betrothed which is hardly shocking. But even still, I agree with him calling out Stale and Arthur. Step up guys. If you want this girl then you have to start really showing her how you feel because she’s too dense to figure it out on her own. Now of course Val cares plenty himself. He wasn’t kidding about offering her the opportunity to leave everything behind and go with him. So it was pretty fun having him actively showing his hype at hearing that the engagement was dropped. She’s back on the market!

I can’t blame the Queen

The scene with the Queen was really good. It was especially hard hitting because she finally shared with Pride the visions she had. That’s quite the moment of course since Pride herself has been battling with the knowledge and visions of what the Evil version of herself was capable of. It’s an ironic turn of events. Once Pride reincarnated into this world that vision didn’t repeat anymore. Partly due to how events would have played out and her…lack of presence in the future. But also since Pride herself changed. But it’s hard to not have visions that horrible in your mind when trying to make decisions. I’m sure she was constantly back and forth on whether to trust Pride with responsibility. And yet every moment that passed showed Pride to practically be a saint.

No wonder that Pride had a hard time really viewing the Queen as a parent. Original Pride never had that because her mother distanced herself from her due to the visions. And this version similarly didn’t have that. But beyond that, Pride is a girl from two worlds. She presumably had parents back on Earth. So maybe that combined with Pride’s inherent lack of a connection to her mother left her not even thinking of her as a mother and simply viewing her as the Queen. It was a good moment where Pride finally saw this mother as a mother and the Queen got a chance to start building up a true bond with her daughter. This also isn’t a case where you wonder if the Queen created a self-fulfilling prophecy. Evil Pride…was evil incarnate. I don’t think the most loving parents in the world would have changed her.

Cute moment

That moment between Pride and Stale was really good for Pride’s arc. She understandably has such a hard time opening up. She’s never talked about her isekai experience and certainly hasn’t shared how she’s seen how truly evil Pride originally was. There are some things she probably will take to her grave. But it’s good to have these guys just pushing her to lean on them. They are there for her and want to support her. But that can only happen if she trusts them enough to open up. It’s no wonder she had such hatred for those princes. She can’t attack Evil Pride. But these princes reminded her of how evil that person was and this was a case where she could direct that pent up anger. But it’s good to remind her that she has support.

What a time to be Pride

The end of the episode really landed for me. And it says a lot how invested I am in Pride’s love life. When you break it down it really is a wonderful isekai harem that she’s found herself in. She’s got multiple great guys in love with her. But honestly, I do want to see Pride happy. Because she really is constantly battling her own fears. Stale and Gilbert really opening the future for Pride here. You can see how much work Stale wants to put in for Pride’s sake. He’ll spend his whole life working to make it so she doesn’t have to fear herself. But Gilbert helps out even more and now a whole world of possibilities are open. With some limitations, Pride really can just end up with whoever the heck she wants really.

Stale himself is still possible here. He’ll be such an essential part of the kingdom that few would have an issue with him marrying the future Queen. It’s not like he’s actually Pride’s sibling after all. There’s no question that he’d dedicate his life to her and the kingdom in a heartbeat. But the other options are good. Arthur is awesome. You could have someone who is a badass that can fight alongside/protect Pride no matter what. Plus he’s got a healing ability! If anything happens he’s right there to offer the best chance for Pride to survive. Plus a healing King…that’s pretty legendary. I agree Val would be pushing it…although who knows. He really is the long-shot option that…becomes the top pick if Pride ever does want to leave the Kingdom to Tiara and elope!

Here’s to a happy family

This was just another excellent episode. I love how the ending does open it up. There’s likely one or more love interests yet to enter the picture. I still wonder if the story will advance any romance for Tiara or if it will hold that up while Pride’s side of things plays out? But the big thing is that Pride has a future ahead of her. The people around her are working to make that as bright a future as possible. And now she’s got the chance to build up her relationship with her parents some more. The wall is coming down and all sides could use that opportunity to grow closer.