© Ryoko Kui, KADOKAWA/Delicious in Dungeon PARTNERS
Episode 22 of Delicious in Dungeon offers another dose of fun while incorporating a few novel character beats along the way.
The big draw for me in this episode is that it gives us a new situation for the Senshi and, by extension, the group. Throughout the program, Senshi is the one who firmly holds the steering wheel of the group. He suddenly introduces himself to help them solve two problems simultaneously: how to save Falin while surviving in the harsh and resource-intensive environment of the dungeon. The Senshi also serve as guides to the areas surrounding the underworld, helping the party identify new creatures, how best to approach them, and how to prepare them for flavor and appeal. Senshi often go the extra mile to offer useful life advice on physical and mental health, going beyond simple dungeon facts or cooking tips. The Senshi have been a firewall against defeat in most cases the party has faced so far.
That's why this episode offers a unique twist on the formula. Perhaps this is the first time the Senshi are truly out of their depth. He runs away and is captured, leaving the group to fend for themselves without his experienced guidance. The loss of this father figure pushes the group to create interesting new solutions, such as creating acquaintances to help solve problems, while also opening the door to new insights into what the Senshi are. someone we've never seen before. It's refreshing, and even though we only get a glimpse of the Senshi's backstory at the end of the episode, it does offer up some interesting revelations for next week.
There are also so many wonderful little moments with familiar people. Marcille explains a lot of great details about the world-building regarding how magic works, gives us insight into the villain's true power, etc. Not to mention the symbolism the funny feelings that the acquaintances have or the stupid game of Laios when given the power to create a custom monster that turns him into an overgrown child (or reveals his childish nature) doodle scribbled monsters in the margins of his homework. It's all very interesting.
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Grant is a co-host on the Blade Thief Podcast and the Super Senpai Podcast.
Delicious in Dungeon is now streaming on Netflix.
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more companies mentioned in this article are members of the Kadokawa Group.
