Am I allowed to get the impression that they went out of their way to show that the Delta and Zeta swimsuits have a cutout in the tail?
©Daisuke Aizawa・KADOKAWA/Shadow Garden
I never expected The Eminence in Shadow to go all-in on fan service with a stereotypical hot springs/beach/swimming pool episode. The show did have a lot of fanservice but it found a good balance in most episodes that didn’t overshadow the more important elements of the story being told. If there was ever a time to make an episode like this, now is it.
At the end of the final episode, Seven Shades is emotionally exhausted. Both Alpha and Gamma were devastated by Cid’s actions and although it turned out okay in the end (at least from their skewed perspective), that doesn’t mean the pain they went through was any less real. than at that time. time. The seven shades get the healing they need (except for poor Beta) and Cid gets some extra justice for missing out on a fun day with people who care about him at a location he really wanted to go to visit.
But more than just an ending or an excuse for excessive fanservice, this episode also serves as a useful reminder of who Seven Shades is. Looking at all they’ve accomplished in just two years—namely creating a financial empire and waging a war in the shadows—it can be easy to forget one simple truth: The Seven Shades Remain are children. Alpha, Beta and Delta are only 15 years old while Gamma, Eta, Zeta and Epsilon are only 17. They may be superpowered but that doesn’t mean they are more emotionally mature than any teenage girl any other.
In this episode, we get to see this side of them. Each of them dreams that the hot spring tickets are a ploy by Cid to spend time with them on a personal level, and each tries to express their wishes logically as to why. Why should they be chosen to go (except Delta, who is too outspoken). for any of that BS). They also tried to make the best of him in their own way—even after it became clear, there was little chance of him showing up. In the end, they mostly just played—relaxed in small ways—like girls their age should.
This day at the hot springs also allows us to take a look at some of the girls’ insecurities— especially Beta. Beta both loves and hates being rescued by Cid all the time—loves it because it shows he cares for her and hates it because she worries he’ll grow tired of her (self-perceived) incompetence and push her aside one side. Meanwhile, the usually research-obsessed Eta has body problems—and is jealous of others’ levels of physical development.
This episode also gives supporting members of the cast a chance to shine. The flashback montage of why the hot spring resort was built in the first place has Omega and Chi taking on all roles while the kamishibai plot of the princess and the dragon is entirely done by Lambda. Even Nu has scenes where she acts more like a yakuza boss than the customer service professional we’re used to seeing.
Although this episode cannot reach the past heights that the series has achieved, it is still an enjoyable one. While the focus is on fan service, there’s enough character development and humor to make the episode worth watching. It’s a much-needed change of pace that gives us and the characters some time to decompress with lighthearted fun before heading into the season finale.
Rating:
Random thoughts:
→ From what I found online, Omega is the oldest member of Shadow Garden at 24 years old (with Lambda and Chi right behind her at 23 years old).
You might be thinking that I forgot to mention Skel and Po’s antics in this review. I didn’t.
Having said that, I couldn’t help but see some social commentary on the echo chamber with the idea that Skel and Po are trying to lose their virginity by following the advice of someone who has never can lie down on his own.
→ In this week’s Kage-jitsu, we learn that Beta is a sloppy drunk.
The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 is now streaming on Hide.
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.