©2022 Kore Yamazaki/MAG GARDEN-Mahoome Partners
At the end of last season, the doors of the Magic College closed. It was a decisive move by the powers that be to protect their students, either by isolating them from the mysterious forces targeting them or by cutting off the attacker’s escape route. . While that plan was partially successful, what it did was turn the entire university into a pressure cooker. While the larger machinations of the conspiracy remain shrouded in mystery, the more immediate emotions of these children and their skeletal family legacy continue to bubble and boil, building up by levels. multiplier until the whole thing is ready to explode.
It’s a narrative approach that, on paper, can be frustrating. After all the location setting, returning from the break with a slower character build seems like it would risk making viewers impatient for answers. Still, these AMB episodes are some of the most compelling TV episodes I’ve seen this incredibly compelling season, and that’s entirely thanks to the show’s dedication to character. The basic details of the plot may still feel distinct, but it’s hard to care too much when each new episode peels back a layer of these characters and invites us into the emotional turmoil that drives push and define them.
Take the case of Rian and Philomela clashing in episode 15. From the audience’s perspective, we know exactly why Philomela didn’t win their little competition, and it has nothing to do with “hold back”. However, for Rian, who seems largely unaware of his childhood friend’s abusive upbringing and is stuck in the mindset of having to prove his worth to others, it is The only reasonable explanation. He knew that Philomela was a talented witch, that she could always surpass him without much effort, so seeing her fail at something he thought was easy was only can be interpreted as some form of pity or cruel ridicule. Meanwhile, the entire confrontation is a painful reminder to Philomela of how her grandmother’s doctrine has left her isolated, unable to compete simply with a friend but also powerless. in explaining yourself. On the surface, it’s a somewhat petty conflict between two teenagers, with one caught up in his own wounded ego. Below, it’s revealed how the strict expectations of these characters’ families kept them from connecting with friends and nearly doomed them to continue the toxic cycle.
All of that is much more compelling than any mystery about a magical book, and so far, this season has handled it all wonderfully. The keen eye (and ear) of season one continues here, taking us into the tension and stress of the characters, especially when they can’t speak out loud themselves. The scene where Philomela breaks down under her aunt’s text message—made all the more cruel by the woman’s perfect prediction that her niece is starting to break down under her pressure—is truly painful to watch. You can feel every raw nerve, every muscle groaning from constant tension, every frayed synapse as her sense of privacy is trampled, and her only way is to hold it all in, lest something worse happen. Her body language has a palpable fragility, while the score suggests a volatile explosion roiling under her skin until it finds the smallest pressure vent as she bites clean through my lips.
It was painful, which made everything worse. powerful by the small moments of calm and warmth scattered throughout these episodes. Seeing Chise hanging out with her new friends or chatting with Elias about their pumpkin harvest back home is sweet and a welcome reminder of how far she’s come. from his rock bottom. One of my favorite touches in the new OP is how it portrays Chise as a mentor to the rest of the students, emphasizing that, to some extent, she has overcome her dark moments. darkest self and is now in a position to guide others. The origins of her pain may be different, but she knows the pain of isolation and more than anything she wants to pass on the kindness that saved her. It makes it even more heartbreaking that Philomela doesn’t dare ask for help—because no matter how sincere and empathetic Chise’s kindness is, everything in Philomela’s life makes her fear it.
Outside of those bigger moments, there are dozens of little things that keep me from gushing. I like that Elias not only has a new friend among the university staff but even has an awkward relationship with Alcyone. Alcyone’s flashback to Philomela’s youth and her promise to document all these precious family moments because their jobs didn’t allow photography or video was enough to bring me to tears . Zoe’s tactful efforts to mediate arguments between his new friends are endearing. Even the hitherto unrelated side characters have their appeal, like Violet and Chise discussing the different “seasons” for ghostly activity between England and Japan. Outside of college, Marielle’s hunt for a stolen book gives us a glimpse into the incredibly strange and fascinating world of magic, like the shopkeeper whose body consists of bandages. and the bees they could never explain. I could go on for ages and I certainly will if the season continues as it is.
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The Ancient Magus’Bride is now streaming on Crunchyroll.