Wistoria: Wand and Sword delivered some action packed action this week with episode 9, making it an immediate upgrade from last week's for a number of reasons. Will returns to where he excels—the dungeon—and it looks like he'll have to take the lead in getting everyone back together while also proving everyone else wrong (again). Was there some repetition in the writing? Yes, but episode 9 of Wistoria had more to commend than criticize, especially when it came to character development.
Wistoria's possible main antagonist
One thing I’ve criticized Wistoria for in the past is its lack of villains. Up until this point, no one has tested Will’s limits, or anyone else’s for that matter. We’ve had Shion and Julius, but they’ve been side characters with anger issues. And while these two mysterious characters only made a brief appearance in episode 8, we got to see them again this week, albeit briefly.
Now, with even the academy's professors on guard, it's no surprise that we have some very capable villains on our hands who don't mind going to extremes for those they encounter. This is something Wistoria desperately needs given the repetitive nature of the article up to this point.
First, Shion was revealed to be a bully to Will. Then it was Julius. Now, it’s Wignall. While he’s not really a bully and just rides the high horse of elven society, he’s still another character that made me roll my eyes because he also called Will a laggard and a burden (and yelled at him). His backstory is definitely intriguing because he’s the “laggard” among the elves, and it’s a twist because he acts like he’s some elven prodigy.
I was initially on Wignall's side when he welcomed Will into the group and told Shion and Julius to keep quiet. But now it's clear that he's just another strong character who will have to be proven wrong. That's also why I like the character of Colette, because she comes from a prestigious family and has no ill will. So I hope Wignall comes to Will because he knows what it's like to be in his position, maybe develop a friendly rivalry.
Luckily, the villains of the series are something to look forward to. Their identities and abilities are still unknown. All we know is that they hold nothing back in the way they take others for a ride. What’s more, the barrier seems to be falling while the Lord of Light has yet to be properly introduced. There’s a lot of room for growth with Wistoria and that’s what I love about where the series is headed.
Lihanna
Lihanna finally brings another capable supporting character. While she doesn't quite go the way Shion, Julius, and Wignall did, some could argue that her inviting Will to join them in the dungeon is more about using him than simply working with him, which Will even points out is a pack mule himself.
That being said, Lihanna presents an interesting character beyond her design and demeanor. Someone, like Colette, who comes from a prestigious family with powerful magical abilities is bound to have an intriguing backstory, especially, as I said before, when there seems to be something about Colette that is teased in the opening.
Lihanna said that she created the current party because she believed that everyone needed to take down Naberus, meaning that she recognized Will's talent. However, Colette was the only one who joined the party and Lihanna didn't say anything or even object. So there must be some reason.
The split between will and other
Episode 9 of Wistoria: Wand and Sword also did a great job of showing what Will had to go through in the dungeon compared to the others. Mages can simply absorb traces of magic from monsters they defeat with their wands so that the academy can distribute points appropriately. Meanwhile, Will has to carry around parts of monsters he defeats, proving to be a much more difficult task.
We saw this was how Will got his points earlier in the season, but this episode showed for the first time how far the difference in difficulty is. The only thing I want to know is when Will will stop living a lie.
We saw in his fight with Shion how angry he really was at all the insults he was subjected to. And in this episode, he had a moment where he told himself that he would try to make himself useful to them. I want to see Will at a point where he has stopped looking down on others and has become the confident, dominant force among the students so that this rain of insults will stop.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword Volume 9
I love a protagonist who proves others wrong, but having people constantly in their circle throughout the story makes it difficult for the MC, to the point where you want Will to yell at everyone and say enough is enough. Wistoria has more in store and I'm willing to bring cash to buy things that can be put on the shelves.
Episode 9 Rating: 8/10
If you enjoyed Wistoria: Wand and Sword episode 9, vote for it in our weekly poll! Episode 10 will be released on Sunday, September 15 on Crunchyroll.
Screenshot via Crunchyroll
©Fujino Omori, Toshi Aoi, Kodansha/Wistoria: Wand and Sword Manufacturing Committee
