The Valghians are ready for negotiation with the king of Atland. They hope he will agree to their terms to avoid war and return the princess. However, when it comes to the king’s decision, everything goes as expected. Even though I hope he will change his mind and find a way to work out the terms, I do not really feel he will. His dialogue in Episode 4 indicates that he is not concerned with rescuing the princess. Yaona tells Kaina that his father cares more about the country than the princess. That is why they decide to save her, but will they make it in time before the negotiation ends?
One captivating moment is toward the end. It briefly introduces a new character, Admiral Handagil of Valghan, to further understand Atland’s opponent. In Episode 2, Ririha’s monologue explains the purpose of the soldiers under his command: to attack other countries for their own gain. In this episode, the appearance of the admiral confirms what she said before was right. His outfit, which is similar to the terracotta army soldiers’, and his scars suggest he has participated in numerous wars. He does not hesitate to kill or use force to get what he wants or to get rid of those who disagree with him. An example is the killing of the messenger. Admiral Handagil kills him when he learns that the negotiation with the king has fallen through.
The music matches the negotiation scenes. It increases the feeling of unease. Even though Admiral Handagil patiently waits for the other party to show up, something does not feel right. Then, when the messenger tells him something he does not like about her, it shows what he is capable of. The king’s refusal to accept the term provokes the admiral to unleash what he is going to do, something atrocious, as expressed in dialogue and action.
The pre-credit is somewhat interesting. It shows the ancient words on the ancient carpet when Yaona and Kaina are about to enter the hidden tunnel. This suggests that there may have been other civilizations before Atland, as Yaona explains what lies beneath the Snow Sea. I just wish it showed castles or artifacts below the sea to make it more realistic. The re-appearance of the floaty, bright green light is still a mystery to me. I do not understand what it really represents or why Kaina and Ririha are the only ones who can see it.
Yaona and Kaina’s journey to rescue the princess is boring. It does not convey that time is running out or that there is a sense of peril. They are not struggling through the tunnel, nor are they encountering any monsters, despite Yaona’s recollection of what his sister told him. This is similar to when they walk on the roots of the spire tree below the Snow Sea. Their experience of encountering sea creatures, the lack of oxygen in Yaona’s suit, and Kainia being unconscious still create a feeling that they will be all right.
Overall, this episode is okay, even though Yaona and Kania’s journey does not heighten the tension. I like the appearance of the new character and the pieces of information. It gives more insight into what Atland is up against and sustains the interest in learning more about the two parties, such as more background about them. Also, I am still curious about whether there were other civilizations before Atland and the Snow Sea.
Rating: 6.7/10
| Characters, Season 1 Episode 5 | Cast |
| Kaina | Yoshimasa Hosoya |
| Amerote | Maaya Sakamoto |
| Ririha | Rie Takahashi |
| Ngapoge | Tomokazu Sugita |
| Yaona | Ayumu Murase |
| Hallesora | Kenyu Horiuchi |
| Handagil | Nobuyuki Hiyama |
