Naofumi still has some major trust issues, but he has begrudgingly accepted help from others when the situation has demanded it. But man, if you’re royalty, there is a high chance you will be told to go fuck yourself. After all the man has been through, I can’t really say I blame him. I would trust any of those rotten despots to even direct me to the nearest bathroom.
The sword hero and the bow hero were also made to understand their shortcomings a little earlier than I had expected. I think we all realized the show was doing a kind of statement to display that Naofumi has his eyes on what really matter while the others are either seeking fame or not realizing that circumstance handed them a free pass. The dragon incident and despot overthrowing they both respectively handled (but then failed to realize the consequences) showed this, but the moral immaturity really displayed itself in that the bow hero was unable to accept the truth when it was brought to his face by Naofumi. Thankfully, the sword hero bears a measure of humility. Good for you Ren – you are the only other hero other than Naofumi that is worth a damn!
I know this doesn’t matter, but I have to say I knew that the reason Naofumi wanted that 150 silver was so the young men and women could arm themselves. He’s really getting good at testing people – you might make a good disheveled mentor figure already! He did make it clear that he would not hesitate to retaliate if they tried to betray him. People don’t change quite that easily.
Notice how during the second wave Naofumi is the only hero able to concentrate on what truly matters. First, protect the village. How can I be more proactive? Eliminate the source. It’s the character of a person who prioritizes harmony and altruism more than glory and conquest. It has been made abundantly clear that Naofumi’s experiences have shaped him into a much better person than the other three (something he already was right from the get go, in my opinion). The others have a severe lack of mental maturity and a complete inability to work with others – such is the lot of the privileged.
Glass is something I think this show needed. While I’ve been greatly enjoying the iyashikei elements of shield hero, it’s clear that now that Naofumi has reclaimed elements of his humanity the stakes will need to be raised accordingly. In a show devoid of asspulls, my mind was at a loss as to how Naofumi would defeat her. Thankfully there is a time limit. The show also implies that there is greater meaning to the waves beyond “enduring the onslaught of demons.” Interesting.
Notice how ever since the turning point of the fourth episode in this series, they have juxtaposed the beginning of the show where Naofumi loses everything (and shown the willingness the writer has to take things away from him) with his current predicament which comes from a position of power that can no longer be taken away from him. I’m not talking about superficial strength, but rather the bonds and ties he has made with others that define him – those he has met (his family, the blacksmith) and those he has not (the villagers, the people he has traded with).
The scene where Naofumi uses the king to wipe his own proverbial ass was probably the most satisfying anime scene of 2019 so far for me. In fact, it was so great, I watched it twice. Regardless of whether it was true or not, that commanding show made it clear that the king would be absolutely unable to ever take anything from Naofumi ever again. Forced to deal with how much of a spineless, pathetic git he is, even going as low as to threaten innocents to get at the shield hero (Seriously, what kind of rotten, evil motherfucker is this guy?), the king is powerless to let Naofumi leave. And leave he does. I’m still laughing.
Because Melty was sent in her mother’s stead to make things nice in place of her sister/father, she attempts to reconcile the damaged relationship between the king and Naofumi. Thankfully, Naofumi recognizes him for the worthless garbage he is and refuses, but interestingly enough, it would seem Melty is subject to an assassination attempt. My bet is her jilted sister isn’t too thrilled with her last comments.
I better see two heads roll by the end of this series.
