TenSura – 48 (S2 Fin) – Complacent No More

Last week hinted that Round 2 with Clayman might not be a cakewalk, but that was not the case, as not only does he end up defeated, but straight up executed by Rimuru. That’s fine with me, good riddance, really. If can’t keep track of how many times Clayman says “Okay, NOW I’m going to get serious”, it’s happened too many damn times!

Rimuru dealt with Clayman in the time it took to roll the opening credits, leaving the remainder of the episode the boring part of Walpurgis, in which I got scary flashbacks to the opening six (seven?…eight?) episodes of this season that were nothing but people discussing things while seated in a circle. At least it’s a little more interesting here due to the new characters.

The business of Walpurgis is as follows: Clayman is defeated, Guy Crimson officially recognizes Rimuru as a Demon Lord with no objections, Roy Valentine’s maid turns out to be the real Demon Lord, Luminus (whose name Veldora couldn’t remember). Frey and Carrion, having seen the strength Rimuru demonstrated, decide to resign their Demon Lordships and become disciples of Milim.

Finally, after Guy draws very close to Rimuru and insists he do so, Rimuru gives the Former Ten Demon Lords a new name, something that was apparently took up an entire Walpurgis last time they needed one. I kind of like the idea that these guys are so powerful that they don’t have much to do, and that they take something like naming their group so seriously. Rimuru comes up with Octogram: The Eight-Star Demon Lords, which everyone likes.

While Rimuru is over being a big hit with his new fellow ‘Lords, Roy Valentine returns home just in time to encounter Laplace, who was sneaking around Luminus’ mansion until he encountered Sakaguchi Hinata (Hi Hinata!) and double-timed it out of there.

But while the Harlequin is afraid to even face Hinata in battle, he eliminates Roy quite easily, apparently unaware he isn’t the real Demon Lord Valentine. Doesn’t matter; Laplace is pissed that Clayman is dead. No doubt he’ll seek revenge on Rimuru.

Rimuru, however, won’t be so naïve or vulnerable next time. Out of the crucible that was the coordinated attack on his domain and his people, Demon Lord Rimuru Tempest was forged. This Rimuru is a little harder, a little more cognizant of the big dangerous world he lives in, and a lot less complacent. That said, I’m sure he’ll allow himself a few days of celebration, rest, and relaxation back home.

With the three remaining members of the Harlequin Alliance, Kazalim, Hinata, Yuuki, and who-knows who else (I imagine there are still some fiercely-powerful beings we’ve yet to meet) still out there, Rimuru has plenty to be vigilant about and prepared for.

As for TenSura, looks like it’s getting a movie in Fall 2022. Until then, the second part of this second season got a bit rough at the start there, but led to some fine payoffs. TenSura is nothing if not consistent.

TenSura – 47 – Good Times Had By All (But One)

Veldora didn’t show up because he sensed Rimuru was in danger—he wasn’t—but because he wanted Rimuru to give him the next volume of a manga he was really getting into. That’s kind of the lazy otaku energy I’m here for.

While he’s there, he’s all too happy to spar with his older brother’s only child, Milim (while pulling off Street Fighter and Dragon Ball moves!). When Rimuru tells him not to hurt her as she’s being controlled by Clayman, Veldora tries to correct him, but Rimuru is in to much of a hurry to listen.

After dealing with the magical beasts by freeing Nine Tails (who was suffering under Clayman’s Demon Dominate, a spell removed with Raphael’s help) Rimuru checks in on how Beretta’s fight against Viola is doing, only to find Beretta happily humming as she neatly arranges Viola’s parts around her.

After shit got super-serious last week, it’s good to see that playful humor return, along with easy but still cool-looking wins. The pieces are meant as an offering to Rimuru in hopes he’ll find a place for her new master Ramiris and her to live in Tempest.

Speaking of cool, Shion may have the best moves of anyone this week, easily freeing herself of Clayman’s bonds and pummeling the shit out of him. When he transforms into his apparent final boss form, he’s just as easily dealt with, showing just how large the gap is between Rimuru’s most trusted lieutenants and everyone else who isn’t a Demon Lord.

It’s when Clayman is on his back and bloodied when he calls for Milim to get over there and bail him out that Milim reveals to all that still didn’t know it that she’s acting of her own free will. I complained last week that we were basically getting a Milim devoid of personality, and this episode gave me exactly what I wanted: the regular sweet, joyful, and completely chaotic Milim Nava. Plus, Hidaka Rina finally gets to say words!

We learn that Milim was pretending all along in order to get Clayman where she wanted him: in a place where he couldn’t win, and where he’d reveal the person hiding in the shadows: Yuuki (apparently).

This calls into question why she had to destroy Carrion’s kingdom in service of that lie, but since none of its denizens were harmed and Rimuru has ample treasure and labor to rebuild the kingdom, all’s good in the hood!

That is, until we get what is supposed to be Clayman’s sadsack story about being the weakest member of the Moderate Harlequin Alliance, calling out to the heavens to give him more power, and the heavens rather curiously answering his call.

As he converts his soul and the souls of all he’s had killed into energy and power, we learn this was Rimuru’s plan all along: awaken this next-level Clayman so that he can be defeated once and for all and free all those souls. And after getting his warmup in with Milim, Rimuru chooses himself for the task of taking out Clayman—to demonstrate that he has arrived as a genuine Demon Lord.

TenSura – 46 – Fight Nacht

[Rubs hands together excitedly] Alright, now we’re gettin’ down to bid’ness. The tryhard OP is expunged so we can get the bandying of words between Clayman and Rimuru out of the way. The rest of the Demon Lords are either indifferent, asleep, or neutral. Guy, who seems to be the toughest, seems most intrigued with Rimuru, and you can tell kinda wants to test the guy without being too overt about it.

We also get a little instant gratification as Rimuru siccs Shion on Clayman and he gets the everloving snot socked out of him. Sure, he immediately heals, but he felt those punches. I love how after so many episodes of just talking, Rimuru is done talking. He’ll either have someone talk for him with her fists (Shion) or do the talking with his own.

This is when the rest of the Demon Lords, most of whom only showed up half-heartedly, are treated to an epic multi-pronged battle, confined within an expanded barrier courtesy of Guy. Rimuru, Shion, Ranga, and two of his wolfy underlings must take on Clayman, his adorable fox Nine Head, his two magical beasts, and some Beretta-looking mofo named Viola.

Oh yeah…and Milim Nava, whom everyone assumes is acting on her own despite the very suspicious purple gem choker and her dead eyes. But who knows…maybe Milim isn’t being controlled by Clayman! Outside the ring, Ramiris convinces Guy to let Beretta join the fight, and Guy is impressed not only by how the former Greater Demon doesnt fear him, but also claims that she’s no match for Rimuru’s attendant (I’m guessing Diablo).

That makes it six-on-five in favor of Clayman. While the beasts fight, Shion and Beretta take on Clayman and Viola, while Rimuru has the unfortunate burden of having to go up against an emotionless Milim who is not holding back. Not that she ever held back before, but Rimuru is because he doesn’t want to hurt or kill her, so he’s at a distinct disadvantage.

All I can say is that every moment Milim is launching lightning-quick punches and kicks, forcing Rimuru to instantaneously morph into slime mode to doge, is absolute FIRE. I still consider it a shame that Milim got a personality wipe this cour, brainwashed or not, but that’s surely only temporary, and in the meantime, Silent Milim is plenty entertaining. And she actually does show some emotion as the battle wears on!

More importantly, this is the first time since Hinata that Rimuru has met his match. It’s great to see him sweat and say “this is bad,” because things aren’t going quite as planned. Raphael can’t detect the spell affecting Milim, while Rimuru has yet to notice that the purple gem is probably the key. Overpowered characters can be fun but they get boring fast if never challenged, so it’s good to see here.

How can he, when Milim is not letting up her attack. When he switches tactics by using Beelzebub, she lures him into a trap, giving her a free swing with her charged-up fist. Rimuru thinks he’s done for…until Veldora shows up, takes the full force of the punch…and then protests that Milim is being mean. Now that Rimuru has a trusty shield, the battle to free Milim can finally begin.

TenSura – 45 – Demon Lords “R” Us

From the battles of Benimaru, Gobta, Gabiru, Geld, and the Beastketeers we rewind a bit back to Rimuru’s palace, where he sees Shuna off before heading through the ominous portal from which an extremely powerful demon maid named Misery emerges to escort him to Walpurgis. Before heading off, Veldora and Ramiris tell Rimuru the names of the other demon lords: the giant Dagruel, the vampire Roy Valentine (and his predecessor …Milis?), the demon Guy Crimson, and the lazy Dino.

As Rimuru, Shion, and Ranga walk through the portal to a very important and potentiall very perilous meeting, Shuna arrives at the outskirts of Clayman’s castle, flanked by Souei and Hakurou. They’re surrounded by a mist that dulls their magical senses, and before they know it they’re surrounded by an undead army led by Adalman, the Index of Clayman’s five fingers.

While Souei and Hakurou buy time by battling a zombie dragon and knight, respectively, Shuna uses an Alignment Field to cordon herself and Adalman off so they can have a nice little magic battle. It seems like it’s been ages since the good princess got something to do, but it was worth the wait, as she kicks some serious skeleton ass.

Mind you, Shuna doesn’t move around much, nor does she ever raise her voice. But that’s fine; the dignified, elegant princess isn’t one to scurry around or shout. She stands with absolute confidence in her power as she calmly counters his Acid Shell with her Flame Wall and his Curse Bind with her Holy Bell. That last one surprises Adalman, who didn’t know a monster could summon a Divine Miracle.

When she rewrites his suicidal Disintegration mega-spell with Overdrive and disperses most of the undead army, she also inadvertently lifts the binding curse Clayman cast Adalman and Co. in order to have their…er…undying loyalty. But now that he’s been soundly defeated by a worshipper revere-er of Great Rimuru, Adalman is all about meeting the Lord Slime, and happily offers to guide Shuna & Co. to Clayman’s castle.

As for Great Rimuru, he encounters Guy Crimson (who definitely has his game face on), Dagruel, Guy Valentine, Milis (possibly), and Frey for the first time, and has some harsh words for Leon regarding what he did to Shizu that results in Leon inviting Rimuru to his castle…assuming the slime survives Walpurgis.

That’s when the other new kid on the block Clayman arrives, with a very out-of-it-looking Milim in tow. Rimuru surely could tell something was very wrong when Milim didn’t immediately run to him and gather him into a warm embrace—they are BFFs, after all. But what really sets Rimuru off is when Clayman, clearly drunk on power, strikes Milim in the head. Everyone is shocked by Clayman’s conduct, but Rimuru is just mad, and promises Clayman’s death won’t be painless. Can’t wait to see it!

TenSura – 44 – Game Recognize Game

This episode focused on three battles between Rimuru’s various subordinates and those of Clayman and/or Milim. It also doesn’t have a single moment of Rimuru blabbering in it, which might just make it the best episode of TenSura Season 2 Part 2 by default!

Interestingly enough, we start with a member of Team Slime getting their butt kicked; specifically Suphia. The buttkicker is one Father Middray, while his student Hermes gets soundly defeated by Gabiru (whose adorable syncophants are never far away).

This first battle is all about mutual respect and admiration, as Middray reveals that he and the other priests of the Dragon Faithful are just another kind of Dragonewt just like Gabiru. When things go south one of the other battles, they actually join forces to provide aid to the vulnerable.

While Middray and Gabiru are content not to kill each other, Albis is under no such constraints when it comes to Yamza or his underlings. She upgrades to her second form, turns the weakers ones into stone with purple lightning, and then they shatter in the air or on the ground.

Yamza reveals his biden card—a doohickey on his arm that lets him clone himself—but Albis just turns the doohickey to stone and shatters it. Defeated, Yamza surrenders, but Clayman pulls the strings and makes him eat a glowing orb that turns him into a lesser form of the previously deeated uber-boss Charybdis.

Just when it looks like Albis is in real trouble, Benimaru drops in, slices Charybdis with one slash, then quickly disposes of it with a massive flare. He then rushes to the strongest person he senses—Father Middray—only for Gabiru and Suphia to hold him back and tell him they were about to join forces.

Of the three battles, this one is the most interesting, probably because it isn’t a battle at all, just a bunch of cool people basking in their coolness. There may be no one cooler than Middray; ironic considering how red hot his head was last week. Oh sure, these guys could get serious, throw hands, and cause quite a bit of destruction and distress in their wakes, but…they just don’t see the point. To quote T-Pain: I like that!

That leaves us the third and briefest battle, the one between Phobio/Geld and Tear/Footman. Not surprisingly, the Harlequins are no slouches, and also arrogant as all get out. They declare that it wasn’t in their orders to kill them, even though they totally could, so they withdraw for now, basically taking the draw.

Both Phobio and Geld are upset, but they’re not that mad, especially when as far as Benimaru is concerned, the operation was a success. Geld kept Phobio safe and revealed Clayman’s hand. They may be flat on their backs in the forest having been on the wrong end of a butt-kicking, but they’ll live to fight—and fight a little better—another day.

TenSura – 43 – Harder to Lose Than to Win

After helping Treyni evolve into a Dryas Doll Dryad so she can leave Jura forest as Ramiris’ escort, Rimuru goes over the final preparations for Benimaru’s fight. Turns out after Rimuru became a Demon Lord Benimaru was gifted a rare skill that allows him to read the enemy’s every move, thus assuring victory.

Nevertheless, there’s no reason not to take certain precautions, especially where a trickster like Clayman is concerned; someone who will only get more dangerous the more cornered he gets. That’s why Shuna, an accomplished magic user, volunteers to accompany Benimaru, Souei, and Hakurou…but not before she’s done hand-sewing Rimuru’s Walpurgis suit!

When Clayman’s forces approach from the bottom of a canyon as planned, Benimaru knows that victory is all but assured. Gabiru’s lizardmen and Souei’s ninjas mop up whoever doesn’t fall down the sinkholes created by Geld’s Orc soldiers.

The Beastketeers subordinate themselves to Benimaru specifically so they can see combat on the front lines, in order to get revenge for what happened to their beloved Lord Carrion.

Gabiru and his pals team up with Suphia, presumably to face off against Father Middray and his student. Phobio seeks out Tear and Footman, who are a lot tougher than they look, but Phobio’s no slouch either, plus he has Geld backing him up. I love how arrogant the harlequins are, but again, they have the skills to back it up. Of all the foes Rimuru’s forces clash with this week, they’re the most concerning.

Less so is Yamza, who despite being one of the “Five Fingers” (such a lame name!) is far more concerned with retreating in such a way as to save face in the eyes of his master, Clayman. It’s admirable that he’s able to think many moves ahead, but his plans of slipping away are dashed by Albis. It’s clear that she, along with her fellow Beasketeers, are as eager for action as we the viewers are!

All of Rimuru’s main and secondary lieutenants and allies get chances to shine, even Gobta, who saves Albis from a sneak attack and demonstrates that despite his cartoonish looks and lack of confidence, he’s pretty much a match for Yamza…he just needs to apply himself!

After being forced to sit around and wait while all of the pieces of this arc are painstakingly set up, it’s exhilarating to watch those pieces suddenly set into motion, like a wonderful piece of clockwork. I can’t wait to see what next week brings as each of these little isolated battles progress and evolve.

TenSura – 42 – The Gods Stir

Rimuru starts to head to Walpurgis (though with his teleportation magic one would think there’d be no further need to “head out” anywhere; he can go wherever he wants instantly and can take whoever he wants with him. But this episode isn’t about Rimuru; it’s about Clayman, his plans, and the elite Demon Lords know and think about all these goings-on leading to the Walpurgis.

Clayman is being set up for an epic downfall. For one thing, he wrongly assumes it was Veldora and not Rimuru who destroyed Falmuth’s army. Second, he still believes his former tool Mjurran to be dead. Thirdly, he took the frankly suicidal step of turning Milim into his doll and puppet by having Sky Queen Frey place an enchanting pendant around her neck. Just to up his evil cred, he beats the everloving shit out of the defenseless Milim. There’s no way he doesn’t pay for all of this somewhere down the line!

Meanwhile, Demon Lords who consider the likes of Clayman naught but a whelp confer before the Walpurgis. Demon Lord Guy Crimson, one of the oldest and strongest lords along with Milim, summons the less powerful but still really really powerful Demon Lord Leon Cromwell to his ice palace to discuss things. While Guy seems content to lounge around his ice palace, a merchant spy (I think we all know who) has been steadily feeding Leon intelligence about Clayman, Rimuru, and Velora.

It isn’t long before Guy’s paramour, White Ice Dragon Velzard, who just happens to be Veldora’s big sister, joins the discussion. These three just emanate power, dignity, and above all shrewdness. They don’t come off as villains, either, but well-rounded people, albeit people who can rend the earth asunder with a snap. By comparison, Clayman and his pack of clowns seem like…well, a bunch of pathetic clowns.

While he could probably only defeat Guy one out of a million or so times, Leon may be the smartest demon lord of them all (most certainly brighter than our dumb blue protagonist), able to see through both Clayman’s lies and the cover story Rimuru put out there. He suspects that rather than being the recipient of tremendous luck, Rimuru could’ve been the one who broke Veldora’s seal, which would put him on their level.

Leon’s even learned that it was Rimuru who cured the summoned children before he could take them in. This makes Leon very excited for the upcoming Walpurgis, though Velzard pointedly declines to accompany him there. No doubt she’s going to go look up her brother in Tempest.

All this lends credence to the fact that Clayman isn’t really someone Rimuru needs to worry about. I mean for gosh sakes, Clayman isn’t even a real Demon Lord yet, while Rimuru is! ‘Nuff said! But it’s not, because as long as people like Guy and Leon are around, Rimuru can’t really take it easy. Aw, who am I kidding, he’s going to keep taking it easy!

TenSura – 41 – Walpurgis Bound

If you expected last week to be the fourth and blessedly final episode of mostly standing or sitting around talking…I’ve got bad news. There’s still a lot of that this week as well, especially in the first half.

Last week’s dilemma of how to get an army to Eurazania in time is immediately solved by Raphael: a low-magicule cost mass teleportation spell. Rimuru decides to attend the Walpurgis along with Shion, Ranga, Ramiris, and Treyni. Veldora will remain to protect the city with the option of being summoned by Rimuru in a pinch.

We check in on Milim’s City of the Forgotten Dragon, where two priests are being treated like menial servants by Yamza, Magic Swordsman of Ice…who in addition to being a huge asshole has a terrible title to boot! Father Middray takes his shit, but his young acolyte Hermes voices his outrage that Yamza’s army is eating the city’s food and demanding free labor.

Hermes loses an arm for this outburst, and Middray smashes him against a stone pillar just to keep Yamza from killing him. After Yamza pisses off, Middray easily reattaches Hermes’ arm and urges patience. I hope these two and their peers get to take it to Yamza before this is all done.

Rimuru decides if thanks to his evolution and Raphael’s, he’s able to instantly transport large groups across hundreds of miles, he might as well evacuate Eurazania of all the refugees currently in harm’s way. He spends all night doing this with Phobio

The result of the evacuation is that when Clayman’s armies reach Eurazania, they’ll encounter no innocent people, only Rimuru’s formidable army of over 20,000, including units led by Benimaru, Gobta, Gabiru, Geld, and many others. Rimuru gives them a little motivational speech before activating the Itano- Circus-like mega-spell that zaps them all away at once.

Between Rimuru, Shion and Ranga headed to Walpurgis and almost everyone else about to engage Clayman’s forces in battle, it looks like sticking around these past five weeks is about to start paying off…assuming next week isn’t just Veldora lounging around back in the city!

TenSura – 40 – Here We Don’t Go Again

One third of TenSura’s second season’s second cour has now been one long glorified infodump, featuring nothing but people standing and sitting around discussing things. There’s even a brief recap of last week’s talking, before we go right back into the next stage of talking. Who in their right mind would think this is acceptable method of storytelling?

Ramiris, who showed up and fell asleep last week, finally wakes up and offers some details about the threat to Tempest that probably isn’t any threat at all. Considering what happened the last time an enemy tried a coordinated attack on Tempest, it went…poorly. That, along with this constant parade of drab meetings, saps any potential drama or peril regarding another attack.

If there’s one improvement to this episode over the previous three, it’s that at least Rimuru & Co. go somewhere other than the conference room or gazebo. They hang out in the hot springs, then have a meal in the spa’s dining room. And as annoying and grating as Ramiris is, it is exceedingly cute watching Treyni and her sister pamper her.

With the announcement that Clayman may be launching an attack on Eurazania and not Tempest, and that Rimuru & Co. are too far away to lend any timely aid to the refugees there, there finally seems to be some momentum towards actual things maybe possibly happening next week. But I’ll still expect more meetings and more talking until shown otherwise. I’ve already been fooled for the better part of a month. Enough’s enough!

TenSura – 39 – The Slime’s Gambit

Amen, Gobta. Gobta is me right now, after enduring another interminable episode packed with people standing or sitting around talking about everything they’re going to do instead of actually doing anything. A full quarter of Slime’s second season’s second cour has been nothing but exposition. When I think of how much To Your Eternity gets done every three episodes, it really puts TenSura’s leisurely start into relief.

I like to see Gobta dozing through the endless talking as a sign even the producers know this is a bit much…but that didn’t stop them from making these episodes! When I go through all of the information I received, I can’t help but think it could have been presented a different way. A cutaway or two to illustrate the scenarios brought up, perhaps? This ain’t rocket science, it’s anime production!

The best part of this episode is when it ended. Yes, it was nice to see Ramiris again, but despite the episode being called “Ramiris’s Warning” Rimuru doesn’t take her warning seriously, and she spends the remaining 90% of the episode lying unconscious on Veldora’s leg.

It’s also downright odd to hear Rimuru cheerfully planning on intentionally causing a civil war in Falmuth that will probably claim the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. That’s some villainous shit, discussed with upbeat music in an idyllic English-style garden. But I won’t mind Rimuru committing any number of further atrocities…if he and his pals would just leave that frikkin’ gazebo and do something!

TenSura – 38 – In Conference

Holey moley, I hope you like people sitting around either introducing themselves talking about stuff that’s already happened, or planning what’s going to happen next, you’re gonna love this episode. MAL clearly does! As for me, it left me fairly cold, in contrast to last week’s warmer, more familial atmosphere.

We start with the return of Kagurazaka Yuuki, still flipping through the manga Rimuru made for him, who is hanging with Kagali, formerly the Demon Lord Kazaream now in a new Elven body, and Laplace, member of the most annoying bunch in all TenSura, the Harlequins. I honestly forgot the guy, but he and his friends have plans for “the squishy one”.

Speaking of His Squishiness, Rimuru commences a great meeting under a big gazebo that resembles the meeting where the Fellowship was forged in Rivendell. As if admitting there are just too many damn people at the meeting, both Dwargo and Elalude have a private meeting with Rimuru in his office, after learning Veldora Tempest is now free and has human form.

Rimuru explains everything that happened since he was reincarnated as a slime and met Veldora, and both leader decide they’ll back Rimuru’s play. After all, he’s essentially a Demon Lord and BFF to the Evil Dragon; if it were my kingdom, I’d probably hitch my wagon to Tempest too!

With that settled, the meeting moves back outside, but switching the setting back and forth doesn’t change the fact that this is an interminable episode. There are some interesting notions brought up here and there, but at the end of the day it’s all talk. The only action is recycled from previous episodes, like Rimuru’s battle with Hinata, which only serves to remind us what TenSura is capable of when its not dragging its feet.

This method of slowly, deliberately building up the stakes and having long meetings to discuss What Must Be Done is absolutely nothing new to the series. It’s always a little sluggish out of the gate. I was almost ready for a little nap when Ramiris splatted on the glass gazebo roof, then approaches Rimuru to warn him that his capital is “doomed to fall”.

I’m not under any illusions this will suddenly lead to an action-packed third episode—it will probably start with Ramiris elaborating while everyone stands around and listens—but it is at least something.

TenSura – 37 – Fellowship of the Slime

Rimuru and the gang are back, and like most TenSura premieres, it’s far more a quiet easing into the hot spring than a cannonball into lava. That said, there’s nothing quiet about this opener, thanks to Mr. Veldora Tempest, now possessed of his freedom and a shredded human form. Despite his new look, Veldora feels like an old friend and treats Rimuru like a brother and “BFF”. He’s way to brash and jovial, but I just can’t hate him.

His return to the Forest of Jura—now a powerful federation with a bustling capital thanks to his BFF—is awkward at first, but once Rimuru’s compatriots realize he’s the Lord Veldora, they welcome him with their usual exuberance, and a giant party ensues. During this time, we are reminded how gross Shion’s food is, but one benefit of being resurrected is that she now has the ability to make her food taste great no matter how she cooks it, which is…random!

If you look above, you’ll see that no fewer than two dozen characters sitting at a single conference table during another one of TenSura’s interminable infodumpy council scenes. That’s a lot of characters, and for the vast majority of shows I’d say it was way too many, but they were all introduced gradually enough, and are individually distinctive enough, that even if only a handful get lines, they all feel like old friends, just like Veldora.

The episode serves as a platform for Rimuru to make clear he intends to come out as a Demon Lord to the whole world. His plans include cleaning up Falmuth (whose army he annihilated), keeping the Holy Church “in check” (I imagine he can hold his own against Sakaguchi Hinata by now), rescue Lord Carrion, and eventually deal with Lord Clayman himself.

Among his usual allies, he also has Blumund, Dwargon, and a newcomer in the Elves of the Sorcerous Dynasty of Thalion. That last and most floridly named nation is led by Elalude, who just happens to be Eren’s dad! Small world. In any case, the elves seem to be top magic users and should prove to be a valuable ally. Rimuru and his grand alliance have a lot to do, but this week they just talk about it. Maybe next week they’ll start doing it!