Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi Episode 2 Impressions – What are gods for?

Gods do not answer…

In amongst the hyper-violent training session, the war in which the General encouraged her army to kill, steal and rape before launching a tank at her enemy, and a secret meeting in which a spy definitely bit off more than he could chew, Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi actually took a moment to try to provide some context for the Idaten and the world.

This was done largely through Ysley and his conversations with Paula (and small exposition dump) while they recovered from Rin’s somewhat vigorous (torturous) training session.

I really liked that they explained why the Idaten aren’t running about the world intervening in human conflicts despite the various humans praying to the gods for help. It was a soundly logical reason and effectively helps the world building here make a lot of sense. Though, it also left Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi with a few more questions it will need to address going forward, but these first two episodes have certainly made it feel like this anime is up to that task.

Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi seems to have more than just energy up its sleeve.

In this second episode, Paula and Ysley decide to join Rin and Hayato for training. Though Ysley most definitely has a pretty clear agenda here, largely to do with self-preservation. While Rin’s training is certainly harsh, Ysley is smart enough to realise that if there are more demons about it is only by staying close to Rin and Hayato that he is really likely to survive.

Paula is more dragged along in this and of the three younger Idaten we’ve met so far is perhaps the weakest link (not just in terms of combat). Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi seem to be using Paula largely as a stand-in for the audience and someone who can ask questions (having never endured Rin’s training previously) and being someone willing to listen to Ysley while he info-dumps.

When allowed to step out of that role, Paula is an interesting enough character, but she spent way too much time in this episode being more or less just the audience’s surrogate.

However, episode 2 also establishes some more villains introducing a General who is crazy strong and more than a little bit bloodthirsty. I will admit, as she ‘inspired’ her men to attack I had my suspicions about her true nature which only became clearer as the episode continued.

By the time we meet the group gathered by Dr Odami for a meeting it is more or less confirmed and if you hadn’t already figured out what was up with these guys, the crazy blonde-girl’s method of dealing with someone who was eavesdropping will very quickly answer the most obvious question.

Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi provides a small titbit more information to clarify the point before the episode ends and I was left wondering how twenty minutes had already flown by.

Honestly, these series is just fun to watch and we flow from scene to scene and it never really feels like there is much down time but you also don’t feel like you are being rushed. Each of the characters and sequences are bright and energised and regardless of whether they are talking, crying, beating each other to a pulp, or anything else it just kind of draws you into the story.

While I’ve been quite enjoying a number of anime as they have gotten underway for Summer 2021, so far Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi is proving to be the most enjoyable and is probably the one I am most excited about seeing where they take this story.

I’d love to know your thoughts on the first couple of episodes of Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi so be sure to leave me a comment below.

Images from: Heion Sedai no Idaten-Tachi. Dir. S Kidokoro. MAPPA. 2021

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Karandi James

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