Welcome to Tensura Season 2 Part 2 episode 40 which is also known as ‘characters talk a lot in the garden, then move to a bath where they talk a lot, and finally sit down for a meal where they talk a lot’.
I’m not opposed to dialogue heavy anime but nothing that has come from episode 38, episode 39 or even this most recent episode seems to have been interesting enough to warrant a whole episode devoted to chatter about it. It certainly wasn’t worth three episodes.
But rather than complain about things I cannot change, I think this episode of Tensura has given me an opportunity to discuss something I’ve been really enjoying about this season, and that is the opening theme.
“Like Flames” by MindaRyn is one of those openings that reminds me of Bleach’s better seasons where just listening to the song you get hyped for the characters and the action to unfold. Although, at least in Bleach they mostly delivered on that promise. Still, there’s a lot to love about the energy of this opening.
Outside of that, I am really loving Rimuru’s look in this second season, second part OP of Tensura. The black and grey uniform as he strides forward and away from the audience… Rimuru seldom looks all that intense as mostly Tensura is pretty laid back as an anime but the OP makes these characters look so earnest and really like they are really warming up for something amazing.
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All of which is awesome only the last three episodes have then left me hyped up for something that is utterly undelivered on. Episode 40 doesn’t even make an attempt to cut away from the talking and the only glimpse of a threat is the subject of yet more discussion.
Tensura 2’s OP rocks.
Though, I did have a few random thoughts while watching Tensura this week. For instance I realise that Rimuru is the one who is at the centre of Tempest and so it makes sense that Japanese culture has kind of wormed its way into village life. Though it is amazing how many isekai have characters behave in a very Japanese manner without that kind of excuse. Still, the scene where they all sit on the floor in Yukata’s and eat with chopsticks just made me realise how very Japanese this setting is.
Of course, I do have to give a shout out to Veldora’s yukata because that thing is gorgeous and the dragon motif is so very perfect for him. If you were after cute, Ramiris’ watermelon themed yukata will probably have you covered.
On the bright side, episode 40 of Tensura 2 does at least finally let Ramiris give her warning in full that Tempest is in danger because Clayman has called a gathering of demon-lords. Then we get a rehash of the events of the last conflict and where things stand to explain what Clayman is doing but honestly, this doesn’t feel very threatening and given the firepower Rimuru has at his disposal, I’m not really inclined to be concerned.
Even the final attempt to add tension by outlining a threat to the animal kingdom that is ahead of Rimuru’s plans doesn’t feel all that concerning and I rather suspect they will wrap things up in relatively quick order once they actually start doing anything other than talking.
All things considered, I would like to believe the promise of the OP and that Tensura is really going to kick things up a notch once they get going. But the season so far has presented little evidence of that. Instead we have a fairly lacklustre effort with little charm and too many characters doing far too little.
Even if the story goes into overdrive from this point forward, I kind of hope viewers don’t forget that for four episodes (so a third of the season) That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Part 2 had characters make jokes about just how long the meeting was going and yet still didn’t bring it to a close and move on. Being self-aware does not give you licence to troll.
Images from: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Part 2. Dir. Y Kikuchi. 8bit. 2021.
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Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James
Here’s the thing: the *characters* may have to stick around for the entire meeting, but the *audience* should not need to. Particularly when they got to telling us, several times, what we already knew. The only word for that is “boring.”
The future of the story includes titanic confrontations between ancient and powerful armies of might and magic… but we clearly aren’t getting there too quickly!
I REALLY think this could have been two episodes instead of three. Maybe they needed filler? I see the need for a buildup before the clash with Clayman but not this much.
I figure that Slime could route the army invading the animal kingdom (Eurazania or somesuch) all by him/her/it self. Already killed 10K in one shot and is now a lot more powerful.
But maybe its a trap!
Honestly I am just hoping something happens next episode.