Episode seven isn’t the slice of life hot springs episode I may have wanted, but it begins with a conversation between the divine Sword Maiden and our little Priestess. It’s a bit strange seeing the two beside each other, the Sword Maiden almost looks like the Priestess aged by fifteen years. Besides the obvious size difference, the Sword Maiden’s blonde hair is a lighter tone than our Priestess’. One more thing binds them together, and that is the fear of goblins. Judging by both her scars, and tone of voice when discussing Goblin Slayer, Priestess deduces that even the mighty Sword Maiden knows the fear of goblins. I was expecting something along these lines, considering she personally requested Goblin Slayer. Perhaps it’s a way of coming to terms with her fear, by bringing the one man who can face them without batting an eye.
While the party relaxes throughout Water Town, eating cheese and drinking wine, something irks Goblin Slayer. As someone who’s explored the massive sewer system beneath the city, he’s suspicious of its lack of giant sewer rats. Compelled by both curiosity and the desire to destroy the heart of the goblin nest beneath Water Town, he ventures forth into the sewers once again with the party. It’s revealed that deep within the sewers are the ruins of an ancient age, with paintings describing a war from long ago. Unfortunately for the heroes in the mural, their resting place has become a home for goblins.
Exploring the dark ruins seemed almost like a dungeon run, not knowing what could be lurking behind the next corner. With an epic guitar track in the back, the party continues forth behind Goblin Slayer’s leadership. It almost reminded me of the Mines of Moria from the Lord of the Rings, and the underground architecture revolving around huge stone pillars contributed to the case as well. It’s also a bit coincidental how the ruins are essentially a giant graveyard, similarly to how Moria became a dwarven tomb! The parallels get even stronger as they enter a confined room with massive double doors, much like the pivotal fight scene in Moria. However, rather than a cave troll, the goblins have a champion on their side. As a big Lord of the Rings fan, it’s great to see such a clear reference!
The production studio takes a few creative liberties with the fight scene itself, most notably a 360 degree rotation around a CGI Goblin Slayer in slow motion. It’s sorta awesome, and looks passable, even for the below average CGI that Goblin Slayer often implements. However, my awe for this shot was quickly replaced by despair as the party falls apart.
The Goblin Champion slaps Goblin Slayer into oblivion, and the Protection spell falls apart. Lizard man is overwhelmed by goblins and a small group quickly bull rush High Elf as well. Things look dire and Priestess succumbs to both her fears of Goblin Slayer dying, instilled within her by the Sword Maiden’s words, along with the PTSD from the deaths of her first party. But Goblin Slayer proves his badassery once again, motivated by the desire to not let history repeat itself. He stands up from his horrible wounds, spraying blood across the floor and jumps onto the Goblin Champion. In an action that could only be described as pure badassery, he begins to choke the Goblin Champion with human hair. He’s slammed into walls, and the pressure against his hands cuts into them deep, but he never relents. The red glow of his eye returns for the first time in a while, marking the deepest, most brutal goblin killing urges within him.
The party rejoices as the rest of the goblins flee at the sight of the Goblin Slayer, but their celebration is cut short as Goblin Slayer collapses onto the ground. The episode ends with a somber soundtrack, and a reflective shot from the canary’s eye. I think this episode encompasses everything that makes Goblin Slayer, Goblin Slayer. The looming threat of death for even a party of experienced adventurers, the sobering mortality of Goblin Slayer himself, and the red fury that lurks deep within him. This will be a lesson never forgotten from anyone in the party because they would’ve all died this episode had it not been for the insanity of Goblin Slayer himself.
The first time I watched I was feeling unconfortable by the parrot long scene, then I realized that Crunchyroll messed it up.
That was THE CREDITS ROLL
Wow, thank you for letting me know, I had no idea. That does make it a lot more reasonable!
May I add the group is also in a slight disadvantage because of the recklessness of the Goblin Slayer? He charges outside the protection to take the champion when he could help reduce the minion’s numbers before engaging the champion.
Yeah, it felt a bit out of character, perhaps it’s been too long since he’s fought a Goblin Champion and he underestimated it? I think it’s more likely that he’s used to them, but this one just happened to get the better of him.
In the manga GS was hiding behind a sarcophagus to land a stealth strike on Goblin Champion. The latter just got extremely lucky (in DnD terms, got a Nat20 on a dice throw) and spotted GS before he attacked.