Finally! Radiant unveiled just what had happened 15 years ago through the Domitor’s tale, and it truly wasn’t pretty! There were predictable revelations, but there were shocking ones as well. And they all culminated into the terror everyone in Rumble Town was currently experiencing. What a heartbreaking and heart stopping episode this was!

Japanese Original Episode Title: その拳は流星のように -Burst-

Plot

According to the Domitor Hameline, all the chaos in Rumble Town boiled down to Konrad and his hatred for those that are different from him. He’s the reason for the tragedy currently happening, and for 15 years ago. She was just a young girl when she experienced Konrad’s cruelty towards her and her infected friends. Her friends died because Konrad incited the townspeople to attack them. He also murdered his former superior, Major Oxumare, whose kindness towards sorcerers and immigrants Konrad hated. But it’s also thanks to him that Hameline discovered she could communicate with the rat nemesis that attacked the town at the time. And so, she decided to exact revenge, not only on Konrad, but the whole of Rumble Town itself, using this newfound power she held.

Episode Highlights

Hameline’s tale: I love Oxumare so much! I wish he didn’t have to die, but at least even in his dying moments, he stood his ground and kept holding onto his beliefs by protecting Hameline. And even when he was still alive, he did his best to make the other infected children happy and safe. On the other hand, now we know what an utter trash Konrad is thanks to him murdering Oxumare and the children! Even before, he was hating on people who weren’t really doing anything wrong. I thought what he did to the immigrants was already terrible, but he actually had the gall to murder innocent children indirectly! He also used the commotion done by the Nemesis attack to sink the 13th district to the sky, then blamed it on the Nemesis! It’s incredibly sad how the citizens empowered someone as horrible as him, all because they had the same viewpoint. 

Connection: It’s also ironic how Hameline was almost killed by people, yet she found solace among the monsters so feared by everyone. For sure, in the eyes of the citizens, that could have been two monsters getting along together. But without prejudice, it truly wasn’t. It was a human and Nemesis breaking boundaries because of music. Unfortunately, the fact still remains that normal people could die on contact with Nemesis. Then again, with the current state of things, sorcerers could also die from the normal folks’ prejudice. What does that tell you?

The deal is off: So Konrad and Hameline did agree to work together at some point. Funny how he didn’t even remember her, the girl he tried to murder, which says a lot. Thanks to that, Hameline successfully used him to advance her own plans of hatred. She pulled the rug from under him!

Not a savior: I got goose bumps when Hameline smashed the people’s assumption that she was saving them from Konrad! Oof! She was also so badass when she pointed out how the people were denying the blood on their hands for back then and now! I know what she’s doing is also wrong, yet she’s got some really good arguments that I can’t help but root for her as well! Fortunately and unfortunately, Grimm finally came face to face with her to stop her!

Konrad vs. Seth: Konrad got dunked on by Seth this time! How the tables have turned! Our protagonist was so badass too, especially when he was deflecting Konrad’s attacks left and right like they were nothing! Guess Seth’s anger triggered him to use an ability he probably wasn’t even aware he had before. Either way, at the end of it all, Oxumare and Seth were right. The Wall of Rumble Town is indeed weak, whether 15 years ago when he was still lanky, or now that he’s gotten so buff. He didn’t realize it’s his fear of people different from him that made him this way, just as having lots of physical strength didn’t make him truly strong. 

Themes & Trivia

Music: Oxumare told the kids that a beautiful melody will soothe the heart, even across different languages and cultures. It’s actually true! The components that make up music – pitch, rhythm, and tempo – almost always evoke the same feelings no matter what language you understand. That’s why Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said ‘Music is the universal language of all mankind’.

Major: If you’re wondering like me, Major Oxumare has a higher rank than the Inquisition captains.

Comments

This was a wonderful episode as well! But this time, I loved it for the deep-seated themes that finally sprung forth now that we know what the whole story is. It’s eerie how the cycle of hatred was clearly conveyed with the mix of the past and present tragedies. I was also blown away when the citizens were just looking to save their own hides even when they already hurt others, because it was so easy to relate to our time! The exact moment when they ended the episode was awesome, too! It was perfect!

Skull Burst!

If Seth successfully managed to take down Konrad, which is great, there’s still the fact that Rumble Town is in danger of falling due to Hameline’s attack! Will our sorcerers be able to save the town? If they do, will the racist people in it be a bit more accepting of sorcerers and immigrants? Stay tuned!

Let us know what you thought of this episode in the comments section! You might also want to take a look at our list of First Episode Impressions, and the rest of our Winter 2019 reviews! The season is just getting started, and surely you’ll find lots of shows you’ll want to follow!

NEXT TIME: Fly High and Pierce Through the Storm – Rising –

Radiant

Winter 2019 | Anime Info | Simulcast