Radiant Episode 18 Review: The Light that Follows the Darkness – Awakening –

I’m feeling two things about this episode. First, I’m sincerely relieved that we finally saw the end of this arc. Second, I’m incredibly pleased that it ended in such an explosive and flashy way! It’s unfortunate that it didn’t end on such a happy note – pretty tragic and foreboding if we’re going to be specific – but it just proved that Radiant is no longer that light-hearted series we started off with.

Plot

Seeing Hameline get killed by Torque, Seth immediately wanted to retaliate and fight him. However, when Von Teppes, another Thaumaturge, fended him off, the bandage on his face was hit. And with that, we found out just what Piodon meant when he said that it was a seal, because Seth suddenly became like a wild animal! He managed to go toe-to-toe with Torque, if only for a bit, before he was knocked off the tower and swept away to safety by Melie and Grimm.

Episode Highlights

Beast unleashed: Okay, we’ve seen Seth go out of control before, when he was younger and being bullied by village children. But this is totally different! It’s like this wasn’t Seth any more, but truly just a wild animal going on a rampage! He’s been blowing everyone (and us) away by how much hidden powers he’s been revealing left and right. And then suddenly this, fighting off against three Thaumaturges at once, it’s crazy! I’m just sad because, didn’t Alma tell him before setting off that he shouldn’t become a monster? Also, is it just me, or did the marks on his body somehow resemble the Nemesis’ designs? Hmm…

Seth and Piodon: From how the discussion between these two went, it seems Piodon had something to do with Seth’s rampage, like he’s the one who made him act that way. Before Von Teppes delivered another blow to Seth, there was that quick shot of Piodon looking quite focused, then opening his eyes before Seth opened his. Kinda like there was a connection between them? They were also able to talk in that weird cloudy consciousness of Seth. Who is Piodon, really? He seemed to have hesitated a bit before confirming that he’s Seth’s older brother, which kind of makes me suspicious if that’s really the case. Maybe they’re actually part of a small race of human-Nemesis hybrid, and the horns are what marks them as such? Might be a shot in the dark, but that’s my best guess!

The coffin: Grimm, I’m so sorry for misjudging you! I thought the reason he put people inside the coffin was somehow to punish them, yet it was actually to safeguard them as infected or witnesses of Konrad’s wrongdoings! Then again, I’m pretty sure you all thought the same thing, huh? Cause who would normally think a creepy coffin as that is a safe place? He also didn’t even realize that if people were taken away and be gone for days that would count as becoming ‘missing’. Hoo boy, he’s really such an odd guy. I hope he sticks around longer!

Bittersweet closure: The people in Rumble Town are finally safe from the tyranny of Konrad, and from the attack of the Domitor and her Nemesis. The Thaumaturges have taken over the situation, so surely solving the issue of extreme discrimination in their town will be more civilized? Let’s hope so. At least the people can become more at ease than before. Seth and the others managed to get away safely as well, thanks to the rescue train that Artemis sent. It was in such a flashy way, too! A perfect way to close Rumble Town’s dark chapter, one where a fellow sorcerer died to save her former enemies, and where Seth realized that he didn’t get to save anyone.

Themes & Trivia

Power Limiter: If it’s true that the bandage on Seth’s face still had a part in making him unleash hell (aside from Piodon’s influence), then he’s another character who has a power limiter because of what havoc he can wreak! Other characters who have items that seal their destructive powers are Goku from Saiyuki, and Kyo from Fruits Basket.

Comments

Don’t we normally discover a protagonist’s OP superpowers late in the story? That’s why, for Radiant to reveal Seth’s this early on certainly piqued my interest. Aside from the fact that it’s such a negative, out-of-control form, I feel like there’s something more about it that we’re going to discover as the story unfolds.

I also feel that Seth will be a bit more toned down from now on, given his huge trauma from Hameline’s death, and the mysteries surrounding himself. Plus, Grimm said that he won’t be able to use Fantasia with his arm anymore, which oddly relieved him. I just wish that, if Torque’s miracle had that nullification effect, they could have showed us much clearer that Torque hit Seth’s arm back then. It happened so fast that it didn’t really seem important until Grimm pointed it out.

A boy with horns is truly one to fear

Did you know that there’s only three more episodes left, since Radiant is only slated for 21 episodes? So, it’s a wonder what’s next for our sorcerer gang! I hope it continues to be faithful to the manga, instead of an anime original story to wrap it up.

Comments? Share them with us! More reviews? Better check out the other Winter 2019 reviews!

NEXT TIME: The World that You Changed – Relief –