Sword Oratoria Episode 3 Review: Festivals and Courage

Hello, everyone! And welcome back to the review series of Sword Oratoria. We are already on Episode 3 of the gaiden, and bit by bit getting closer to where the first season ended. This time we got to see the party, where all of the gods gathered, as well as the Monsterphilia where many monsters went berserk and started destroying the city.

Of course, as we already know, everything ended with no causalities thanks to Aiz and our little boy Bell. While during the first season we got to see what happened to Bell and Hestia, how our little boy got to grow into a man, this time we experienced a similar pattern with Lefiya, who seems to be the main character of the gaiden. I find it rather cute that there are so many characters who look up to Aiz, and want to close up to her somehow, not just be saved by her all the time, and two of those are the main characters of the first season and the currently airing gaiden.

But then again, let’s cut the small talk short and get straight to the review!

Japanese Original Episode Title: 祭典と勇気

Plot

Thanks to this season being just a gaiden, we have already seen pretty much everything that has happened in the three episodes that have aired but from a different person’s perspective. It is really nice seeing what happens behind the scenes. In my honest opinion, this also helps you get to know the characters, as well as the universe a bit better. Considering that Danmachi is taking place in an imaginary universe, this kind of tricks are very useful and make you connect to the story on a deeper level.

This episode showed us yet once again the strength of Aiz Wallenstein, as well as the fact that there are other gods besides Freya who pull the strings behind all of the disasters.

It has been a season and three episodes of a gaiden, but I still have no idea why Freya is so interested in Bell. There must be something special about this boy, but we haven’t been clearly shown what exactly quite yet. I am pretty sure that there is a similar thing going on with Lefiya. We did finally get to see her use her powers, and it seems like she’s no ordinary elf. Exactly just like Bell, who seems to be your ordinary, weak human, but has some secret powers that make him level up so fast.

This specific episode was quite fast-paced, as well as event-packed. I mean, it wouldn’t be fun if there was no fighting, right? Then again, an interesting part of this episode was seeing the festival in this imaginary world. It was filled with many characters who do not look Japanese at all, as well as gods from all over the world, though let’s be fair, like 70% of major gods who actually matter are from the Greek and Roman mythology. But still, you get to see all the food stalls and all the exact treats that you get in a typical Japanese festival. Well played, Danmachi, well played.

Episode Highlights

Aiz is strong, we already know that. But her strength is too much for simple weapons. She ends up breaking the sword she was given until her own gets fixed. Who would have guessed!! (lol) However, her reaction to this was priceless:

I will get yelled at!

Extremely cute. Instead of thinking about the danger right in front of her, she worries about the blacksmiths’ rage!

Another thing that is worth being highlighted is Lefiya’s magic. It was beautiful, it was strong, it was unique. You’d think that she is probably just weak and that’s her main problem, but it turns out this tiny little cute elf right here has some skills that only she can use. And this makes her uniquely strong. So strong she is even compared to Riveria by Aiz. Do not forget that Riveria is one of the strongest adventurers as well as magicians in this universe! Must feel great being compared to her!

Themes & Trivia

Courage: Courage is exactly what helped Lefiya break free of her cage and cast the spell even though she was badly wounded and bleeding. Courage and pride. Being a member of Loki Familia, the most famous, the strongest and probably the most looked upon familia in the whole of Orario, being able to fight side by side to Aiz, being able to protect Aiz at the moment of a pinch, this is exactly what gave her the courage to move a step forwards, to get closer to Aiz, to the person she looks up so much, to the person who saved her life so many times, and of course, also the feeling of not dragging Aiz down anymore!

Comments

Even though there is literally no Bell or Hestia in this whole gaiden (at least so far) I still enjoyed the episode quite a bit. It is a really nice watch; puts your mind off of many things. Though I think it is easier to make spin-offs and not fail, unlike second seasons for particularly famous anime. You are basically retelling the story that everybody already knows, loves and has approved of. Except, doing this from a different point of view gives you an advantage to not be boring, to introduce new things, as well as to deepen the knowledge the viewers have of the universe.

Spin-offs are Fun!

I think that Sword Oratoria is going to be a hit, and definitely not a miss. It is well organized, it has a ice plot, and it has interesting characters. I would really be happy though, if we get to see Bell and Hestia, since they are my favourite characters of the series, but I don’t have much hope considering this is a gaiden.

In any case, here is a question I have for you my readers: do you have any thoughts on why is everybody so interested in Bell? If yes make sure to share them with us, here on MANGA.TOKYO! I will be waiting to hear from all of you!

Have a great week and see you soon!

As always, here are all our reviews for Spring 2017 and our impressions for (nearly) all the first episodes of the season!

NEXT TIME: The Murder and the Jewel (殺人と宝玉)