The Ancient Magus' Bride Episode 17 Review: Look before you leap.

How do you guys usually spend Christmas? Chise finally has a family to spend hers with, but unfortunately, she somehow ends up caught in a messy incident that she has nothing to do with! The Ancient Magus’ Bride really knows how to shove our protagonist into unexpected situations, but ones where she ends up learning a lot, though.

Plot

Ashen Eye is back with his mischiefs again, but this time, he’s got a very important lesson to teach! The kids who bumped into Chise back at the train station have gotten themselves in a bind with him. Fortunately for the older sister, she managed to see Chise again and enlist her help to get her brother back, who was spirited away by the old creature!

Episode Highlights

Christmas morning: Wow, the teddy bear that Elias gave Chise isn’t only cute, but useful too! Not only does it help her manage her magic output, but even puts the excess to good use! Magical flowers would sell like hotcakes, don’t you think? Actually, it’s amazing if you realize how much thought Elias put into his gift for her. Chise’s other friends gave her things that would help her as well, especially Angelica! As someone who experienced so much hardship a few months ago, no wonder Chise’s so happy! I find it ironic that people closer to faeries than humans (except for Simon, I guess) are the ones who appreciate her better. Then again, she’s also closer to weird things going on. Like a human child suddenly being erased from existence. Not exactly a normal Christmas morning, huh?

Searching for brother: Good thing for Stella that Chise decided to go out to thank Simon when she did! It’s also fortunate for her that Chise recognized her from the train station, even if it was only for a glimpse! Somehow, watching a normal person like her meeting a mysterious girl, a bone-headed mage, and a talking dog made me realize that Chise really is part of the magical world now. Stella was seeing (or not seeing) and experiencing things our protagonist now normally encounters. I was so proud when Chise knew exactly how to play her cards; even when she was all out of flowers, being able to offer up a specific amount of her blood as trade, she’s really learned a lot! More than that though, I was surprised at the reason why she was helping a girl she just bumped into. We have seen it with other strangers before, ones who eventually became her friends. But to think this time that her motivation was more personal: her own little brother whom she couldn’t see anymore! She didn’t want Stella to experience it as well. Ahh, Chise you beautiful girl, I’m loving you more and more!

A game: Oh man! Alarm bells sounded in my head when Ashen Eye dragged Elias into the game by force, leaving Chise to her own devices! I was so worried about what she’ll be able to do without him, as he’s always been the one guiding her this whole time! She looked like she realized it as well, but it’s a good thing Ruth was there to comfort her! I so, so loved what he said! Being from two different sides of the world didn’t stop Elias and Chise from meeting each other, and Stella and Ethan’s bond as siblings can’t be easily broken, so they all can surely find each other again! It allowed Chise to think much clearer, making her realize the hint Ashen Eye gave her! Who would’ve thought that the old fart’s gift, which almost separated her from Elias forever, would bring her back to him? What an amazing turn of events! Though, maybe he’s been planning that all along…Well, while I’m still pissed at him for pulling another terrible prank on everyone, he did teach Stella and Ethan a very good lesson. Pretty sure they’ll remember what their words can do from now on, and even appreciate each other more.

Elias and Ethan: Back during their visit to the Cat Kingdom, Elias mentioned that he hates kids. And now that we saw him stuck together with Ethan, we finally realize why! I mean, who wouldn’t be so fascinated if you met a talking bone who could also change his appearance, right? I’d probably be curious, too! However, it wasn’t all bad. Ethan’s love for his sister helped Elias realize something new about relationships, about family. He looked like he understood that if it’s not Chise who’s with him, then it’s pointless. How amazing is it that just when that dawned on him, Chise managed to find him, someone she regarded as hers! I just really, really love the dynamics of their relationship!

Themes & Trivia

Look before you leap: This pretty well-known proverb means that we need to think carefully about the consequences before doing something. It applies accurately to Stella, huh? She found it so easy to spout words that would hurt her brother, and so she really ended up almost losing him!

Kamikakushi: A term also known as ‘spirited away’ (yes like the Ghibli movie), it’s used for the mysterious disappearance of a person in Japan. Sometimes, they’d turn up again a few days later in a shrine or a temple, saying they’ve been taken away by a god.

Comments

This is definitely one of my most favorite episodes because of how wonderful the writing is, along with all the feels it gave me! It was able to show just how capricious long-lived creatures are, as Ashen Eye was just looking to get a kick out of other people’s miseries. But at the same time, he was able to effectively teach the kids a lesson on the power of words. The whole situation also gave Chise a chance to become independent, but also developing her relationship with Elias further, albeit on his side. Hitting a lot of birds with one episode, how amazing is that!

Another friend?

Previously, Alice said she and Chise are friends. Now, Stella also called her one! Chise’s world is really expanding, isn’t it? And she seems so happy about it! But, it looked like Elias has a problem with that…Oho?

Well, we’ll learn what happens next week! Until then, do let us know what you thought of this episode in the comments section! Make sure to catch our other Winter 2018 anime reviews, too!