Wistoria: Wand and Sword episode 3 put story progression on a halt to showcase more of Will’s abilities…again. What I think might be the weakest episode of the series so far still had its upsides for different reasons. The twist at the climax of the episode was something I especially didn’t predict. That being said, going forward, I would like to see Wistoria focus more on what’s above the dungeon than what’s in it.
23 Minutes For a Scene
I’ve always hated pieces of work that leave people saying “The movie/episode was crud but that after-credits scene was crazy.” It tells me that the entire experience would be a waste of time and that it was built up for nothing more than the one-minute scene after the credits roll. Unfortunately, that’s how I felt a little bit this week with episode 3.
It felt like another attempt to tell the viewer Will can’t use magic and he’s on his way to Elfaria as quickly as possible. We got more action, which was once again beautifully animated, but I need to see more dungeon lore out of Wistoria other than it being a credits haven for Will—if that’s what it’s going for.
I’m not so much a fan of dungeon anime in the first place, à la DanMachi, but at least the series has lore in the dungeon itself. Studio Trigger’s Delicious in Dungeon is the same. As for Wistoria, it’s very brief and explained in little to no detail so far. It’s only episode 3 so I’ll, of course, let the series breathe and develop.
I did say that I would love to see this series focus more on the real-world elements (the Magia Vander, the academy, Will’s relationships, the politics, world-building, etc) more than the dungeon itself. But having an episode where most of the story takes place in a dungeon and the only explanation is “This ice monster is on this floor” left a lot more to be desired.
I had my hand on my cheek the entire episode watching it, admiring the stellar animation and detailed art. But I couldn’t help but wait for what was supposed to be the big reveal—the Magia Vander—only to be left waiting for their moment right before the episode officially ends. I’ll admit, though, that it was an interesting way to introduce them, having Iris working undercover to scout possible up-and-comers.
Episode 3’s Upside – Side Characters
I think Wistoria is going down the path of developing a solid cast of side characters. Outside of Colette, Edward, Workner, and Shion, there really wasn’t much focus on any standout side characters. But with Rosty and the newly introduced Magia Vander, the potential is there.
Fujino Omori, the author of Wistoria and DanMachi, has a knack for creating a group of fun and interactive side characters that can keep a story interesting. Rosty being Will’s (almost) magic tool provider is a nice side character to introduce for a main character who can’t use magic. Possibilities are endless for those kinds of characters. Most importantly, it shows that Will depends on others consistently for help.
As for the Magia Vander—that’s where my real interest lies with episode 3 of Wistoria. Having the four already split on accepting Will inside the tower was intriguing. I thought outright that all of them would say no. But having Zeo step up and even say that he’d accept a dwarf if they were worthy enough was a nice surprise for someone who seems to be the “brute” of the four.
Of course, their element natures were shown as they left the room besides Elfaria. But the biggest mystery of them all is who the fifth seat in the middle was for. None of them brought up a “missing person” or even so much left a breadcrumb about the open seat.
Zeo gave his “yay” for Will to join the tower while Cariot and Ellenor gave their “nay”, Elfaria didn’t necessarily have an input, alluding to thinking she wants Will in the tower but only when she believes that he’s ready. Hence why I think the decision was split. That being said, if he is joining the tower shortly, this story is moving at a rabbit’s pace.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword Episode 3 Wrap-Up
All in all, this episode ended as soon as it started. It went by in a flash. It wasn’t on the level of episode 1 or 2 in terms of script and that’s okay. Not every episode can be a 10/10. The high-quality production was still there for episode 3 of Wistoria, showing no signs of worry. Side note, I’d love to see Will more on his paper route from time to time. It’s a cool contrast that he’s clumsy on his feet as a paperboy but the total opposite when he’s fighting.
Episode 3 rating: 7/10
If you enjoyed Wistoria: Wand and Sword episode 3 then vote for the episode in our weekly poll! Episode 4 will be released on Sunday, July 28, on Crunchyroll.
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
©Fujino Omori, Toshi Aoi, Kodansha/Wistoria: Wand and Sword Production Committee
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