Recap: Crusty puts the moves on Lenessia.

Iro’s Thoughts:
Remember how I said in one of the Golden Time posts that I didn’t approve of emotional manipulation of others? Crusty treads dangerously close to the line I draw on the subject during this episode, mentally outmaneuvering Lenessia into basically being his guide/escort through the high nobility. It’s mostly played for laughs as Lenessia sort of blubbers through everything, but now I can’t help but seeing Crusty as kind of a douchebag only trying to further his own interests. Comparing her to his sister barely has any impact on making the entire affair less sketchy, because it still comes across as him just saying stuff to make Lenessia more receptive.

Speaking of Lenessia, I’m not sure how I feel about her character in general. They quickly break the “proper lady” cliche with a scene of her picking comfortable pajamas over proper ones, but “I’m tired of being a princess” is arguably even worse of a cliche. Considering that she’s done nothing so far but get pushed around by everyone, it’s hard to appreciate her presence in any meaningful way. She’ll have to become more proactive or more interesting if the show wants me to take her seriously.

As for the lead-in to next week, Regan has clearly been a sketchy-ass fucker since his first appearance a couple episodes ago. I’m not sure it’s safe to call him a villain outright, but he sure as hell looks exactly like a villain. Who else but a villain wilts flowers with their mere presence? Honestly, I want to call him as a heroic character now because his villainy is just so damn obvious. I guess we’ll find out.

Random Observations Since I Wouldn’t Be Able To Structure Them Properly In A Paragraph

• Rudy immediately becomes the worst kind of asshole by blaming the party’s poor performance on the healers. Tohya gives him shit for it right after though, so it’s not all bad.
• Minori gets everyone’s attention and then proceeds to say it’s nothing. Really?
• Apparently the Landers ate tasteless food before Nyanta figured out how to cook. This strains the suspension of disbelief somewhat.
• Lenessia trying to discreetly wolf down cookies was amusing.
• Akatsuki practicing dancing on her off time was pretty adorable.