Goblin Slayer - Episode 5 (Review)

By: Mithrandiel

Miss my review last week? You can find it here!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Summary

After Goblin Slayer and his companions routed the goblin hideout, led by a fearsome ogre, our stoic protagonist was due for some rest - and rest he did! After 3 days of sleep, Goblin Slayer awakens to resume his duties of scouting for incursions around the farm, before heading into town to check for new quests.

He soon runs into Archer, Dwarf and Lizardman again, with the Lizardman sheepishly requesting more of that delicious cheese he had shared a few nights before. Goblin Slayer obliges, and Archer extends an invitation to join them in surveying some ruins nearby. Despite not being overtly goblin related, he doesn't dismiss it outright: a sign that our hero may be warming up to the idea of having companions.

Meanwhile, we get a peek at a couple of porcelain adventurers struggling with a classic "Level 1" quest - battling giant rats in the sewer! After getting his sword stuck in one of them, the pair has to flee, leaving his only weapon behind. Disarmed and broke, he consults some fellow adventurers to get some insight and advice.

The sultry witch with her...slow...manner of...speaking... provides him with a magical candle that will at least point him in the right direction of his missing blade. Finally, they consult with Goblin Slayer at the encouragement of the Adventurers Guild receptionist. While he is initially confused by the lack of goblins in their scenario (bless his simple heart), he ultimately recommends that the young man use a club. Cheap and effective, it could serve as a stopgap while he goes looking for his sword.

Concluding his already packed day, Goblin Slayer is asked for a favor by the receptionist, in a scene that has already proven to be quality meme material:

Eventually lured back in, Goblin Slayer is asked to help observe a "promotion exam". As adventurers battle monsters, improve their gear, etc, they become eligible for promotions through the ranks.

The subject in question is a cocky young rogue, adorned with quality equipment and eagerly awaiting his inevitable promotion. However, the exam turns out to be an interrogation, as it's quickly revealed that he found and hid treasure from his companions, keeping it for himself and using the funds to buy new gear. For this crime, and lying to the panel, he's demoted to Porcelain rank and cast out of the city.

Following his expulsion, there's a moment when he nearly jumps up to attack the receptionist, but Goblin Slayer's fearsome presence squelches that idea quickly. Still, we see him scowling as he walks through the streets, a potential villain in the making?

Returning to the misadventures of our upstart heroes, the club-wielding turns out to be just the thing to get the job done. After discovering that a giant cockroach had eaten his blade, they track it down and he beats it to death before reclaiming his weapon. Returning to the pub, we see a celebration as heroes from across the ranks celebrate his determination and victory.

The episode concludes with the arrival of a new quest - one from a recognizable hero known as "The Sword Maiden". What could such a powerful hero need assistance with?

Review

To begin, I would like to begin with this humorous (and in fact, legit) image representing the most popular streamed show in America, by state:

So, that's a thing. Despite the continued hubbub surrounding Goblin Slayer, it's obviously doing something right - and I think the most recent episode is a great example.

Despite being a "filler"-esque episode, it does a great job of shifting the spotlight just enough to keep it interesting, and bring some color to the broader fantasy world that they all occupy.The practical challenges of the porcelain-ranked adventurers struggling to complete their quest was particularly endearing, and I appreciated that the solution wasn't just handed to him by a higher-ranked adventurer (I had flashbacks of running fresh-faced World of Warcraft players through the Deadmines). Furthermore, the other adventurers he talked to were largely helpful and supportive, which painted the broader Adventurers Guild in a positive light of camaraderie.

The promotion exam scene was  interesting, continuing to reinforce the idea that the Adventurers Guild operates with a certain code of ethics and standards, and that selfish actions like hoarding treasure for yourself isn't looked kindly upon by anyone. The resulting anger of the demoted adventurer certainly screams "future bad guy", but time will tell.

While Goblin Slayer wasn't necessarily center stage for the bulk of this episode, it was cool to see his place within the broader picture of the Adventurers Guild: a reliable companion, a stoic observer, an admirable mentor. Despite his singularly focused mission of exterminating goblins, we see some of that rigidity fall away both in his mentorship of the young adventurer, and in honoring the receptionist's request.

Story-wise, fans of the light novel recognize that the sword maiden arc appears to be picking up in the final scenes of this week's episode. With that in mind, that means that there are a couple large plot-points that are either being removed or re-arranged for the purposes of the anime adaptation. If you're a fan of the LN, this may give you some pause. As an anime-only fan, however, it seems to be maintaining its pace.

The animation did take a few steps back this week, with some rougher character shots and filler scenes that lack the polish of the early weeks. Still, not enough to distract from the otherwise entertaining plot.

Goblin Slayer continues to deliver quality, classic fantasy action every week. I look forward to seeing the Sword Maiden Arc play out, and to see how Goblin Slayer continues to grow as an adventurer, and a person.