Overlord - Season 3 Episode 7 (Review)
By: Archmage
Spoiler Free Summary
The “Workers” have found their way to the mysterious dungeon that has appeared outside Re-Estize. Eager to claim the treasures that surely await them. The 4 parties dive into the depths of the tomb, enticed by caches of treasure they've found on the surface.Upon entering the tomb, they encounter a small pack of low level skeletons which are dispatched easily. Green leaf, lead by Parpatra, volunteers to stay outside and search for another entrance that might lead directly to the heart of the tomb, however it's clear that they are just letting the others scout first clearing the way to more valuable treasures below.As the other workers descend, it becomes painfully clear that this will not be as easy as they assumed...
Review (Spoilers!)
Episode 7, finally brings us out of the happy go lucky setup episodes that Overlord uses to lull the viewer into a false sense of security.Up to now we've seen the happy exploits of Nfirea and Enri as they fight off the Troll hordes that threaten their village, which we really know is just Ains instilling loyalty in them and anchoring them to the village further. There wasn't really any real danger for these characters as we've been given scenes showing Ains instructing Lupusregina to protect them both from fatal harm. Knowing this, we could rest assure that these 2 minor characters are relatively safe from lasting harm.
We've had several episodes building up the new characters enough that we're ever so slightly interested in their outcome, even though it's painfully clear that some are just expendable fodder who will die in horribly befitting ways. Green Leaf and Heavy Masher, were given very one note personalities from the get go, but were fleshed out enough that we knew who they were and what they were about. They each met terrible fates at the hands of Nazarick's defenders. Heavy Masher certainly got the worst end of the stick, getting transported to either a horrific devouring by Kyouhukou's cockroaches or subject to... torture by reverse kidney stones... We do get a bit of a justice win when Erya of Tenmu gets his by way of Hamsuke. Hopefully his elven slaves are treated kindly as you could see their glee at their master's satisfying decapitation.
That leaves us with the sympathetic group, Foresight. Their fate has yet to be shown, but I'm predicting at least some of them aren't going to be getting out alive.It's nice to get back to form in this episode. We've grown to expect the “Matter of fact” brutality that Overlord presents us as Nazarick's inhabitants continue to far overpower everyone that is thrown against them. We're starting to get more of the machinations that Ains' underlings are weaving to bring about his inevitable world domination.
Pacing in Overlord continues to be difficult to adjust to. It's easy to feel that far too many episodes are being used to build up each of these set pieces that we're all eagerly anticipating, but I feel that's the fault of the viewer, the format, and the nature of the story that they're trying to tell. The build up is important so we get enough of each of these “Sacrifices” to make their ends more impactful.You need not look any further than the most recent Berserk series for an example of what Overlord would look like without the setup. You at least have some investment in each character who dies in this series. Overlord goes to great lengths so that a majority of characters are not nameless mooks that are getting mowed down by invincible godlike beings. It makes their fates all the more shocking and forces you to care about the ones who survive.
We're mid Season 3 and I'm still adjusting to the pacing, but I continue to eagerly tune in every week to watch the pieces fall into place.Catch you next time!