The Fall 2024 Anime Preview Guide

Blue Exorcist: Beyond the Snow Saga

Despite the success in taking control of the Far East Laboratory, the Illuminati remain a major threat. The Knights of the True Cross repeatedly hold discussions among the higher ranks to create countermeasures. Meanwhile, Rin and the other students are informed that the Exorcism Certification Exams will now be held sooner than planned. After the events in Shimane, Suguro struggles with the fact that he's lost sight of the reason for becoming an exorcist. However, Arch Knight Lightning is appointed as a new instructor at the Exorcist Cram School...

Blue Exorcist: Beyond the Snow Saga is based on the Blue Exorcist manga by Kazue Katō. The anime series is streaming on Crunchyroll on Saturdays.

Wow, it's pretty crazy to have Blue Exorcist back on the air so soon, huh? I've been covering this show for over seven years, at this point, despite the fact that we've only just arrived at the beginning of season four, and it has cemented itself as what I like to call an idea “Meat and Potatoes” shonen anime. Is the story of Rin Okumura's quest to defy his Satanic heritage and become an exorcist who can save the world from the forces of evil going to change any lives or bring paradigm-shifting twists to the well-established action-adventure fantasy formula? No.

This isn't a meal that has any need for exotic ingredients or subversive flavor combinations. It will get you fed and keep you full, though, just like a hearty stew of meat and veg, and there's nothing wrong with choosing a simple recipe that has been executed well over a novel new dish.

That said, it's unfortunate that the premiere of the Shimane Illuminati Saga couldn't add just a little bit more spice to the mix. I've said before that each season of Blue Exorcist is a relatively good jumping-on point for new viewers who don't want to play catch-up, but this premiere is the exception to the rule. After spending a whole mess of time on a dull roundtable of exposition and catch-up featuring the various Knights of the True Cross talking shop about the war against Lucifer that is currently in progress, the rest of the episode is devoted to setting up Lewin “Lightning” Light as the group's new teacher, and specifically as the mentor to a wayward Bon.

There's hardly any exorcist action to speak of outside of the very minor Case of the Haunted Karuta Cards, which is merely a test to get Bon on the same wavelength as Lewin's protégé. It's not a bad episode by any means, but it sure doesn't give the series much momentum to get this new exam storyline going. We've got some reminders of Yukio's shady loyalties and Mephisto's murky plans to keep the hordes of hell at bay, but it won't mean anything at all to newcomers, and it comes across as too measured for people who are still caught up. I have no doubt that the rest of this season will continue to provide the same reliable and satisfying comfort food satisfaction that Blue Exorcist has always been good at cooking up. I wish this first episode of the season had given me more to chew on.