Heroic Legend of Arslan

Episode 19

This was one of the better episodes of The Heroic Legend of Arslan we've had in a while! I was never bored for a moment, and I can't remember the last time I could say that about this show. Arslan's journey to collect more allies dragged for far too long, but now we're back to my favorite part of this series: Hermes and the Lusitanians. (Also a great name for a band.) Maybe it's just me, but I find all their plotting more interesting to watch than Arslan and friends' adventuring. I can't wait to see Narsus go up against these guys.

For now, though, I'm puzzled as to why the Lusitanians keep putting up with Hermes. He's clearly doing this for his own reasons that have nothing to do with respect for Lusitania or their culture. It probably wouldn't be too hard for them to grab his army for themselves and throw him in the dungeon with Andragoras, all the better to consolidate their power over Pars. Guiscard even knows that Hermes has nefarious designs on them, but I guess he's too honorable and his brother is too nice. He says something about how Hermes is obviously willing to sacrifice his men for the sake of Lusitanian aims. I guess it makes sense if Guiscard didn't realize that their aims so often overlap. Surely he must, especially when it comes to Bodin and his group of religious fanatics.

Bodin demonstrates the paradox of religion in a monarchical system. On the one hand, religion is a great way to keep people under control who otherwise have no reason not to challenge a monarch's rule. If you convince them that you're divinely ordained, then to fight the King would be to go against God—and risk his wrath. Lusitania's religion appeals to people even more with its sense of equality, even if all that means is slavery is outlawed but the rest of the system is still in place. It's a great plan until you have to appoint religious leaders, and then come to realize how much power that puts in their hands. They're the only ones who can fight the king and maintain that they have God on their side, and many have in societies that put too much faith in religion as a source of power. Lusitania is in the perfect position for Bodin to get drunk on that power, with the king swooning over a pagan queen, and plenty of Parsians helping the new order along. Religious leaders aren't necessarily concerned about smart politicking. They'll push conflict as far as they believe God wants them to, if they must.

Bodin is a threat to both the Lusitanians and the Parsians. If he gets his way, what little hold Lusitania has on the people of Pars would completely dissolve, with the remaining Parsians likely revolting against the death of their beloved leaders. For Hermes and company, he threatens their place in court with his insistence that all heathens must die. While it helps them to divide and conquer, it's more important to seal their authority through that process—which they can't do with Bodin nipping at their heels. Guiscard may think they're proving their loyalty to Lusitania, if only temporarily. However, Hermes has plenty of his own reasons to fight this battle and risk his men.

Meanwhile, The Heroic Legend of Arslan develops its supporting cast among the court. We see Sām's torment over being forced to betray Andragoras—and struggling to believe he's on the path of righteousness after all. Following a conversation with Andragoras in the dungeon that more or less seals his suspicions, Sām decides he's on Hermes's side for sure. While Andragoras explains to Sām that "blood and lies" are every ruler's path to the throne, he doesn't realize that he's helping Hermes to achieve the same end. He needs that explained to him by a big, gruff, and promising addition to the cast: Kubard.

Kubard slings a heavy sword and loves his wine, women, and song, but he's very wise underneath all that—sort of like a bulkier Narsus. He joins the fight against Bodin and his Temple Knights because he knows it's for the good of Pars as a whole, pushing Hermes's people forward to win the battle. Yet when he's asked later if he'll remain on command, Kubard declines and returns to his life as a hermit. Despite what Hermes says, Kubard knows he won't really bring peace to Pars. All his struggle means is that once the Lusitanians are defeated, Pars will be engulfed in another war over succession. Kubard wants no part of that. Hermes and Arslan can fight it out for themselves, because it is all about themselves. This is quickly contrasted with Arslan signing a decree to drive away Lusitania and outlaw slavery in Pars—but Kubard still has a point. For many Parsians, it doesn't matter who wins. Either way, they lose a lot.

The Heroic Legend of Arslan's ideas aren't complicated, but it's nice to be back on track, instead of continuing down the path of mindless cast expansion. Not everything improves this week, of course. The horrible animation is back after an episode of improvement. There are endless off-model character designs, clunky CG soldiers, and a really awkward scene where Hermes, Sām and friends exit the castle on horseback. Their horses' galloping is so straight up-and-down, it looks like a puppet show. It was difficult to look at, but I guess I'll take some poor animation if it means better writing. Still, it's upsetting that a mass-audience anime like this looks so phoned-in week after week.

The Heroic Legend of Arslan will never be a truly good show. It's had too much aimless wandering for far too much of its runtime to ever achieve greatness. Still, it has moments that feel reminiscent of the better show it could be. This is one of them, where we're reminded of the fascinating people and ideas within its twisting, turning plot. It's nice to remember just why The Heroic Legend of Arslan novels are beloved as more than your average adventure-fantasy story.

Rating: B+

Heroic Legend of Arslan is currently streaming on Funimation.

Rose is a music Ph.D. student who loves overanalyzing anime soundtracks. Follow her on her media blog Rose's Turn.