Record of Grancrest War

Episode 16

A mage seems like a very useful thing to have, and “Outpost” is pretty much a highlight reel extolling their benefits. This week on Record of Grancrest War, three different lords—Theo, Milza, and Eudokia—rely on their respective mages to make difficult decisions. Since this requires scene after scene of strategizing, this episode isn't anything special visually, but many viewers may find its conclusion quite titillating after Queen Eudokia and her army decide to bare all.

Milza may be a great conqueror, but he's terrible at ruling. He still hasn't gotten Lord Villar's lackeys to warm up to him at all, and his mage Telius is just as battle-minded as he is. Siluca remembers him from the Mage Academy as not being great at magic but “brilliant at military strategy.” So when the pair come to siege Theo's demonic forest castle, it's once again an attempt to solve problems with violence, the only way this patricidal warrior knows how. Next they attempt to lure Theo out for a fight, but Siluca's got their number. Milza and Telius only have one way of dealing with stuff, so they're easy to figure out, especially for a clever mage like Siluca. It's not hard to tell what the outcome is going to be now. It's also not very interesting, but I'm still happy to see Theo and Siluca continue their winning streak.

Speaking of this couple, their dynamic has clearly changed. This was the first episode where I suspected that they've consummated their relationship off screen, because they seem a lot more comfortable with one another, less blushing and more touching. It helps that this is the least stressed-out we've seen Theo and Siluca in a while, because everything is working out for once. All the mages of the Altirk Treaty are able to chill out and chat on their wands like cell phones. I couldn't help stifling a laugh at this conveniently modern technology, which could have solved so many problems if only it had been introduced before episode 16! What other deus ex machina solutions are going to suddenly appear when needed?

It must be so weird being a mage in the world of Record of Grancrest War, by the way. Everyone knows everybody else as a classmate or teacher or student, but they don't know who is going to be their ally or their enemy once school gets out. I guess Siluca graduated during a time of peace and began her career in a time of war, but it's still so strange to know your enemies and allies by what kind of grades they got at the Academy. And then there's the unresolved plot point that the Academy has the ability to be judge jury and executioner at a witch burning—it's such a bizarre and overly powerful establishment backing this world.

The last mage/lord interaction in this episode is by far the most unusual. Laura convinces Lady Eudokia to get naked in front of her troops in order to raise their morale (and I'm certain that's not all she raises). The look on the Nord princess's face when she's confronted by a completely nude army says it all. It's clear that the armies of Record of Grancrest War are extremely horny—remember when Theo's troops were motivated by him kissing Siluca? I'd argue that the Starck slave uprising is a bigger part of the victory than the nudity, but we all know which strategy gets more screen time. It'd certainly be sexier if Lady Eudokia's proportions didn't shift with every keyframe; the art isn't all that consistent this week. Better for that to happen on a week that's mostly place-setting for next time—no wait, isn't that what last week's episode was about, too? Record of Grancrest War does action better than dialogue or plot, but that's made for a streak of weak episodes—including this one.

Rating: C

Record of Grancrest War is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Lauren writes about geek careers at Otaku Journalist.