Episode 1: Tale of the Beginning
Review: Campione! Episode 1 Best In Show
In Campione! episode 1, “Tale of the Beginning,” Godou Kusanagi was doing his best to return a stone tablet that his grandfather left him. The trouble was, he was Japanese, and he had had to travel to Italy — and he had no clue how to speak Italian. So it was not in the least bit surprising that he was confused when a devastatingly beautiful blonde woman in an elaborate red dress spoke angrily to him. When he tried to introduce himself, she realized he couldn’t speak Italian. So she switched to Japanese. But instead of making things better, she told him to hand over the “grimoire” and pulled a knife to emphasize her “request.” She even had the audacity to act insulted when he asked if this was a mugging! But then something happened that broke their standoff — and changed the course of Godou’s life forever.
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 2: The Landscape with a King
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In Campione! episode 2, “The Landscape with a King,” a week had passed since Godou Kusanagi and Erica Blandelli faced off against Verethragna, the god of victory — and survived. In that time, Godou had to fight other Campione (god killers) who wanted to test their strength against his. After Erica’s attitude towards him changed — and changed a lot! — he had to carefully resist her wiles, because he had no idea what her intentions were. He even had to be cautious of Erica’s maid, Arianna, who of course was complicit in Erica’s intentions. But Godou didn’t plan on also having to withstand the scorn of a much more potent source: his sister, Shizuka Kusanagi, who was convinced her brother had just turned into a reckless playboy. Will Godou be able to smooth things over with his family? Will Erica let him? And why is Yuri Mariya, a shrine maiden princess, terrified thatGodou is about to kill her?
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Episode 3: From Afar, An Enemy Comes
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In Campione! episode 3, “From Afar, An Enemy Comes,” Touma Amakasu told Yuri Mariya that he suspected the new Campione, Godou Kusanagi, had smuggled a dangerous artifact into Japan. And by dangerous, he meant “world ending within a few days.” Mariya couldn’t believe it. Godou just didn’t seem the type to be part of a world-ending conspiracy. He seemed too grounded, especially compared to all the other Campione! And at first, when she asked him about it, he denied it. Then Mariya learned two things. First, she was right: Godou wasn’t the type to be knowingly involved in a world ending prophecy. Second, Godou wasn’t the type to know enough to know when he was in the middle of a world-ending conspiracy! Because what was to him a present from Erica Blandelli was actually the foretold world ending artifact. Can Godou learn enough about his new role to protect the world? Or will he accidentally end it?
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Episode 4: Rogue Athena
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In Campione! episode 4, “Rogue Athena,” Erica Blandelli and Godou Kusanagi rushed to intercept Athena before she could reclaim her medallion — the medallion that would let her regain her ancient form and apparently fulfill an ancient prophecy of destruction. At the same time, Yuri Mariya tried desperately to seal that same medallion, but its enormous power was proving too much for her to overcome. Fearing that Athena would get to Mariya before he could get to Athena, Godou promised Mariya that if she called on his name and believed in him, he would come to her. But with even Erica doubting him and Athena closing in, can Godou save Mariya? And even if he can, can he stop Athena from fulfilling the prophecy of destruction?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 5: Unpleasant Days
Review: Campione! Episode 5 Best In Show
In Campione! episode 5, “Unpleasant Days,” Yuri Mariya wrestled with feelings she didn’t even know she had. It took her sister Hikari Mariya’s teasing to make her realize she was developing romantic feelings for the Campione Godou Kusanagi — feelings she still tried to deny! Erica Blandelli recognized that Yuri’s sixth sense would be of benefit to Godou, so she urged him to develop a relationship to her. The only stipulation? Yuri had to be clearly the subordinate to Erica and she could be the only other woman Godou had a relationship with. But even as Godou helped Yuri buy a phone, Liliana Kranjčar, under orders from her own Campione, was tailing Yuri and Godou, waiting for… what? What were her intentions towards Yuri? And why was there another Campione in Japan, anyway?
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Episode 6: The Kings Converse
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In Campione! episode 6, “The Kings Converse,” Touma Amakasu helped Godou Kusanagi and Erica Blandelli identify where Duke Sasha Dejanstahl Voban and his knight Liliana Kranjčar were holding the princess shrine maiden Yuri Mariya — Godou’s friend. Erica told Godou to conserve his strength for his upcoming fight against Voban, while she cleared. They battled their way to his throne room, where the door swung open to welcome them. Can Godou, who has formidable powers but is a very new Campione, convince Voban to surrender Mariya? Will his youthful hot-headedness cause more problems than it solves? And if Voban decides he wants a battle, how can Godou compete with several centuries of Voban’s battle-honed guile?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 7: Wind, Rain, Wolf
Review: Campione! Episode 7 Best In Show
In Campione! episode 7, “Wind, Rain, Wolf,” Erica Blandelli held their position as Godou Kusanagi retreated to regroup with Yuri Mariya. Erica found herself facing Duke Sasha Dejanstahl Voban’s knight Liliana Kranjčar, who ordinarily would not be such a challenge. But Erica was tired from her earlier battles, and Liliana’s attacks were relentless. How long can she hold out? Meanwhile, Godou’s rapid retreat left him dangerously exhausted. Her magic healing power unable to penetrate Godou’s innate magical defense, Mariya was reduced to using an old folk remedy, with questionable results. Fortunately, Mariya found herself in the grips of her sixth sense, which gave her some insights to Voban’s powers. Will she be able to communicate her insights to Godou in time? Can Erica hold out? Or will Godou be forced to take losses of the sort he’s never had to take before?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 8: A Hero Arrives
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In Campione! episode 8, “A Hero Arrives,” Godou Kusanagi was desparate to get some alone time away from Erica Blandelli, because as amazing as she was, he needed time to think. He turned to the witch Lucretia Zola for help. He was elated when she offered to set everything up. He was a little less elated when Yuri Mariya got wind of what was happening and demanded to accompany him — to make sure he didn’t do anything lewd. He was flabbergasted when he got to Italy and learned that far from helping him, Lucretia had coordinated her activity with Erica, and both were waiting for them when they got off the plane. Can Godou withstand being with such powerful, strong-willed women, each of whom wants to pull him in a different direction? Or will escaping them make matters much, much worse?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 9: The Missing King
Review: Campione! Episode 9 Best In Show
In Campione! episode 9, “The Missing King,” Liliana Kranjčar was absolutely horrified. The Campione Godou Kusanagi lay at her feet, dead, with Perseus’ arrow protruding from his chest. Despite her state, she still interposed herself between Perseus and the fallen Godou as he aimed another arrow. She need not have bothered, though, because Athena chose that moment to manifest and warn Perseus off. Faced with the god’s power, and still feeling his injuries from his fight with Godou, Perseus withdrew — for now. Liliana was astonished when Athena confirmed that Godou would recover from his death. “He becomes far more interesting once he has been defeated.” Though granted a reprieve, their problem remained: How can Godou defeat Perseus if the god can seal Godou’s main weapons? And how far is Liliana prepared to go to ensure that victory?
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Episode 10: The Turbulent Demon King, The Sun Hero
Review: Campione! Episode 10 Best In Show
In Campione! episode 10, “The Turbulent Demon King, The Sun Hero,” Perseus pressed his attack against Godou Kusanagi. Godou put up a valiant fight, but without detailed knowledge of Perseus’ mythology, Perseus was able to again seal Godou’s power. The Perseus’ attack sent Godou flying hundreds of meters through the air. He crashed through a hotel’s outer wall. Liliana Kranjčar joined him in the ruined hotel room, desparate to find a way to help him. As Godou prepared to rejoin the battle, Liliana faced a difficult personal choice. Would she aid Godou — with an act that seemed far too difficult to her? Or will she watch him go back into battle — knowing that he lacked the ability to win?
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Episode 11: Princess Shrine Maiden of the Long Sword
Quick Summary of Campione! Episode 11
In Campione! episode 11, “Princess Shrine Maiden of the Long Sword,” there was what looked like a quiet period of peace for Team Godou Kusanagi after they defeated Perseus. But under the surface, where Godou didn’t really know how to look, there was trouble brewing. Upset that Godou seemed to favor the Italian Erica Blandelli, the Japanese authorities sent in Ena Seishuuin, a Priestess Shrine Maiden, to tip the balance back in Japan’s favor. Godou accidentally gave her plans more momentum by how he talked about both Yuri Mariya and Liliana Kranjčar. Can Erica restore the group’s balance before Seishuuin’s plan come to fruition? Can Erica negotiate with the latest Princess Shrine Maiden? Or does Seishuuin have an ace up her sleeve?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 12: The Sword of Ama no Murakumo
Campione! Episode 12 Best In Show Review
In Campione! episode 12, “The Sword of Ama no Murakumo,” Godou Kusanagi finds himself disorientated and nauseous. At the end of the previous episode, his date with Erica Blandelli had ended badly, with Godou ending up on the astral plane. Now, he came upon a small house, and its occupant was about to make his day even worse. Meanwhile, Erica had followed Godou, but she landed in a completely different area. Ena Seishuuin, who represented an organization that objected to Godou associating with an Italian like Erica, was hot in pursuit. Why did Seishuuin seem unaffected by the astral plane’s effects? Why was Erica having such a hard time maintaining her fighting poise, or even breathing? Just what kind of sword is Seishuuin using?
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Episode 13: Tale of the God-Slayer
Campione! Episode 13 Best In Show Review
In Campione! episode 13, “Tale of the God-Slayer,” Godou Kusanagi and his team face off against Metis. That ancient goddess, mother of Athena, is bent on regaining her original form and consuming the heavens. Unfortunately, that would mean the death of all life on Earth. Erica Blandelli knew that Godou was still recovering his avatars from the battles in the astral plane, so she convinced him to pull back with Athena while she and the other knights, Liliana Kranjčar and Ena Seishuuin, delayed Metis. Can they buy Godou enough time to get a shrine that might offer at least a little protection? And even if they do, can Godou fight a major ancient goddess all alone, with only a partially broken Athena as a companion?
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