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Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2 Review

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Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2 Review – Quick Summary

In Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2, “The Duke of Akiba,” the People of the Land shocked Isuzu with their enthusiasm for Eins becoming the Duke of Akiba. Rudy, though, seemed to know something. What does his experience as previously being one of the People of the Land tell him? Shiroe and Akatsuki visit the wise mage Regan. Regan told them of the story of the Dukes of Yamato, a tale of treachery and death that left the Holy Empire of Westelande and Eastal on bad terms. Shiroe and Akatsuki returned to their guild hall and briefed their close friends. Shiroe had gained critical insights into the situation, but does he know enough to block Eins and his Westelande supporters? Or are their plans already too far along?

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Favorite Quote from Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2

Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2: Akatsuki wasn't happy with the thought the People of the Land could stop selling them food

Akatsuki didn’t like where the conversation was heading… Capture from the Funimation stream.

Shiroe and Akatsuki had just returned from their meeting with Regan. They met with some of their closest friends, like Henrietta, Nazuna, Caille, Rudy, and Isuzu. Rudy had just explained why the People of the Land were so happy to see a Duke in Akiba — and why the Duke presented such a danger to the Adventurers.

Caille pointed out that Marine Agency, the guild he was in, depended on the People of the Land for 80% of their materials. Henrietta immediately grasped the implications, saying plainly that the Adventurers depended on those farms for fresh foods.

Akatsuki said, panicked (14:06), “Are you saying it’s possible the People of the Land may no longer sell us food?”

Her comical expression of alarm, as well as her stylized memories of delicious food, was funny. At the same time, it drove the point home.

Best in Show Moment for Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2

Nazuna summed up their current situation.

Nazuna sums up their situation succinctly. Capture from the Funimation stream.

Setup: Rudy Offers Insights into the People of the Land

Log Horizon is one of those shows that makes me reconsider my conviction that showing is always better than telling. This episode drove that idea home twice: First when Regan explained the history of the Dukes to Shiroe and Akatsuki, and second when Rudy explained the implications of Eins becoming the Duke of Akiba to the People of the Land.

Both shared two common traits: Both referred to significant past events (in this case, intertwined events) and both sets of events had major implications for the present.

As I considered this, I realized something: This is exactly what happened in The Fellowship of the Ring when Aragorn, sheltering on Amon Sûl/Weathertop, told the Hobbits stories of the First Age. He just told them. He didn’t dramatize it for them. Otherwise, I would have had to read The Silmarillion as a parenthetical! So, if it’s good enough for Tolkien under some circumstances, it’s good enough for me!

Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2: Rudy did his best to explain the situation from the perspective of the People of the Land

Rudy explained the situation the best he could. When Isuzu finally understood, she went silent, clearly not liking the implications. Capture from the Funimation stream.

The exposition that made up my favorite moment was when Rudy tried to help Shiroe and his friends understand what it meant for there to be a Duke in Akiba. First, I have to say Rudy has come a log way since episode 20 in the first season, when Shiroe had to break and remake a portion of the world’s magic to recast Rudy as an Adventurer. It’s great to see that kind of character development!

Rudy told the story of how it was with the People of the Land, before the Adventurers and the Apocalypse. It sounded very much like medieval Earth. Rudy explained how when the People of the Land came to Akiba, each and every one of them felt certain they would be kicked out. They had no family or lord to protect them. Everything felt temporary. In effect, they felt like refugees.

Delivery: Nazuna Figures it Out

In Akiba, the People of the Land discovered that they could have subclasses. They could become sales clerks, or doctors, or even an idol. Being in Akiba with the Adventurers expanded their options, but without a lord to protect them, they felt exposed.

Isuzu protested that there was no way Akiba would cast them out, but she missed Rudy’s point. This had little to do with the Adventurers, and it had everything to do with the People of the Land. They craved a feudal kind of protection, and Westelande naming Eins the Duke of Akiba gave it to them.

Henrietta figured out what was going on.

Nazuna wasn’t the only one to figure things out. Henrietta was tracing the implications, too. Capture from the Funimation stream.

Akatsuki realizing that the People of the land provided most of their food (see my favorite quote from this episode, above) was only the first problem. The other was that now Akiba was smack dab in the middle of the ancient conflict between Westelande and Eastal.

“Hey,” Nazuna said (15:06). “Doesn’t it look like we’re screwed?”

To dramatize the background needed for me to understand this wold have taken a dozen episodes. In fact, a lot of the details were already there in seasons 1 and 2, but I’d never put them together.

This kind of political detail and intrigue appeals to me in a big way. Combine that with great character development and plausible machinations like Lenessia’s arranged marriage, and I’m one happy viewer.

What did you think of Lenessia’s reaction to the “proposal?” What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

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2 thoughts on “Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 2 Review

  1. I really should have rewatched season 2 before picking this up. There’s just so much I’ve forgotten. Only your post, for example, reminded me that Rudy was actually from the people of the land. And I doubt that’s the only thing I’ve forgotten. I’ve now watched episode 3, and I’m starting to find my footing. The more I see the more I remember, but it’s slow going. With other shows this doesn’t matter so much, but Log Horizon is very involved with lots of details.

    One thing: I remember roughly why we’re not seeing Krusty, but I can’t remember why we’re not seeing Nyanta. Are they together? In different places? I could look up summaries I suppose.

    Anyway, I’m really happy to have the show back. During anticipation for this season I’ve heard quite a few people say that they didn’t like seasons 2 as much as season 1, which surprised me since I didn’t remember hearing that back when it aired, and I certainly didn’t have that experience. I’m really glad the show’s back, and hope to be able to something other than that next week, as repeating myself over again is rather dull.

    1. “I really should have rewatched season 2 before picking this up. There’s just so much I’ve forgotten.”

      I know that feeling! I had to stop the video and look things up way too often! Fortunately, I watched the first season so many times, and the second season almost as many times, that the major points stuck in my mind.

      But not all the details!

      “With other shows this doesn’t matter so much, but Log Horizon is very involved with lots of details.”

      That’s one of the things I love about this series. The details matter — sometimes even the most minute details.

      “One thing: I remember roughly why we’re not seeing Krusty, but I can’t remember why we’re not seeing Nyanta. ”

      Krusty got nabbed in the first season by some phenomena, and they’ve found him on another server. Nyanta… honestly, I’m not sure what happened to him yet.

      “I’ve heard quite a few people say that they didn’t like seasons 2 as much as season 1, which surprised me since I didn’t remember hearing that back when it aired, and I certainly didn’t have that experience. ”

      I didn’t have that experience, either. It took me a little while to get used to the change in animation style, but I ended up enjoying it a lot.

Please let me know what you think!

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