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Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3 Review

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Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3 Review – Quick Summary

In Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3, “The Round Table Fractures,” Shiroe felt like he failed Akiba and the Round Table by not immediately bringing the People of the Land into the conference — despite knowing how important they had been. Eins, surprisingly, does not want to defeat Shiroe. Instead, Eins wants to enlist Shiroe’s aid. He wants Shiroe to be his chief strategist! Meanwhile, Lenessia wrestled with the idea of her arranged wedding. Akatsuki, Rieze, and Misa Takayama, gave Lenessia unexpected help, with remarkable in abstentia assistance from Krusty! Will Lenessia listen to her heart? Will Shiroe decide to take part is the destruction of the Round Table? And what role will Utena Itsukinomiya Touri play in these negotiations?

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

Favorite Quote from Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3

Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3: Naotugu is as honest as Shiroe!

Shiroe’s most reliable trait is his honesty. Come to think of it, Naotsugu’s pretty honest himself… and sometimes on purpose! Capture from the Funimation stream.

By the middle of this episode, Eins had convinced me he had the right plan. He’d convinced me that his motives were honest and that he needed Shiroe to succeed. His rhetoric was so convincing that I think Shiroe was leaning towards dissolving the Round Table and joining with him.

By the time Touri joined the conversation and spoke so glowingly of Shiroe, Shiroe joining with them seemed like a foregone conclusion.

That’s when Naotsugu spoke up. Naotsugu is probably the perfect diplomatic aid for Shiroe in this situation. He’s no rhetorical genius, but, befitting the Guardian class that he belongs to, he takes a position and holds it — completely. Of the glowing comment Touri gave Shiroe, he said (15:42), “How should I put it? He’s kinda annoying or you’re giving him too much credit.”

To which Shiroe said, at least to himself (15:48), “I wish he wouldn’t say that out loud… Although they’re sound remarks.”

If there’s one trait that I think Shiroe had in abundance, it’s honesty.

Best in Show Moment for Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3

Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3: Lenessia decided what she wanted. And it wasn't an arranged marriage.

I’ve seen my share of amazing last second saves, and this one is right up there among the best. Capture from the Funimation stream.

Setup: 20 Minutes of Talking…

In my review of episode 2, I talked a bit about how this show made me reevaluate my position on show versus tell. Well, here in episode 3, this series decided that I hadn’t quite learned the lesson. It wanted to prove that an episode of exposition could go a step beyond being merely interesting.

The formula, in retrospect, is simple. Take a character we love and put them in a situation where their regrets engulf them. Take another character we love, mix in her own guilt and uncertainties, and give her a serious emotional punch. Add two more characters, one obliviously honest and one honestly oblivious, and put them on a collision course.

You’d get this episode.

Eins delivered his lines with complete sincerity. He convinced Shiroe and me that Eins had Akiba’s best interests in mind. Shiroe already felt guilty, as he showed in his flashback conversation with Naotsugu, and Shiroe felt ready to throw in the towel and join Eins.

Eins' plan was sound, and his desire for Shiroe's help was honest.

At first, Shiroe was shocked that Eins wanted Shiroe’s expertise. Capture from the Funimation stream.

Lenessia had almost accepted her role as Touri’s future wife when Krusty, using Takayama to throw an emotional bank shot, reminded her of just what she was willing to fight for.

Eins had bought into Touri’s vision, which wasn’t a bad deal. Eins really, really wanted to help Akiba, and he thought he found the allies and the plan to do it.

And Naotsugu? He just knew that things were getting weird, that Shiroe was faltering, and that he needed to let Akatsuki know.

Delivery: Plus a Single Still Shot Can Still Make Me Gasp in Surprise

Knowing the Characters Is Important

Over the course of a 25 episode first season and another 25 episodes for a second season, we’ve gotten to know these characters. I felt Shiroe’s weakening resolve as Eins’ words hit home, and I felt Eins’ sincerity as he sought to persuade Shiroe to join him, for the good of Akiba. I even felt Touri’s honest desire to thwart the Senate’s desire for war.

And all while this was happening, Lenessia was going through her own battle. Krusty wasn’t there, so she had no obvious reason to turn down Touri’s proposal. She’d more or less accepted that she would have to marry the nobleman from Westelande, and it made her miserable.

Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3: Lenessia didn't want the arrange marriage.

Lenessia felt miserable and trapped. Akatsuki tried to help by eating delicious food. It’s not clear how she intended this to help Lenessia. Capture from the Funimation stream.

When Lenessia realized what Krusty had done, when she understood how even from afar, he had looked into her heart and had seen what she couldn’t see, the look on her face took my breath away. In that instant, she understood exactly what she wanted to do, and why she wanted to do it. Krusty didn’t save a damsel in distress. He reminded the damsel where she’d put down her sword, so she could take it back up again.

An Exciting Save — in a Still Shot!

So when Shiroe was just on the verge of accepting Ein’s proposal, there was a moment of pure magic. He and Touri heard something to his left, and they turned.

This is the still shot that made me gasp. There stood Lenessia, her expression resolute. She’d brought Henrietta, Akatsuki, Rieze, and Tatara. And they were all wearing the uniform of the Round Table.

Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table Episode 3: The sight of the five women shocked Shiroe.

The sight of the five somen surprised Shiroe. It only took him a few moments to realize what Lenessia intended. Capture from the Funimation stream.

It impressed me how a show could spend 20 minutes talking, then make me gasp with a single still shot. That instant brought the whole episode together. In a second, it resolved the the conflicts and set the stage for what was to come.

I’m really glad this show’s back for a third season!

What did you think of Saraliya’s conversation with Karashin and Isaac? 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 3 Review

  1. That was such an awesome moment, wasn’t it? Lenessia has come such a long way, hasn’t she?

    One of the things I’m not sure I understand is the politics here: So part of the idea is to keep Akiba independent in a conflict between East and West, so on the one hand Touri (East) proposes a marriage to Lenessia (West), and at the same time offers a dukedom to Eins (Akiba – Neutral). So how does this allow Akiba to stay neutral? Isn’t this an obvious diplomatic power grab from Touri? I want peace, so I need my hooks in everywhere? So what’s the bigger picture, here? How does that work? Who has to sign off on the Dukedom? What territory is Akiba on, to begin with? Is Akiba on Eastal territory, and it works because of that? Is that basically an offer of independence to defuse a difficult situation? I’ve forgotten so much, and I may not have paid enough attention to some of those details to begin with. The show’s really keeping me on my toes.

    1. “That was such an awesome moment, wasn’t it?”

      It really was! I was even a little embarrassed describing how awesome I thought it was! But then, celebrating those moments is kind of the whole point of the site!

      “Lenessia has come such a long way, hasn’t she?”

      Remember when her ambition was to just lounge around and nap? Good times, good times…

      TBH, the interplay between the various factions is taxing my imagination! There were several scene in this episode and the last where I had to pause and verify I knew the characters and their guilds/factions.

      Even if I can’t recall each interaction across 50+ episode, I’ll say one thing for this series: It’s earned my trust! The writer knows exactly what they’re doing.

      Still, I’m trying to keep up. The show’s keeping me on my toes, too!

Please let me know what you think!

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