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Overlord IV Episode 13 – Quick Summary
In Overlord IV episode 13, “The Witch of the Falling Kingdom,” Ainz Ooal Gown’s assault on the Re-Estize Kingdom’s royal capital marked inexorably toward its final phase. Mare, his confidence quivering, nevertheless had the power to level entire city blocks. There was no telling where Cocytus and his entourage had gotten to. Against this backdrop of destruction, Climb tried to complete a mission from Princess Renner. Does his mission have any chance for success? Will Mare let him make it back to the palace? And even if he does, what will Climb find when he gets there?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Overlord IV Episode 13
I’ll give Climb credit for raw courage. But heaven help him, in the end, he just wasn’t that bright. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
As ridiculous as this show can be in terms of how it presents Ains’ accidental successes, there are times when it is every bit as realistic. My favorite quote is an example of that.
Climb had returned to the palace to find the king dead. Princess Renner knelt beside him in tears. In retrospect, I had to laugh at the blood that was on her hands. Enraged as a result of his belief that Demiurge had used his powers to force Princess Renner to kill her father, Climb attacked Ains. Climb even used a magic sword – the sword that in previous episodes, Ains had suspect might be able to harm or kill him.
Ains’s suspicion did not bear fruit in this episode. Far from it. Climb lunged with all his might, having used a magic item to imbue himself with strength well above his level. Ains merely caught the sword thrust with his bare hands.
Well, his skeletal hands. They were bare. Though I guess they weren’t just bare; they were even bare of skin!
He picked Climb up by the collar. The Sorcerer King said (09:22), “If this were a story, your rage would call forth the hidden power within you in order to cut me down. But this is reality.”
With just the flick of his wrist, he hurled Climb into a wall.
I noticed there was absolutely no trace of irony or self-doubt in Ains’s voice. That plays into my favorite moment, below. Because I think our anti-hero has taken a decisive step in this episode.
Best in Show Moment for Overlord IV Episode 13
I think Ains has fully embraced his role. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: The Timid Supervisor and Dancing Princess Demon
I think the scene of Mare trying to rally his courage, his ninja entourage pumping their fists in time to his “I’ve got this!”, will haunt me to my dying days. It was endearing that he was so terrified of not doing well – where “doing well” meant slaughtering every man, woman, child, and apparently even single-celled organisms within the city.
That’s the Great Tomb of Great Tomb of Nazarick for you.
And speaking of scenes that will haunt me… I knew Princess Renner was capable of murderous decisions. But saying (17:16), “I was able to realize my dream by merely selling out a single kingdom” set a new high bar.
Glad I didn’t date her in college.
Well, at least someone’s enjoying herself! And I hate to say it, but she has a pretty smile. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Back in my review of episode 10, Fred (Au Natural) asked a very interesting question in his comment. He asked, “Does he think he’s still in a game and all these people are just bits and sprites? Or is his demonic persona starting to overwrite his humanity?” That question has been rattling around in my brain ever since. I remembered wondering something similar in Season 3 when Ains released the demon that sounded like goats. In that case, he just wiped our tens of thousands of faceless soldiers, but I could rationalize it away by telling myself Ains saw them as NPCs.
Delivery: Ains Embraces His Nature
But in this season, I think we witnessed the results of a slow change. He oversaw the complete destruction of the Re-Estize Kingdom’s royal capital. He argued in favor of that action in his conversation with Zanac back in episode 10. And he gave us the last scene of the episode.
Sitting on a throne made of the royal palace’s rubble, Ains held an audience with Raeven and his party. Ains asked a simple question. He asked if Raeven thought the world would now fully understand how stupid it would be to go against the Sorcerer Kingdom. Raeven answered with an emphatic yes.
Ains has come a long way. He’s even more comfortable with Albedo now, too. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
“I see,” Ains said (23:25). “Then it was worth doing. I am quite satisfied with this result.”
I heard conviction in his voice. He didn’t share any inner dialogue to the contrary, either. I think the dude has finally embraced what had been his character’s nature within a game – and that now is his nature in reality, to the extent he experiences it. It feels like the culmination of this stage of Ains’ journey. I really hope we get another season – I want to see where he takes his people next!
What did you think of Climb’s solitary efforts to hide the royal effects? What were your favorite moments in the episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Overlord IV Episode 13: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Overlord Season 4 – Episode 13 discussion
- RABUJOI: Overlord IV – 13 (Fin) – Princess Front-Renner
- Random Curiosity: Overlord IV – 13 (END)
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Overlord IV Episode 1: Ains Ooal Gown Nation of Leading Darkness
- Overlord IV Episode 2: Re-Estize Kingdom
- Overlord IV Episode 3: Baharuth Empire
- Overlord IV Episode 4: The Ruler of Conspiracy
- Overlord IV Episode 5: In Pursuit of the Land of Dwarves
- Overlord IV Episode 6: The Impending Crisis
- Overlord IV Episode 7: In Pursuit of the Land of Dwarves
- Overlord IV Episode 8: An Unexpected Move
- Overlord IV Episode 9: Countdown to Extinction
- Overlord IV Episode 10: The Last King
- Overlord IV Episode 11: Well-Prepared Traps
- Overlord IV Episode 12: Invasion of the Royal Capital
- Overlord IV Episode 13: The Witch of the Falling Kingdom
“It was either fight, flight, or surrender, and all just because one option was foolish didn’t make the other two options smart, ya know?”
I understand. I think my objection, which is to say the reason I said he wasn’t too bright, is based on my perspective as an older man remembering my younger self. Reacting my making assumptions is a good way to get tricked — which is exactly what happened.
That meant, as you said, he got played like a fiddle.
He’s in a bad situation. I don’t know if he’ll be able to strike back, or if he could, if it would do him any good. The real problem is that he honestly loves the princess. So, does he turn his back on her and regret it for the rest of his life? Or stay with her and regret it for the rest of his life?
Neither point to a happy future for Climb!
So I’ve been meaning to comment on your reviews but I wanted to keep a few things to myself as I read the books and was super worried about spoiling it for you. I loved this episode, and the Renner stuff in the books was fantastic as you really get a peek into her thoughts. She is very disturbed individual and thought it was intresting that Albedo was amused by her. In the books I believe Albedo says Renner is like a demon in human form. Plus I liked the twisted song and dance, it was like something out of deranged Disney Princess film lol. I’m really curious as to how Ainz will keep going, as there’s still the Slane Theocracy to deal with and a few other countries? Also will he ever find another Player from his world ?
My favorite moment was Renner completely embracing her dark side, complete with insert song sung (unless I’m mistaken) by Yasuno Kiyono as she danced and laughed in the ornate royal hall. Hopefully we’ll get more Dark Renner in future adaptations.
I like the phrase Dark Renner!
The way she just expressed her joy made me forget what she’d done to get there. At least for a moment. I’d love to see more of her in future seasons!
I think Climb was actually as clever as he could be in his fight with Ains. He had a weapon that could seriously hurt or even kill Ains, and if he targeted the lich right in the center, at the core. He wasn’t able to move fast enough to get the hit in, but Ains himself complimented the effort.
I recall when I first reviewed Overlord, years ago, and I wondered how they could keep us rooting for what amounts to the villains of the story. That has long since fallen by the wayside. After the slaughter, the betrayal, and the illumination of the extended manipulation, I have to say, I’m actively rooting against the main characters now. When this episode ended with, “The End Begins,” I found myself hoping for one final season in which it all comes crashing down.
I agree that Climb’s tactics were as sound as they could be. But he decided to take on an entity that had crushed powerful figures. Powerful figures that Climb knew. He also jumped to many conclusions when he saw Princess Renner crying. Were they reasonable conclusions? Maybe. But if he was willing to use lethal force, I expect him to exert a little more effort to be certain.
Which might be why I still finding myself rooting for Ains and company. But it’s not in the sense of “I hope they crush the rest of the world.” It’s more “I hope he finds a way to support and nurture his family without destroying the world in the process!”
That’s where I think that this show excels. Ains found a way to keep Albedo, Demiurge, and the rest placated as long as the Re-estize Kingdom behaved. But then that idiot Philip decided to make a power grab.
Which is more evil — Ains crushing a kingdom that defied him, or a nobleman trying to take advantage of a near-war situation to further his own goals?
It’s a trick question. They’re both wrong. But in terms of fiction, I’ve gotten so used to the idea of noblemen being power-hungry morons that I don’t give it a second thought. But I should.
In terms of today’s political climate, in fact, I absolutely have to. Because we’re surrounded by people like that!
Having a sympathetic villain as a foil is a really effective narrative device!
Ah, *that’s* what you meant by “not too bright.” Yes, I see, said the blind man. 😉
As for deciding to take Ains on, the man had just arrived to see the ultimate bogeyman on the throne over his king and his sobbing, beloved princess. It was either fight, flight, or surrender, and all just because one option was foolish didn’t make the other two options smart, ya know?
The assumption he made may have been wrong, but he had his dead king, his crying princess, and blood on her hands, plus Demiurge’s demonstration of his ability to compel others. There have been far worse assumptions made with far less evidence. Which, of course, is exactly what they were going for, to keep the princess’ facade of innocence so she could have what she wanted, in accordance with their bargain.
Basically, the played poor Climb like a fiddle, so I can hardly blame him for it. I can only hope that he somehow realizes the truth and finds a way to strike back, particularly at his traitorous princess.