Anime Best in Show

Review: To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts Episode 10 – Best In Show

Quick Summary

In To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts Episode 10, “Two Oaths,” Roy/Garm barely eludes Claude’s troops, who continue to pursue him with their advanced technology. They are dismayed when Roy comes up with very effective counter measures. Meanwhile, Nancy Schaal Bancroft sees Hank Henriette fall into the canyon. Will she be able to find him? If she does, will he still be alive? Meanwhile, Liza Renecastle has her hands full trying to keep Claude from plunging back into battle despite his health. Has he learned nothing from his experiences in the last episode? Or has he learned more than it seems?

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

Best Moment in the Show

Schaal had become like Athena, goddess of the hunt. Her character transformation has been amazing to watch. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

I love character development. I love strong women. And I love moments of decision. I’ll bet based on those three statements, you can guess what my Best in Show moment is!

Roy/Garm fell into a trap set by Claude’s troops. It was a good trap; they ensnared him with wires and emptied their clips into him. The trouble was, he was an Incarnate. A powerful one. Everything they had wasn’t enough. He ripped free of the wires and plunged into the forest. He didn’t know it, but he was on a collision course with Hank. 

At this point, Hank’s pretty much done with the world. He’s ready to die, but he wants to take Roy/Garm with him. So, he confronts the Incarnate with a grenade (16:33). As Roy/Garm charges, Hank reflects on his life and his failures; his thumb moves to the grenade’s pin. He closes his eyes to accept death.

He hears a quiet bell. It’s Schaal’s butterfly hair clip. Out of nowhere, she plants herself in front of Hank, levels her rifle, and fires.

She didn’t just save his life. She reminded him that he had a role to play. And that if he ever lost his humanity, she’d put him in the ground. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream

Everything about the moment was perfect. Her resolve was like steel. Where Hank was wavering and welcomed death, she was an avenging angel. He had despaired of life; she was the embodiment of mission and purpose. Doubt smothered him; she had faced her doubt and had come through the other side into knowledge. Just as he was about to throw his life away, she figuratively yanked him upright, slapped him in the face, and told him to man up.

All of that in a single instant where she planted her feet, aimed her rifle, and fired.

Gotta say, watching her character journey has been one of the most rewarding treats this season.

What did you think of Schaal saving Hank’s bacon? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!

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3 thoughts on “Review: To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts Episode 10 – Best In Show

  1. It was an awesome moment for Schaal and quite a rewarding one to see given she’s been the one wavering and uncertain since the beginning where Hank previously had purpose. Seeing their positions reversed was quite interesting, though it does make me wonder how long Schaal can hold on to that resolve before it wears her down as it has worn on Hank. Still, even Hank realised that having someone share the burden with him made it much easier to carry.

    1. “Seeing their positions reversed was quite interesting”

      Wasn’t that great? Not only a gender role reversal, but a 180 degree turn for her character, too! Just a few episodes ago she was trying to shoot him in a bar!

      “hough it does make me wonder how long Schaal can hold on to that resolve before it wears her down as it has worn on Hank. Still, even Hank realised that having someone share the burden with him made it much easier to carry.”

      I think that might be the message here — that the two of them supporting each other can make it through, but Hank trying to carry the burden alone will fail. Well, did fail — he was going to blow himself up if it weren’t for Schaal!

      1. I’m not sure that would have worked anyway (the whole blowing himself up). The incarnates seem to survive a lot and I’m not sure if that would have actually killed Hank or Roy.

Please let me know what you think!

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