Anime Review Archive

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 1 Cour 2 Episode Guide

Episode 13: East, west, home’s best

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 13: Halting Steps and the Case for Safety Protocols!

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 13, “East, west, home’s best“, Chise Hatori continues to struggle with articulating her feelings to Elias Ainsworth. It takes a fluffy attack to set the stage, but even with perfecting timing, can Hatori speak her mind? Later, a late-night visitor tries to give Hatori a present that throws their lives into chaos — again! At what point will Elias be able to protect his apprentice? Or his apprentice protect herself? Will Silky have to step in to come up with new household safety protocols?

Hatori’s a little overwhelmed at the idea if shearing so many wooly bugs. That’s a lot of wool! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 14: Looks breed love

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 14: Selfish Humans and What, Another Cliffhanger?

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 14, “Looks breed love,” Redcurrant the Leannán Sídhe frantically asks for Chise Hatori’shelp:  Joel Garland, the man she says she doesn’t love, is dying, and she’s desperate to save him. Can Hatori and Elias Ainsworthhelp the man? How far is Hatori willing to go? And will the Leannán Sídhe admit her true feelings before it’s too late?

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

Elias’ words trigger self-recriminations in Redcurrant. But she’s honestly tried not to hurt Joel! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 15: There is no place like home

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 15: Tough Healing and a Glimpse into Silky’s Past

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 15, “There is no place like home,” Elias Ainsworth follows Oberon’s advice and takes Chise Hatori to the fairy realm for treatment. Doctor Shannon seems like she has Hatori’s best interests in mind, but does she really? They’re no longer in the human world, after all, and Shannon’s behavior at the pond is, well, suspect… Meanwhile, Silky becomes restless as she waits for her family to return. She drifts into sleep and dreams of her past, where see a surprise guest from previous episodes!

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Episode 16: God’s mill grinds slow but sure

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 16: Tis the Season and Gift Buying Struggles

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 16, “God’s mill grinds slow but sure,” Chise Hatori and Elias Ainsworth prepare the household for the Yule season, which, as you’ve probably come to expect from this world, isn’t as simple as putting up a tree. Responding to a summons, Hatori goes into London to meet Alice. They discover that they have two things in common: neither knows what to buy their teachers and both had deplorable childhoods. They find out something else about themselves, too!

As Alice said they were “in the same boat,” Hatori realized that she now had something she’d never had before: a friend. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 17: Look before you leap

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 17: Blonde Chise and Terrifyingly Powerful Curiosity

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 17, “Look before you leap“, Chise HatoriElias Ainsworth, and Ruth are on a Christmas walk when they meet Stella. She is frantically looking for her younger brother Ethan. Trouble is, her parents insist she’s an only child. Why is she the only one who can remember her brother? What’s blocking Elias’ magic when he tries to locate her brother? And what price will they have to pay to find out?

Stella was only a little less anxious after learning Elias was a mage. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 18: Forgive and forget

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 18: Poorly Veiled Jealousy and a Too Powerful Lullaby

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 18, “Forgive and forget,” Stella Barklem keeps her promise and visits Chise HatoriElias Ainsworth, and Ruth to bring them sweets. Hatori’s a little worried when Elias abruptly excuses himself; she’s even more worried when he leaves the house. What triggered such behavior? Later, as she’s walking with her family in London, Stella feels a prick on her neck and doesn’t see Cartaphilus walk away from her. What’s that sorcerer up to? And why does he end up in dragon territory?

Hatori clearly has no lack of bravery. She made the best decision she could, under the circumstances. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 19: Any port in a storm

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 19: A Drunken Confession and a Dragon in Flames

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 19, “Any port in a storm,” Mikhail Renfred’s drunken confession is interrupted when Merituuli, the Selkie we met in previous episodes, visits the water cooler. Chise Hatori has a terrifying vision involving Cartaphilus, and what he asks of her shocks her awake. Mikhail and his sorcerer friends convince Elias Ainsworth — with a lot of help from Hatori — to work with them to track down the missing dragons from the last episode. Hatori’s vision sends them to an auction house that’s all too familiar to Hatori. There, she virtually meets a woman who offers to help her — but at what cost and why? And when the baby dragon goes up for auction and breaks free of its bonds, can Hatori and her friends stop it?

The dragon’s emotions almost overthrow Hatori’s mind before Elias can help her. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 20: You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 20: Mending a Fraying Fabric and a Tempting Proposal

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 20, “You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs,” Chise Hatori and Elias Ainsworth come up with a plan to save the dragon. They leap on its back, but almost before they know it, they’re high above the city and Elias is falling to the ground. Hatori has to make a decision about how to save the dragon on her own, at great risk. Can she live with the consequences? And what about Mariel, the woman who tried to make a deal with Hatori at the end of the last episode — what was she after? And what will that cost Hatori?

Hatori’s decisions don’t affect her alone. Elias, Ruth, and Silky all hurt when she hurts. She’s beginning to understand that! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 21: Necessity has no law

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 21: Visiting the Coven and the Innocence of Youth

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 21, “Necessity has no law,” Chise Hatori and Elias Ainsworth visit the witch’s coven at Mariel’s urging. But, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Hatori didn’t get exactly what she sought — though we can’t say she walked away empty handed. Later, Elias makes a terrible decision by himself, and he forces Ruth to help him. What will Hatori do when she discovers the lengths to which Elias will go to save her? And when will Cartaphilus make his move?

This episode was tough on Hatori. And the next episode looks like it’s going to be even worse. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 22: As you sow, so shall you reap

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 22: Memory Lane and Thanks for Letting Go

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 22, “As you sow, so shall you reap,” Chise Hatori wakes up in Cartaphilus’ layer, Stella Barklem unconscious beside her. Using Stella as leverage, Cartaphilus makes it clear he wants Hatori’s dragon arm, but first, he has to test their compatibility in a terrible, terrible way. After that, he forces Hatori into her memories, where she relives the awful moments that had shaped her life before meeting Elias Ainsworth. Will she be able to survive the immersion in her own memories? And even if she does, what kind of person will she be?

It is true that people are given no more than they can handle? The facts on the matter are pretty clear: No. Sometimes the world breaks people. People like Hatori’s mom. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 23: Nothing seek, nothing find

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 23: A Twisted Past and You’re Not Off the Hook Yet!

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 23, “Nothing seek, nothing find,” Elias Ainsworth is in the wild, unable to hold his bipedal form because he laments Chise Hatori’s leaving him. Can the Spriggan calm him down? Or will Oberon have to take more drastic measures?  Hatori learns more about Cartaphilus’ past than she was ready to accept. How will she react? Will Cartaphilus give her the chance?

An agonized Elias turned down Titania and Oberon’s offer. They wanted to bring the two back to the world of the Fae. Elias knew Hatori would never embrace that! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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Episode 24: Live and let live

The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 24: Goodnight Sleepy Head and I’m Home

In The Ancient Magus’ Bride episode 24, “Live and let live,” Chise Hatori faces Cartaphilus, and this time she’s not alone: Elias Ainsworth and Ruth stand with her. Can they confront a being who’s immortal — and who gets unexpected help from Ashen Eye? And even if they can, how will Elias and Ruth withstand Hatori’s wrath after what they tried to do to Stella Barklem?

Ariel doesn’t like Elias. At all. But she was willing to put that aside to protect Hatori. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

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