The Dawn of the Witch Episode 2 Review – Best In Show

Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts

The Dawn of the Witch Episode 2 Review – Quick Summary

In The Dawn of the Witch episode 2, “Don’t Call Me a Traitor,” Holt and Cervil, after finding Coudeau’s tail (and not the rest of him), seriously considered returning to the city. Holt, in fact, is terrified at the thought that Dia Ignis might be after Coudeau – and potentially them, too. She had barely escaped with her life the last time she encountered one of them. Cervil, though, is reluctant to abandon Coudeau, even knowing that Roux Cristasse is also trying to help him. Will the two return to the city? Will they find their friend before Dia Ignis finds him? Or will Dia Ignis find them all?

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

Favorite Quote from The Dawn of the Witch Episode 2

Cervil suddenly wondered about Holt’s personality. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

We sure learned a lot about Holt in this episode, didn’t we? And I don’t just mean her back-story. Sure, it was tragic how she learned of her friend’s death. Yes, it was understandable how she went to work for the church. And I was with Cervil on this – it wasn’t her fault. The Church in this world is adept at manipulating people while convincing them they’re doing God’s will. Even as they stab their friends in the back.

I’ll refrain from commenting on our world.

But as dramatic and interesting as I found all of that, it was one of Holt’s quotes early in the episode that attracted my attention. On one hand, it was funny. On another, I’m still mulling over what it revealed about Holt’s personality.

They had found Cordeau’s severed tail. Wanting to preserve it in case they could return it to the beastfallen, she picked it up and immediately grimaced.

“It’s cold and slippery,” she said (00:33). Then she showed this small, strange little smile and said, “I don’t hate it.”

Holt’s an interesting young woman.

Best in Show Moment for The Dawn of the Witch Episode 2

Wow, was Roux ticked off! But that’s how she shows she cares. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

Setup: Finally, Teachers in a Good Light!

I’m beginning to see a trend here, and I hope it continues! It’s something that I think is long-overdue, and I think it’s something that’s well-deserved. 

I’m talking about portraying educators in a positive light.

In the previous episode, my favorite moment had to do with Albus recognizing that Cervil could not thrive in the standard academic environment. So she placed him into a situation where she thought he could be more successful. In this episode, it was Roux’s chance to shine! Though given her personality, I really wasn’t sure what she’d do.

We’ve seen her speak bluntly to, well, everyone. In the previous episode, she was completely disrespectful to Albus. She was cold to Coudeau, and she wasn’t exactly warm and encouraging to Cervil. Was a sign of distaste?

For a moment, I wasn’t sure what Roux would decide to do. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

In this episode, in fact, I wasn’t sure what she would do when the Dia Ignis Arbiter, Tyrant, grabbed Cervil by the throat and said that if Roux didn’t throw Ludens, her magic-eating staff, to the ground, he’d snap Cervil’s neck. She initially resisted, saying something to the effect that if she surrendered, Tyrant would just kill them all anyway. For an instant, I wondered: Would she actually watch Tyrant kill her student? 

I was both relieved and alarmed when she backed down, but that wasn’t my favorite moment. However, it perfectly set the stage for my that moment, which came after the conflict had ended. Cervil, at Ludens’ urging, grabbed the staff. Predictably, it began consuming his magic. Roux seemed certain it would kill Cervil, as the staff had killed everyone but her. Fortunately, Cervil didn’t just have a lot of magic. He had infinite magic!

Delivery: Roux Is Loud for her Stature

I’m really glad they’re showing how that has tremendous down-sides. Otherwise, talk about over powered!

Anyway, back to my favorite moment. Do you know how to tell if a parent or a teacher really cares about someone? You measure how much they yell at them after they do something dangerous. Roux must care a lot about all of her students, because after the battle, as they rested in the crater created by the combined Cervil/Ludens attack, she let loose on them.

“Thou fool!” she thundered at Cervil (20:00). “Using the witch-eating staff is suicide!” Then she got right into his face and screamed, “If thou needest someone to be dead to learn thy lesson, I can kill someone now!”

She ended up chewing out Coudeau and Holt in turn. She even yelled at Ludens! “How darest thou make eyes at Sayb despite having me as your pact-holder!”

Holt wasn’t immune to the Wrath of Roux. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.

So, using the scale I just talked about, she must care quite a bit about her students! And I say it’s about time we have more examples of the hard work, dedication, and expertise that teachers bring to their craft. So, good for you, Dawn of the Witch!

What did you think of the fight scene between Roux and Tyrant? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

The Dawn of the Witch Episode 2: Other Posts

Other Anime Sites

• Reddit: Mahoutsukai Reimeiki – Episode 2 discussion
• J Reacts: BRUTAL! | The Dawn of the Witch episode 2 Reaction (魔法使い黎明期) ) (YouTube)
• Its SpoRTan: TRAITOR!? The Dawn Of The Witch Episode 2 Reaction (YouTube)

This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)

• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 1: The Remedial Student and the Witch of the Staff
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 2: Don’t Call Me a Traitor
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 3: Beyond the Stream
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 4: I’m Not Afraid to Die
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 5: I Decide Who’s Worthy
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 6: Knowledge of Ignorance
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 7: I Can’t Save Anything
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 8: Respective Costs
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 9: A Stone Cast Into the Pond
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 10: Snack Time
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 11: Determination to Kill
• The Dawn of the Witch Episode 12: The Beginning of the Adventure