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The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22: Favorites

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

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22 – Quick Summary

In The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22, “The Haven,” Cid, or Lord Shadow, had not come close to exhausting the utter coolness he saw in Mary’s intro in episode 21. Not even close. He even interrupted a fight between Juggernaut, Mary, and Claire, just to utter the lines. But Cid ran into a problem – Cid had gotten the lines from Mary. How would she react to Lord Shadow parroting them back to her? Will he change them? Lean into them? And how will Mary react?

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

Favorite Quote from The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22: Beta has a tough job

Beta has a tough job. Capture from the HIDIVE stream.

You know, I could just pick “The frenzy has begun” as my favorite quote and reuse that for the next however many episodes! And do you know what’s so weird about that line? It gets funnier every time Cid says it! How’s that work?

I enjoyed seeing Beta again. The more Beta, the better, I say! She had to represent Shadow Garden’s interests to Mary and Claire, and I think Beta did a fine job. It was only when Rose/Number 666 heard Claire say she had to save her brother that Shadow Garden’s mysterious facade cracked.

Beta even had to tell Rose to stand down! But Mary and Claire didn’t seem to notice, so no harm done. After Beta explained things to Rose, she sighed.

“Babysitting is part of the job, Beta,” she said to herself (09:10).

She really does have a tough job — between corralling love-struck recruits and keeping up with Cid!

Favorite Moment from The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22: Lord Shadow's timing was, as expected, impeccable

Talk about perfect timing! Intentionally so… Capture from the HIDIVE stream.

Setup: Mary’s Innovative Solution

I learned something in this episode. Something very, very important. Not quite life-changing, but close. I learned this: vampires can draw blood from the lips! I did not know that. So obviously, I watched this development unfold with a keen professional interest. I mean, I’ve never seen a vampire like Mary draw blood like she did from Claire’s lips!

The things I learn watching this show…

There are a lot of good moments in this episode, and I love having a target rich environment. I’ll pick the moment that I thought was expertly – nay, perfectly – framed and staged. And it started with Mary kissing Claire.

Did I mention how fascinating that moment was?

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22: Claire didn't know how to feel about being Mary's donor

Later, Claire didn’t quite know how to feel about the situation. Capture from the HIDIVE stream.

Juggernaut had already punched Claire. Only her raw power kept her body intact. Mary had fared worse. Her wounds had been so bad that only drawing Claire’s blood could heal her. But heal her it did. Wreathed in swirling red flames, she advanced on Juggernaut. Her attacks pummeled the tyrant.

Except… he laughed. He was having fun. Far from damaging him, Mary’s attacks thrilled him. He powered up and counter-attacked. Mary, out of practice, tried to regroup. Then Juggernaut hurled himself at them.

Delivery: Cid’s Perfect Timing

Juggernaut moved so fast the anime slowed down time so we could see it. Mary didn’t even react, time moved so slowly. But Claire is fast. For a human, she’s ridiculously fast. She could react – but only enough to turn her head to see the incoming fist.

She knew she had no chance. All she could think was (13:35), “I’m sorry, Cid.”

Think of the framing: our two powerful heroes trying their best, pitted against someone who could best be described as a force of nature. We knew the stakes. Not only had he almost smashed Claire’s face, not only had he nearly slashed Mary into two pieces, he had shrugged aside the most powerful vampire defenders he had encountered. Juggernaut was mean. He was powerful. He meant business. And nothing – nothing – stood between him and Claire.

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22: Claire barely had to to realize she was about to die

Claire barely had time to register her impending death. And apologize to her little brother. Capture from the HIDIVE stream.

With a great sound effect, Cid – sorry, Lord Shadow – seemed to teleport into the frame (13:38). He touched a single foot to Juggernaut’s cleaver, which drew the tyrant’s attention. Cid then kicked him out of the frame, out of the window, and onto the street below.

Yes, it was hilarious when Cid started repeating the “The frenzy has begun” lines – to the woman who had given them to him! But that entrance – Cid appearing out of freaking nowhere to kick Juggernaut out of the scene – was quintessential Eminence in Shadow. It was all about the staging and delivery – and the feeling it evoked. Man, I am seriously glad this show is back.

What did you think of Cid’s solution to the Crimson problem? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22: Other Posts

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2 thoughts on “The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 Episode 22: Favorites”

  1. Cid stopping and wondering if he had seen his sister — I just love this show’s humor!

    Cid used a stealth “I am ATOMIC,” if there is such a thing. This show has me laughing more often than most comedies!

    The more Beta, the better. She might be my favorite character in Shadow Garden — though Alpha is really, really close.

    Reply

  2. Juggernaut definitely had to go. Going after Claire and Mary, who were not his enemies, was too much. And I love his shocked, “what are you doing?!” as he fell all the way to the ground. 🙂 And then Cid, later on, going, “Did I just see my sister for a moment earlier?”

    I also loved how Cid simply nuked Crimson so fast he never knew what hit him, mid-monologue about raising his queen from the dead and making her his in holy matrimon-BOOM! Love it! Of course, now he has no clue what to do next. He doesn’t have anyone left to parrot Mary’s lines to. He wants to play more, and finds himself seeming to have finished the game already.

    Super props to Beta for handling the sudden, awkward situation with Cid’s sister accidentally barging in with a vampire, convincing them to just let them be about their business, and babysitting Rose.

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