Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 12 Review – Quick Summary
In The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 12, “A Battle I Can’t Lose,” Noir Starga, having endured a near fatal strike from the false Olivia Servant, knelt on the bridge. The lingering effects of her attack prevented him from standing, and now she towered over him, ready to delivery the fatal blow. Just then, Emma Brightness, Lola Metrose, and Luna Healer arrived to help. They even brought Leila Overlock with them! But even their combined might could not turn aside the false Olivia, who had all of the power, cunning, and experience of the original. As Noir finally stood, alone again, is there anything he can do to prevail and save his master? Or is the original Olivia doomed to spend eternity chained in a dungeon — haunted by the memory of Noir’s death?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 12
I’ve never been in a reverse harem, but I imagine hearing the MC express confidence in you might be a pleasant experience! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
There are two things that I’ve enjoyed, by and large, about this series. I’m open to watching harem ecchi comedies, especially if they feature a rational, strong, and supportive Main Character (MC). Also, I prefer intelligent and strong women-folk in the harem. To give you an idea, my gold standards for this type of series are Monster Musume and High School DxD Hero.
Now, I’m not saying this series measures up to the high marks set by either of those standard bearers. But it’s been, generally speaking, much more enjoyable than average. Noir proved he’s not a complete idiot, and he’s demonstrated that he doesn’t want to mistreat anyone, especially Emma, Lola, Luna, or, the latest addition, Leila. I can get behind a MC like that.
And I’m going to forget episode 8 ever existed.
In this episode, Noir uttered my favorite quote just as he destroyed the evil Olivia. As she devolved first into coherent chains and then into rust, she raged that she would get her revenge by cursing him.
“Curse me all you want,” Noir said (17:55). “I have friends who can lift them.”
Decent strength and complete confidence in his harem. Not bad, Noir!
Best in Show Moment for The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 12
Score one for the childhood friend! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Well, It Is A Harem Comedy…
This show pleasantly surprised me by keeping the women in the harem more or less in charge. In the previous episode, Lola took the lead and talked Luna into help her recharge Noir’s LP by making the “Lola and Luna’s special Pretty Girl Sandwich.” It was super effective!
In this episode, the women stayed in charge, but the episode decided to riff slightly on its core concept. Leila, who’s an exceptional hand to hand fighter, had been giving Noir pointers. He hadn’t quite gotten the punch down right when she came up behind him to help his form. Of course, she pressed her breasts into his back as she did so. Noir did not complain.
Now, this is where it started to get funny. Lola happened to be walking by. Glancing over, she saw that Leila was really close to Noir, so she made what is, in the context of this show, a completely rational assumption. “You need more LP, right?” she happily asked Noir with a slight blush (21:58). She happily skipped over and pulled his upper arm between her breasts. Noir continued to not complain.
Lola’s always ready to lend a hand. So helpful! Also, you can tell by Leila’s expression that she’s the newbie. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
The coincidences continued to pile up. Luna also happened to be walking by. Seeing Noir between both Leila and Lola, she said, “Ah, Noir. You must need LP.” She pulled his other upper arm between her breasts, noting (quite accurately, I must add) that “Mine are pretty big, too.”
So. Noir, not even uttering a single word of complaint, has a young woman on both arms and his back. That leaves his front uncovered.
That’s when Emma arrived.
Delivery: Childhood Friend for the (Apparent) Win!
Now, there are two things that stand out about Emma. Okay, three. First, she’s his childhood friend. Second, well, I don’t think I need to spell it out. Let’s just saw that in this respect, among the cast, even Olivia admitted that Emma’s peerless.
“Hey, I saw that,” she said, hands on her hips (22:23). “If you want more LP, you should talk to me first!” So, while the other three looked on in shocked admiration, Emma planted a passionate kiss right on Noir’s lips. Yes, the childhood friend, so often slighted in anime, stepped up and grabbed victory with both hands.
No, seriously. I think it’s completely clear Emma was the winner here. Olivia might be Noir’s master, but Emma’s the star. Researching the harem trope (because Crow’s World of Anime is all about details and accuracy!), I’d have to say that it’s more like Noir and Emma are the official couple, and Lola, Luna, and Leila are the supporting harem. With Olivia as a wildcard.
A very wild card.
Emma’s… presence dominated every scene she entered. I think Noir appreciated her support! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I’ll give Noir credit. Throughout the whole ordeal, did he complain, even once? Nope! He was quite the trooper.
Oh, Alice showed up to reclaim her brother and rain destruction on the other women. But since (checking my notes to be sure) brocon isn’t on my list of favorite things, I’ll just pretend it didn’t happen.
What did you think of the harem’s assault on the fake Olivia? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 12: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Ore dake Haireru Kakushi Dungeon: Kossori Kitaete Sekai Saikyou – Episode 12 discussion – FINAL
- PinoyChan: OLIVIA BEST GIRL!! | The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 12 Reaction
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 1: Powerful Skill Set
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 2: The Guild and the Receptionist
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 3: The Troubled Classmate
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 4: The Untainted Cleric
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 5: The Future of This Harem
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 6: The Tulip Lion
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 7: The Receptionist Ranking
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 8: A Little Girl’s Wish
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 9: To the Gala
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 10: Let’s Go To the Hot Springs
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 11: Noir’s Decision
- The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter Episode 12: A Battle I Can’t Lose
I’m watching ecchi shows, too, occasionally, but I’m not that fond of the Highschool DxD branch (first time, I dropped it before the first episode was through, second time I got a few episodes in before I had to admit it’s just not for me). I do love Monster Musume. I should go through the MAL ecchi tag and see which shows I like the most, I suppose. As for Dungeon, I found it the very definition of avarage. I enjoyed it mostly, found the harem contest utterly uncomfortable rather than funny, but that’s pretty much the only time the show pushed me away.
And Olivia is the best, but, yeah, I’d agree with you here: Emma’s the official one. I feel like the show has an age bracket, so Olivia isn’t really in the harem category, she’s in the same category as that school instructor, I’d say. Not really competing. Generally, I’d say a harem show needs to vary the character designs more. I mean all the haremettes even have the same bangs (interestingly the harem lead, too – maybe that’s just something the artist likes?).
“but I’m not that fond of the Highschool DxD branch”
I’m really curious — what didn’t you like about it?
“As for Dungeon, I found it the very definition of avarage.”
Overall, from the script to the animation to the music, I think that’s a good description. I did enjoy how well Noir and the women-folk got along. It’s not like other series didn’t have the main characters get along, I just got a sense these folks really liked each other.
Or maybe my imagination filled in the blanks. It’s been know to do that.
“I mean all the haremettes even have the same bangs”
First, LOL at haremettes!
Second, when I first saw Leila, I thought she looked a lot like a cross between Emma and Lola. Then I realized no, they _all_ looked like they were related. I just didn’t notice because we met the blonde first, then the brunette, then the pink-haired one. It was only after we met the second blonde that I noticed it.
Better late than never, I suppose.
*****I’m really curious — what didn’t you like about it?******
Not really sure. It’s a certain approach to what the shows consider sexy, I think? I just don’t click. I said “branch”. Another show in the vein I dropped fairly early on is Testament of New Sister Devil. It gives me similar vibes. I can’t think of more examples off the top of my head, since their all shows I drop early, and because I drop them early I don’t know whether I wouldn’t come to enjoy them later anyway. I don’t have any gripes in particular.
It’s not like I dislike those shows, like I do with, say, Seikon no Qwaser or Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero, where I feel a sort of chauvinism in the writing that puts me off.
“Another show in the vein I dropped fairly early on is Testament of New Sister Devil”
The show had a ton of wasted potential. It setup some decent world building, but didn’t do anything with it.
I can see the similarities between it and High School DxD, though.