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The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 11 Review – Quick Summary
In The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 episode 11, “Kizuna,” Kizuna was elated to see Glass again – though not nearly as elated as Glass was! That elation turned to outrage when Kizuna learned what Glass, L’Arc, and Therese had been doing in the world that Naofumi, Raphtalia, Filo, and Rishia had come from. Will Kizuna forgive her friends? And even if she does, will she be able to trust them again?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 11
It’s not that I blame her for losing her nerve in the face of that kind of firepower. But seriously, she should have looked before she leapt! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I think I have whiplash over the introduction of Yomogi Emarl. She went from Kyo’s trusted lieutenant , to comic relief, to tragically betrayed childhood friend, all in the space of a single episode.
To be fair, the transition from lieutenant to comic relief felt more natural. It’s the basis for my favorite quote, in fact. Yomogi Emarl confronted Kizuna’s entire party, which included L’Arc and his friends and Naofumi and his friends. She announced she was going to kill them for Kyo’s benefit. When she said then get ready for battle, she paused.
“How cowardly! You outnumber me so!” she announced, panicking (10:16).
“Wait, did you attack us?” Kizuna asked.
I might think Kizuna is naive from time to time, but she’s bright. I’ll give her that!
Best in Show Moment for The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 11
Kizuna might be naive sometimes. But not all the time. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Youthful Idealism is Youthful
I used to love the idea of the idealistic character standing up to the world. The idea that a single person could make a difference was hugely appealing. Think Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars. I actually lived my young life expecting that I could make a noticeable impact on the world.
That’s kinda embarrassing to admit right now, because real life happened. One of the lessons it drilled into my head is that the contributions of a single individual – with rare exceptions – won’t change the world. Sure, I can make a life here or there better, if I really work at it. I might even be able to help a group succeed, on a small scale. But save the world?
That takes teamwork.
This group saw no reason to take Yomogi Emarl one at a time. Why would they? Animation budget notwithstanding… Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
For a while, I thought that was depressing. But then more real life happened. Years ago, I was an AVP in charge of all aspects of a company’s software delivery process. I led a team of five permanent employees and up to seven more contractors. That taught me a lot about what teams can achieve. And I’ll tell you what: as a team, we could achieve more than I ever could as an individual.
Kizuna seems to have learned this lesson way before I did. When she began going on about how “There has to be a way to save his world and ours,” I have to admit: I rolled my eyes. Here was a young woman, not even twenty years old, trying to be all hopeful and enabled and stuff. How quaint!
Delivery: Kizuna Understands Teamwork
Naofumi might have been reading my mind, because in his usual realistic way, he said (06:21), “And if there isn’t? What if there’s no way for our worlds to survive besides destroying each other?”
I almost expected that, because I’ve gotten to know Naofumi, and I appreciate his realism. Her response had my eyes rolling again (it almost made me dizzy – not really, but conceptually): she said she didn’t want to fight him. And then she surprised me. She thought for a moment and said (06:41), “I don’t know how to avoid it yet, but I’ll find a way! And if I don’t find it, I’ll look again!”
Naofumi knew the world was such that destroying the Waves might well mean they had to be enemies. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
I appreciated her dedication to thoroughness. And then she gave me my favorite moment in the episode. She said (06:49), “Will you look with me?”
That shocked me. Shocked the hell out of Naofumi, too. She comes across as this idealist child. Yet, she learned one of the lessons it took me decades to learn. She was completely earnest, and she was completely right. Together, they stood a chance where alone, each would likely have failed.
Well, unless the narrative played one of the ex machina cards! I appreciated the moment, though, because like Naofumi, I appreciate a realistic approach to problems.
What did you think of Yomogi Emarl’s reaction to Kyo’s plot? What were your favorite moments in the episode? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 11: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari Season 2 – Episode 11 discussion
- RABUJOI: The Rising of the Shield Hero S2 – 11 – It’s Kyou Ethnina’s World, We’re Just Living In It
- Random Curiosity: Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari Season 2 – 11
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 1: A New Roar
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 2: Footprints of the Spirit Tortoise
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 3: Shaking Land
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 4: Ruins in the Fog
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 5: Ost Hourai
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 6: Racing to Catch Up
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 7: Infinite Labyrinth
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 8: A Parting in the Snow
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 9: Humming Fairy
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 10: Katana Hero
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 11: Kizuna
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 12: Reason to Fight
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 13: Flowers Offered in Recollection