The Eminence In Shadow “Shadow Garden Is Born” Review
The Eminence In Shadow “Shadow Garden Is Born” is the second episode of the Eminence anime. Following his untimely death at the end of episode 1, Kagenou is reborn in an alternate world as Cid Kagenou, son of minor nobles Baron and Lady Kagenou and older sister Claire. In keeping with his previous life Cid trains in secret and resumes his vigilante lifestyle by killing bandits. Cid discovers a living blob of rotting flesh and succeeds in curing the curse afflicting it, returning it to its true form; an elven girl. To amuse himself Cid, in character as Eminence in Shadow, convinces the girl she is a descendant of ancient heroes who defeated a demon called Diabolos, but a Cult is seeking to resurrect Diabolos. Believing his lies the girl agrees to form a group called Shadow Garden to resist the cult. Cid gives her the name Alpha but secretly is amused Alpha believed his made up story. Three years later Claire is abruptly kidnapped. Alpha, who has now recruited six girls as the Shadow Seven, locates Claire and confirms she was kidnapped by the Cult of Diabolos. Cid is convinced the girls are merely role-playing with him; completely unaware the cult actually exists and intends Claire to be Diabolos’ host body when he resurrects. Cid leads the attack under the impression he is hunting normal bandits, and most cultists are killed. Claire escapes during the chaos and, with no idea Cid was involved, later leaves to attend Midgar Academy as planned. Cid, still completely ignorant of what really happened, is surprised when Alpha and the other Shadows abruptly announce they are leaving.
Review
This episode was definitely better than the last, that’s not to say it was mind blowing but it was definitely much more comical and much more interesting. Watching Cid be completely unaware that he’s genuinely helping and stopping Cult members that he thought he made up was funny. Claire is definitely shifty, she seems like she knows he’s pretending to be useless.
Either way, the show is has finally caught my attention, it’s not a part of my favourites but it’s become above average at least in my opinion. I look forward to finding out what’s going on with the girls and why they left.
