The Rising Of The Shield Hero “Humming Fairy” Review
The Rising Of The Shield Hero “Humming Fairy” is the ninth episode from the second season of the Rising Of The Shield Hero anime. Following Raphtalia’s sacrifice at the end of episode 8. Naofumi, Rishia and Kizuna enlist the help of the Boat Vassal Weapon Wielder Ethnobalt and he summons a Shikigami from her hair in order to track her. Shikigami’s aren’t explored a lot here, just used as search companions but I’m certain there’s more to them. Both Kizuna’s Shikigami and Naofumi’s newly crated one track both Glass and Raphtalia at the same place: Raybul. Apparently the place that Kyo is from, not a friendly at all. The company decide to make thier way there when Naofumi hears Filo’s voice from the streets. She’s being used in a sideshow as a spectacle. Naofumi gets very close to summoning the rage shield for the second time this episode but Rishia talks him out of it. They sneak in at the dead of night and free Filo, destroying the charms that were stuck to her. Naofumi uses his shield to torture the owner of the show, who is apparently a noble, and the crew make their way along to the notice board to make sure they can’t be ID’d from the attack. They can’t but suddenly Raphtalia’s stats in the party dissappear. Naofumi panics for a second but Raph-chan (the shikigami) is still around meaning so should she be.
Finding Raphtalia
I liked this epiosde. I like that it’s throwing back to the first season but with slight but important differences. Those differences are absolutely what makes this time around not boring. Whilst the rage shield is easily summoned now because Naofumi wants to hunt everyone who hurt Raphtalia down, he’s also talked down from it much more easily. He’s willing, maybe even hoping, that he’ll have to listen to his friends as they try to stop him becoming who he was before.
I like this arc, it isn’t perfect but the story is going along nicely and is very evenly paced. Though I will admit it feels rushed in some places, like the explanation and creation of the Shikigami. It was just “this is what they are let’s make one.” No ceremony when you’d assume there would be.
