Zenshu Episode 4 Review: Fangirling Is The Redemption

Today’s episode of Zenshu was not that good. Let us see how this episode turned out.

Zenshu Episode 3 Recap

The attacks have finally ceased, allowing the heroes to take a well-deserved break and enjoy some downtime. Natsuko is thrilled to finally don her best attire and attend the much-anticipated harvest festival. Her heroic deeds have earned her recognition as an official member of the team, and she’s eager to indulge in all the food and drinks the festival has to offer. Meanwhile, Luke remains focused on future challenges, preferring to prepare for the next battle instead of joining the celebration. He even attempts to rally others to follow his lead, only to be met with firm refusals.

This episode also introduces a pivotal character, Destiny, the original heroine of the series. Her indirect actions have been the catalyst for much of the chaos so far. Moreover, her eventual demise is a key turning point that shatters Luke emotionally and accelerates his downfall. Natsuko, aware of the gravity of Destiny’s presence, understands the need to stay vigilant before any tragedy unfolds.

Interestingly, Natsuko takes centre stage in this episode, even overshadowing Luke’s role as the hero. Destiny’s influence plays a significant part in this dynamic, as she distracts Luke by getting him drunk at a crucial moment. Once again, the episode concludes with a familiar scenario of Natsuko handling everything, emphasizing her growing importance to the narrative.

Zenshu Episode 4 Review

Today’s episode follows on who could have been the culprit for the things that happened in the previous episode. Natsuko knows that it is Memmeln who transformed the void into the priest in the festival that led to chaos. However, as Memmeln was one of her most beloved characters, Natsuko refused to say anything to Luke when he asked her if she knew about the culprit. Thus, Natsuko decides to carry out her own investigation to find out why Memmeln becomes an antagonist.

We see Natsuko trying to follow Memmeln but getting caught by Luke. Once he knows what Natsuko plans to do, he tags along with her because he, too, wants to know the truth. Later, Luke lands himself in trouble when trying to stay undercover.

In this episode, the fact that Memmeln might be the main villain could have been an interesting plot point if they exploded it properly and gave the concept time to develop. However, exactly the opposite happened.

Not only is the reason behind Memmeln’s betrayal lacking ground, but it is also not interesting enough to make you intrigued. The fact that she wants to end everything because she is an eternal being and is just sick of living is pretty selfish for a hero. What’s even more unrealistic is how her nihilistic mindset suddenly disappears just because a handsome character convinces her otherwise, which feels poorly justified.

The animation is really good, and the music is lovely, which fits the overall vibe of the fantasy world. The romance is also developing slowly, and I appreciate its gradual growth in place of Luke suddenly expanding his interests. These are some of the key strengths of the anime, especially given its shortcomings in plot depth and character maturation.

Verdict

This was a very repetitive episode that used the same formula again and again. An enemy gets introduced, Luke tries to fight it, Natsuko’s magic wand instructs her to use it, Natsuko draws a character and saves the day, then she falls asleep. This is the pattern, and I believe the entire show will be based on this only.

Also Read: Zenshu Episode 3 Review: The Original Female Lead Is Here