English Dub Review: Mashle: Magic and Muscles “Mash Burnedead and You Look, You Lose Your Life”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Finn refuses to abandon his friends and faces off against Carpaccio while Mash rushes to save Finn. There are 13 ancient wands said to exist in the Magic World known as the “Master Canes.” Carpaccio was chosen by one of them and was considered invincible as he was able to void any wounds. Mash completely defeats him. Margarette defeats Carpaccio’s two other team members elsewhere, ending the challenge. Just before the last exam, somebody comes to meet Mash and his friends in the waiting room…

Our Take:

Following an intense second round, Mash and his friends have finally reached the final part of the selection exam, along with another student, Leblanc Russel. However, this is where the arc starts pulling out the big guns, with Orter Madl permitting Margarette to annihilate Mash in the exam. Additionally, we have Mash facing off against another Divine Visionary, Kaldo Gehenna, who promises him an automatic pass on the exam. The catch? Mash has to beat him in a game of “You Look, You Lose”. You haven’t heard of it? Neither have I, but regarding its world-building, this seems to be anything but harmless.

What follows is an enticing mini-game between Mash and the Divine Visionary, in which the objective is not to look at what they’re pointing. It sounds easy enough, but then you have Kaldo’s magic attacks that attempt to force Mash to take a peek. Fortunately, Mash is able to dodge his spells, including his fatal black sword, but Mash’s streak is somehow ruined by an owl who took Mash’s cream puff. This was definitely one of the most random things that ever occurred in the show, but it still adds to the parodic charm of the scenario that earns its chuckles.

The episode provides a delightful break from the exams and showcases Kaldo’s abilities through a “harmless” game with a touch of comedy and stylized animation. Additionally, it further reveals Margarette’s profound skills that are not as harmonious as they appear, as he indicates the power ranking through musical notes. Margarette’s power level is at a high Ti, which is just as powerful as the Divine Visionaries. The question now is whether Mash’s incredible strength can overpower Margarette’s deadly music.