English Dub Review: Infinite Dendrogram “Beyond the Radix Point”

Overview (Possible Spoilers Below)

When Ray survives the surprise attack from the last episode thanks to Nemesis’s powers, he confronts the mastermind behind the kidnappings, As it turns out it’s a lich creature who was trying to create a powerful magical relic called the “Crystal of Resentment”. As this lich attempts to flee, it’s easily stopped by Hugo and Ray kills him. While Ray and his allies venture deep into the castle to rescue the remaining kids, You even discover that the bandits had worked for the lich attempt to steal his possessions, including the Crystal. Unfortunately, The Crystal itself reacts to the lich’s death in the worst possible way which creates a new boss in the process.

As Hugo takes the kidnapped kids to safety, Ray confronts the boss alone. Nemesis discovers that the boss is controlled by the lingering grudges of the people that compose it and she gains extra attack power whenever the lich’s grudge controls it. Unfortunately, Ray is injured in battle and Nemesis takes him to safety while going to confront the boss on her own. Ray has a dream about a mysterious girl who observes the time Shu saved him and a little girl from getting hit by a truck but getting his foot injury in the process.

Consequently, Ray blamed himself for his injury but Shu told him to believe in himself and to never lose faith in whatever choice he makes. This motivates Ray to return to the fight, but not before the girl reveals herself to be the last remnant of Gardranda’s mind, having acquired sentience after Ray killed her original form. Ray and Nemesis destroy the boss and acquire a pair of greaves as a reward. The episode ends when a private discussion is made between Hugo, Cocytus, and Flamingo, who takes off his penguin suit and discusses his plan to effectively end a particular war.

Our Take

The thing I like most about Infinite Dendrogram so far is that its protagonist doesn’t instantly become an Overpowered “Gary Stu” Stereotype when he first enters the game world. Throughout the story, we see Ray get beaten down and back up over and over again. While the execution could have been better, I felt that the flashback sequence was a bit rushed, it’s still a fine moment because it gives Ray so much pathos and you get to understand him a bit better.

Still, if there’s one thing, I’d like the show to improve the relationships between characters, especially between Ray and Nemesis. I feel the show is moving too fast between them and there are rarely, if ever, any bonding moments between the two. A story will stand or fall by the strength of its characters and narrative.

Overall, Watching this episode felt like being part of an MMORPG monster raid where a party team is assembled to take on a boss together. Honestly, that’s also probably one of the toughest monsters they’ve all faced together so far in the show. I really like the idea of a VRMMORPG like that with dynamic events, But I think the idea could be so much better developed in some other way.