English Dub Review: The Eminence in Shadow: “Dancing Puppet”

Overview: Cid (Adam Gibbs), disguised as Mundane Man, starts his epic clash with Iris (Patricia Duran) as Rose (Donna Bella Litton) re-emerges and sets her sights on Perv. (Brandon Hearnberger)

Our Take: Eminence makes a good head start towards the end as the  penultimate episode delivers one exhilarating development after another. The powerful figures within Perv’s vicinity makes his realization of that all the more exciting in analyzing their threat level. 

Iris and Mundane’s showdown works in explaining the weight of expectations she’s trying to live up to as Midgar’s princess. Their battle has tense beats through the fear that sets in for Iris realizing how outclassed she is and the fatal blows that’ll end her. 

Rose’s murder of her father and attempted suicide is made to seem merciful and heroic in her sacrifice of him. But it comes off more as a nonsensical decision merely for the sake of brutality. It’s especially hairbrained when the idea of curing him is never even entertained. Although, what cushions that decision is how Cid enters the fold. 

Cid’s role in inspiring Rose puts him in a more active role compared to how passive he can be with other characters at times. His brutal justice as a young child is also a delight in his snarky viciousness that saved Rose. The reveal of his criminal persona kicks off his battle with Beatrix. I’m not expecting him to go all out with how much of the OP beast he is. However, if he uses even an ounce of his true power, it’ll be more than worth it and a hell of a show.