English Dub Review: Requiem of the Rose King “That is my… my punishment…”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Warwick is dead and his army is scattered, but Edward and the Yorkist forces still have to contend with Margaret’s French army. How will Richard fare in battle after an unsettling encounter with Henry?

Our Take:
Things just took a turn for the worse for both Richard and Henry. Richard has recently discovered that his friend is a part of the Lancaster family, a surprise that’s built up reasonably well throughout the series. On the worst side of things, Henry is now taken prisoner by York and is awaiting his punishment. But, on the bright side, we got another enjoyable episode to endure.
The episode immediately starts with Richard in denial after finding out the truth about Henry. Meanwhile, King Edward and his Yorkist army set out once more to capture Margaret and defeat her army. These two subplots fight together in this emotionally compelling chapter with more secrets shed than the blood from the Lancastrian army.
What made it immediately engaging in the first place was Richard’s development. Throughout the episode, we see Richard in denial following Henry’s reveal, which he sees as his punishment. However, his denial quickly turns into rage, as he sets out to kill every last one of his foes and avenge his father. Part of it is due to him discovering Prince Edward’s true affections for him and being deceived by Anne when she defends Edward. The whole sequence makes for a great example of the show’s use of animation, storytelling, and Shakespearean dialogue. It’s too bad that the fight sequences, or the still frames of them, can’t back it up.
The episode’s third act also helped carry the storyline regarding its surprises. In addition to Margaret and Prince Edward being captured, Margaret reveals that she’s the one responsible for killing the Duke of York. Even more surprising is that Prince Edward marks another character to meet his demise, shocking Margaret. Man, the show’s not messing around with killing off supporting characters. That scene is nicely-handled regarding Edward’s complex and emotional arc. Additionally, Caitlin Glass did a damn good job expressing some well-earned emotion for Margaret during the third act.
Overall, the episode carries over from the previous chapter to maintain the show’s heartbreaking nature. While the fight sequences still rely on showing still frames, the drama behind the scenes packs enough emotion and development to continue its compelling climax. What other surprises await the viewers and the York family in the remaining episodes now that the rulers of Lancaster are captured? Maybe we might find one within the House of York itself?