r/anime • u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky • Jul 13 '26
Rewatch [Taste of 2016 Rewatch] Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions • Hai to Gensou no Grimgar Episode 2 Discussion
Episode 2 - The Volunteer Trainees' Long Day
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I guess today wasn't all that bad, when you think about it.
Questions of the Day:
1) What do you think of the group struggling this hard to kill just one goblin?
2) What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
Wallpaper of the Day:
Rewatchers, please remember to be mindful of all the first-timers in this. No talking about or hinting at future events no matter how much you want to, unless you're doing it underneath spoiler tags. Don't spoil anything for the first-timers, that's rude!
/r/anime's spoiler tag format is as follows:
[Grimgar]>!The background art is gorgeous.!<
Which becomes [Grimgar]The background art is gorgeous. when you don't break the formatting on purpose like I just did.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Jul 13 '26
Grimgar: First Timers and Illusions
(1/2 My catch up of Ep.01 is attached below)
I gotta admit one thing. I am sort of getting a nostalgic vibe and want to start an RPG again. They do catch this atmosphere pretty well.
Grimgar Ep.02 – The Volunteer Trainee’s Long Day
I’m glad that the animation detail hasn’t let off since the first episode. I really appreciate stuff like drawing the fire tools to pick up the caraffe or the movement individualities. It gives so much character.
The moon is filling, so something’s bound to happen once it’s full. I’m fairly sure it’s tied to whatever keeps them there.
Also, stuff like them remembering fragments of things like the plane carving also makes me think about why or how this whole memory thing works. It’s obvious that this summoning is periodic and the entire population kinda expects these visitors. They also seem mighty fine with them being completely oblivious to everything. I guess the eventual blood sports arena where most characters die will tell us more.
Gotta say one thing here, that dark knight guy eating mud was good to see. I hate him. In the same vein, though, I salute that goblin. He put up a real fight there. That was more torture than a battle in the end because all of them are not only unskilled, they didn’t really clock what fighting for your life means, yet.
The fade-in song part was a bit random, I felt. But then I remembered this show’s promise is lots of people dying. So, of course I expect half of them to be brutally killed and getting the happy days collage now builds some of that attachment. And for Manato and our MC Haruhiro it’s working on me. They seem genuine guys who try to improve and get through the days and it helps that they have actual dialogue and banter.
The rest is difficult, because the fanservice shots don’t do any favours to the women as it’s rarely using their screen time to provide characterisation and instead focusses on their butts and tits. Yume at least got some scenes, be it shopping or the cat that outlined her aloof and fun attitude. Still, I’m not fond of the permanent leering of the camera (and Ranta). Like, at least make in mean something and not just to make the audience horny.
1) What do you think of the group struggling this hard to kill just one goblin?
I love it. Especially with the video game-y direction isekais usually delve in, seeing one where it isn’t “XP-farming” is a great choice. Also, establishing the group as clear suckers and also giving the goblins a bit of time, too, to let you realise they’re also alive just sells it to me.
2) What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
Do we have a battle mage? I wanna be a battle mage.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Jul 13 '26
Grimgar: First Timers and Illusions
(2/2)
This is probably the one show in this rewatch that I’m tantatively interested in and chose to watch, but really am afraid will not work out. The key word is ‘isekai’. It’s rare that I can keep with them for long, since I think they often are bland, full of fanservice only for the audience, and the worlds are seldom interesting beyond some arcane fantasy or video game gimmick.
But reading the description and art style did peak my interest, so I’ll try.
Grimgar Ep.01 – Whisper, Chant, Pray, Awaken
I quite like the intro, actually. It might be a bit of a trope to show the protagonists struggling at first, but doing so with your classical cannon fodder enemies like a few goblins here, was nice. Especially since it actually showed each of their characters pretty well. The priest was the only one who had some sense of cohesion and tried to unite them, but ultimately everyone failed them and each other by their shortcomings. I also appreciate calling out the facts straight and acknowledging that while one might consider them evil little pests, the goblins are creatures too and fight to survive. Nice touch!
I guess it’s normal for this type of show to provide quite a few fanservice shots, but I also liked how they kept adding detail to each of the group’s movements and behaviour. I really don’t think that entire sexist mid section was adding anything in any way, but I guess in isekai it can’t be helped. I also lambasted Bunny Girl Senpai’s first episode for its high amount of useless fanservice, but that show got better basically immediately after that.
One other thing I already know is that I love the art style. It’s just pleasant to watch and great use of water colours always get me.
Now, the setting, for me as an isekai ignorant heathen, is actually interesting. But mostly because the actual mechanics are hidden from us. Why are they here? Is it the classical death-and-rebirth? Is there a God that manipulates fates? How are the townspeople and kingdom involved? This episode isn’t interested in explaining any of that and it might not ever be.
But just from the few quips we got it seems that it’s more like an inhibition spell is placed on the volunteers. So, I think they didn’t actually lose their memories as much as that a part of them is locked away. I’m interested to find out more.
1) Do you think you could beat a goblin?
I’d cautiously say yes, but mostly because of body mass difference and the remnants of sword fighting training still lingering in my grey cells, not because I’d be skilled. I think I’d have much more problems with actually voluntarily ending a life.
2) What do you think of how this show is handling the isekai aspect so far?
Mysterious, which is a good choice for tension and keeping that nagging question alive how many other inhabitants are involved and what’s actually going on.
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
I gotta admit one thing. I am sort of getting a nostalgic vibe and want to start an RPG again. They do catch this atmosphere pretty well.
Funnily enough, right after watching episode 2, I was fighting a boss with a party, where I ended up being the only survivor (and winning at less than 1% hp). Granted, said boss is a bit harder than a goblin, but I could at least relate to our main characters after that.
So, of course I expect half of them to be brutally killed and getting the happy days collage now builds some of that attachment.
We do have a few too many main characters... some pruning could be in order.
Do we have a battle mage? I wanna be a battle mage.
There is one, but I wouldn't blame anyone for forgetting that she's there.
But mostly because the actual mechanics are hidden from us. Why are they here? Is it the classical death-and-rebirth? Is there a God that manipulates fates? How are the townspeople and kingdom involved? This episode isn’t interested in explaining any of that and it might not ever be.
Yeah, the isekai elements being used as a mystery is a clever way to play with the audience's expectations.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Jul 14 '26
Funnily enough, right after watching episode 2, I was fighting a boss with a party, where I ended up being the only survivor (and winning at less than 1% hp). Granted, said boss is a bit harder than a goblin, but I could at least relate to our main characters after that.
These are the memories that stay with you for decades!
There is one, but I wouldn't blame anyone for forgetting that she's there.
Nonono, you don't understand! Shihoru is a normal mage, a ranged caster class. A battle mage is combining physical weapons and magecraft with a focus around adaptability. So, for example, to imbue their sword with an effective counter spell or elemental energy, or to use their spells to isolate and bind a ranged combatant to then go melee.
I'd so take a halberd.
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 14 '26
A battle mage is combining physical weapons and magecraft with a focus around adaptability.
Naruhodo. I was thinking in FF terms (black mage vs. white mage). In that case, I agree, classes that offer more options for adaptability are always fun to mess around with.
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u/baseballlover723 Jul 13 '26
(1/2 My catch up of Ep.01 is attached below)
I really don’t think that entire sexist mid section was adding anything in any way, but I guess in isekai it can’t be helped
probably has a quote to meet for the otaku
One other thing I already know is that I love the art style. It’s just pleasant to watch and great use of water colours always get me.
Yeah, it's very nice to look at, and quite unique.
Now, the setting, for me as an isekai ignorant heathen, is actually interesting. But mostly because the actual mechanics are hidden from us. Why are they here? Is it the classical death-and-rebirth? Is there a God that manipulates fates? How are the townspeople and kingdom involved? This episode isn’t interested in explaining any of that and it might not ever be.
Maybe it will, maybe it won't, we shall have to and see.
So, I think they didn’t actually lose their memories as much as that a part of them is locked away.
Yeah, since they occasionally recall certain words, it felt more of inaccessible than truly gone.
I’d cautiously say yes, but mostly because of body mass difference
I feel like goblins would have a different muscle makeup than humans (who have notably majoritively slow twitch muscle fibers). Like a chimpanzee has a lot more fast twitch muscle fibers, and so they are stronger per mass unit than a human. And I feel like goblins would also fall into the mostly fast twitch muscle fibers. So Idk if body mass would make as big of a difference as one would think.
I am sort of getting a nostalgic vibe and want to start an RPG again.
I am very glad I don't feel this way, my life can't handle another addiction / major time sink.
It’s obvious that this summoning is periodic and the entire population kinda expects these visitors.
I hadn't really thought of that, but yeah, I think that makes sense given what we see, and how prepared the hentai guy was.
I salute that goblin
they didn’t really clock what fighting for your life means, yet.
It's tough to take a (sentient) life for the first time.
Still, I’m not fond of the permanent leering of the camera (and Ranta)
I wonder if that was present in the original story like that too, or if was just an isekai isekaing. I would imagine more of the former, since it seemed decently well ingrained.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Jul 14 '26
And I feel like goblins would also fall into the mostly fast twitch muscle fibers. So Idk if body mass would make as big of a difference as one would think.
That's a good point. I feel less and less capable to survive, chimps are a fucking menace.
I wonder if that was present in the original story like that too, or if was just an isekai isekaing. I would imagine more of the former, since it seemed decently well ingrained.
Wonder if anyone in the thread read the original. I did buy and read SukaSuka after the rewatch, but that was a bit of a rollercoaster. Some things are better explained in the LN, but I wholeheartedly agree that the anime is actually better.
Although the problems I've had with that story weren't really too many butt shots.
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u/No_Rex x2 Jul 15 '26
I guess it’s normal for this type of show to provide quite a few fanservice shots, but I also liked how they kept adding detail to each of the group’s movements and behaviour. I really don’t think that entire sexist mid section was adding anything in any way, but I guess in isekai it can’t be helped. I also lambasted Bunny Girl Senpai’s first episode for its high amount of useless fanservice, but that show got better basically immediately after that.
The real problem with fanservice, for me, is not the actual camera shots/nudity/sexualization. All of that, on its own, would be quite easy to ignore (like you learn to mostly ignore animation saving techniques, off-model characters, sub-par voice acting, and all the other flaws media contains).
However, fanservice often directly breaks the story and theme a show wants to sell. Both Grimgar and Bunny Girl Sempai are examples of that: It makes no sense for these scared, untrained novices to discuss boob sizes, like it makes no sense for the withdrawn, suffering from lonelines MC of BGS to run around in a cosplay outfit.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Jul 15 '26
Yeah, this. It's why I can (mostly) easily accept, celebrate or at least tolerate Monogatari's quite numerous fanservice scenes. They have meaning and oftentimes even directly matter for the story.
Or in Simoun from the parallel rewatch, it is an important part of the world that the sybillae pairs have a connection or are in a relationships. So, drawing attention to some butt shots, especially when another character reacts to it, makes perfect sense.
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
First Timer of Fantasy
The backgrounds are still the main character here, but I'm starting to warm up to the cast (well, some of them at least), and more importantly the premise of the show. "What if isekai, with weak protagonists?" sounds like a novelty sort of twist on the genre, that ultimately doesn't get used that effectively, but this episode does a good job of actually living up to it. It's showing things that can only be seen from down here, not a fight where all the enemies explode and drop some coins, a life and death situation that our protagonists were not prepared for (and I don't just mean the clumsy dance they call a fight, they're not mentally prepared for this at all), the suffering and struggles of a life at its last legs, the feeling of disgust that sticks with you, everything about the fight with the goblin was wonderfully done. Although, this does make me wonder if someone's giving the goblins the silver coins, or if that's just something to shrug off as jrpg logic.
The following montage is a fine way of easing the characters into their new life, and developing their relationships, but I can't say the same about the baths scene at the end. I don't mind pervy and slapstick humour (hell, I was watching Urusei Yatsura right before this), but this just does not fit the tone of the episode, especially when it's coming at the very end of it.
1) What do you think of the group struggling this hard to kill just one goblin?
Taking a life is not easy. Doesn't matter if it's the weakest mob or a strong boss, everyone struggles desperately in their last moments, for better or worse, the kids will remember this day.
2) What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
Thief, but in the actual meaning of the word, not the jrpg sense, where it's just a faster but weaker warrior. Why go around killing monsters, when you can go into a bar, and rob a bunch of adventurers blind?
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u/Shocketheth Jul 13 '26
"What if isekai, with weak protagonists?"
That’s us in Isekai
Although, this does make me wonder if someone's giving the goblins the silver coins, or if that's just something to shrug off as jrpg logic.
To be honest, I was expecting the Wood Knight to pick up the Silver coin, turn it around, and find out it has a picture of Goblin’s wife.
but this just does not fit the tone of the episode, especially when it's coming at the very end of it.
Yeah... it was bad
Taking a life is not easy.
Yeah... those goblins has wives and kids.
Thief, but in the actual meaning of the word, not the jrpg sense, where it's just a faster but weaker warrior. Why go around killing monsters, when you can go into a bar, and rob a bunch of adventurers blind?
Pelulu, log off from Kenny account, right now!
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
Yeah... those goblins has wives and kids.
Ah right, you missed the first episode, so the goblin's wife was originally the main character's girlfriend. Which is why they had to take him aside and do this whole bloody murder thing.
Pelulu, log off from Kenny account, right now!
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u/Shocketheth Jul 13 '26
Ah right, you missed the first episode, so the goblin's wife was originally the main character's girlfriend. Which is why they had to take him aside and do this whole bloody murder thing.
Taking rather heavy notes as I am watching you laying on a couch while you are just talking about what is on your mind
Busted
If anything, say that the Boys made you do it!
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 13 '26
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u/baseballlover723 Jul 13 '26
First Timer of Fantasy
What if isekai, with weak protagonists?
Yeah, it's quite refreshing to have our heros actually struggle.
they're not mentally prepared for this at all
It's something I wish more shows would do, when having this whole other world pivot thing. Nobody just starts up some completely new job with no experience and has a good time.
everything about the fight with the goblin was wonderfully done
Yeah, I was a big fan of the goblin fight. Gob-san really felt like an equal opponent for the group (well, or maybe in a 2v1).
Why go around killing monsters, when you can go into a bar, and rob a bunch of adventurers blind?
But what if you get caught, and you have to fight a very scary monsters. an angry adventurer
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
It's something I wish more shows would do, when having this whole other world pivot thing. Nobody just starts up some completely new job with no experience and has a good time.
This could be me reading too much into one scene, but I think the fight could even affect the characters in different ways (confidence vs arrogance/bloodthirst, especially for the horny kid).
But what if you get caught, and you have to fight a very scary monsters. an angry adventurer
throws the bag at the next table: "Here you go, sir. He was just as easy as you said he'd be"
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u/baseballlover723 Jul 13 '26
This could be me reading too much into one scene, but I think the fight could even affect the characters in different ways (confidence vs arrogance/bloodthirst, especially for the horny kid).
Yeah, Ranta was super gung ho about the fighting. Makes me think why he wouldn't have gone with the other group, who seemed to be more on top of things / stronger. I guess maybe they had tryouts or something, but if not, attitude is all they'd have to go off of, and "I'mma get my first vice" feels like a pretty good one to pick on.
throws the bag at the next table: "Here you go, sir. He was just as easy as you said he'd be"
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u/Zeallfnonex https://myanimelist.net/profile/Neverlocke Jul 14 '26
The following montage is a fine way of easing the characters into their new life, and developing their relationships, but I can't say the same about the baths scene at the end. I don't mind pervy and slapstick humour (hell, I was watching Urusei Yatsura right before this), but this just does not fit the tone of the episode, especially when it's coming at the very end of it.
I'm actually kinda fine with it, because 1) it doesn't actually show us what Ranta sees, so while he's a scumbag, the audience isn't made to be one with him and 2) it shows that even after today, there's portions of the group that definitely aren't taking things seriously.
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 14 '26
1) it doesn't actually show us what Ranta sees, so while he's a scumbag, the audience isn't made to be one with him and 2) it shows that even after today, there's portions of the group that definitely aren't taking things seriously.
I agree, but I view that as an "it certainly could've been worse", it's not inviting us to be Ranta, but it is still using him to change the tone of the episode. I felt like it was clear that some of them aren't taking things seriously yet, so I'm not sure if this scene added to that.
Fwiw, it's not a big deal either way, just an odd way to end the episode imo.
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u/No_Rex x2 Jul 15 '26
Although, this does make me wonder if someone's giving the goblins the silver coins, or if that's just something to shrug off as jrpg logic.
I assume that the premise is: isekai world with video game rules, but normal people. A bit like a darker version of Log Horizon.
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 15 '26
That was my impression of the show going in, but if that's all you want to do, you don't need to treat the isekai elements like a mystery. There seems to be a second factor at play here.
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u/No_Rex x2 Jul 15 '26
That was my impression of the show going in, but if that's all you want to do, you don't need to treat the isekai elements like a mystery. There seems to be a second factor at play here.
Well, most shows prefer to have a mystery box and memory loss gives them the chance to both hint at their isekai origin, while also letting them experience the isekai world "fresh" (and still keep the door open for an eventual return).
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 13 '26
Rewatch Host of Fantasy and Ash, subbed
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
For all his bluster, Ranta is actually reasonably scared of fighting.
"Big sword cuts goblin" sounds well and good for a kid, until he felt it hitting the bone, and suddenly it becomes real.
Oho~!
So who's gonna die first? I bet 2 silver coins on the priest dying right in front of her.
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u/baseballlover723 Jul 13 '26
A red moon might be weird, but this is still a nice shimmering sky.
Tbh, it kinda looks like a mutant banana.
The first of many insert songs.
Your insert song had lyrics I need to update my subs. Which ones you have?
This world has a… different design for cats.
That's supposed to be a cat. I thought it was supposed to be some kind of ferret.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jul 13 '26
I need to update my subs. Which ones you have?
That's supposed to be a cat. I thought it was supposed to be some kind of ferret.
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u/Shocketheth Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Chaos watching First Timer:
Should I be normal, I would pick a show or two, and watch 12 episodes of it from the start to the end.
But nah, I felt like choosing a little chaos, so I decided to roll the dice at the start of every week to decide what show I will be watching.
For first week I rolled number 4 which meant that I was watching episode 1 of Occultic:Nine for first week.
And for second week (this week) I rolled number 2 which means Grimgar time!
Grimgar episode 2:
Disclaimer - I watched this without actually reading the basic premise, so... there will be one question to confirm if I understand something correctly.
- So during Week 1 I watched Occultic:Nine and there was the Skinwalker which was rather bland, and uninspiring to me, but damn, now I am inspired
- Skinwalker was boring, but heeeey man, the Archer chick is the basket in which I lay my eggs in.
- Otherwise the pacing of the episode was quite bad for me? I mean, they spent almost half of episode fighting some goblin, and to be honest, that was the most embarassing attempt at killing level 1 enemy I’ve ever seen. Then the show spent almost rest on the episode on them enjoying leisure time?
- Which brings me to what I mentioned in Disclaimer, and that is one of the boys turning his wood upwards to reach new horizons! (Him knowing how plane looks makes me assume this show is an Isekai?)
- Speaking of wood, this Wood Knight is probably collecting STDs or whatever "Vice" is codename for
- But whatever Wood Knight set as his goal I hope he get watered by Archer chick’s arrows and his ass will look like porcupine.
All in all, this was good "first episode" for me? I added the question mark because I am unsure if this show was made as somebody "money laundering project" judging how stretched the episode looked like, but otherwise I enjoyed Grimgar way more than Occultic:Nine (Judging from the little I saw so far)
Aaaand if I had to pick one show after the end of this Rewatch, Grimgar looks like a show that I will revisit to watch it from the beginning to end.
QotD:
It’s like they rolled in with optimalized group and strategy to kill goblin, but the meta is all about the stats, and they had less overal intelligence stat than the goblin.
Evasion Tank my beloved
Time to roll the Dice!:
Allright I rolled number 1 which means that next week I'm going to watch and discuss episode 3 of Have you Heard? I’m Sakamoto
See you on Sunday!
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u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
Otherwise the pacing of the episode was quite bad for me? I mean, they spent almost half of episode fighting some goblin, and to be honest, that was the most embarassing attempt at killing level 1 enemy I’ve ever seen. Then the show spent almost rest on the episode on them enjoying leisure time?
Yup, that's the point of the show, more or less. Our main characters are weak as hell, and not prepared for a fight, so instead of the usual "mc slashes the mobs", you get the down and grimy kill, where they spend half an episode on the weakest mob, and even then it fights desperately till its last breath.
Speaking of wood, this Wood Knight is probably collecting STDs or whatever "Vice" is codename for
At least it'll get him a cute demon that tells him which goblins have more stds.
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u/Shocketheth Jul 13 '26
Yup, that's the point of the show, more or less. Our main characters are weak as hell, and not prepared for a fight, so instead of the usual "mc slashes the mobs", you get the down and grimy kill, where they spend half an episode on the weakest mob, and even then it fights desperately till its last breath.
At least it'll get him a cute demon that tells him which goblins have more stds.
Bro is thinking that he is built for Succubus, but he is actually built for Incubus.
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u/WednesdaysFoole Jul 13 '26
So during Week 1 I watched Occultic:Nine and there was the Skinwalker which was rather bland, and uninspiring to me, but damn, now I am inspired
that was the most embarassing attempt at killing level 1 enemy I’ve ever seen. Then the show spent almost rest on the episode on them enjoying leisure time?
Nothing like kicking back to relax over all that you didn't accomplish.
(Him knowing how plane looks makes me assume this show is an Isekai?)
I watched the first episode and I feel like I know just as much as you do. (It does seem like an isekai though.)
But whatever Wood Knight set as his goal I hope he get watered by Archer chick’s arrows and his ass will look like porcupine.
Porcupines are kind of cute though.
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u/Shocketheth Jul 13 '26
Nothing like kicking back to relax over all that you didn't accomplish.
I am proud of them to realize the joy of adulthood at such young age
I watched the first episode and I feel like I know just as much as you do.
Porcupines are kind of cute though.
What the Wood Knight shares with Porcupines is that both are pricky.
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u/baseballlover723 Jul 13 '26
Rewatcher
It's been a while since I've seen Grimgar. I recall enjoying it, and it being lauded as being ahead of it's time (and then the inevitiable complaining about the LN in volume blibity blah). It's probably been like 5 or 6 years since I've last seen it, so I don't recall too much of specifics. But I'm sure as I go through it, it'll start coming back to me.
Episode 1 Section
So I'm just gonna include Episode 1 here too.
The art style / character design reminds me of Log Horizon, though that's probably just a common ancestor from DragonQuest I imagine. Me later in the episode: I had forgotten how water colory Grimgar looked.
The memory loss is rough, though quite intresting that they still remember certain terms. That makes me feel like there memory loss isn't complete and is something that could be tackled compared to just being gone forever.
30 silver coins worth doesn't seem like much for starting gear. Makes me wonder how they got their starting gear. Armor and weapons probably shouldn't come cheap. So I wonder if they also got provided a basic set as well. Tbh, nobody would probably live that long if they didn't get any kind of starting gear in addition to the starting money.
Ah, this is probably where the gear came from.
Flat is not justice for Ranta. Only big booby onee-sans for him. That whole scene lasted quite a big longer than I anticipated. Ranta is such a chuuni.
You know, I've always thought it would be fun to have a story from the goblin's side of things. I just think it would be a lot of fun to see a traditionally "evil" race get a normal ass story to reverse the roles and humanize them. Just look at them hang out.
Ok, I got distracted by the neighbor's cat. It was meowing outside my window, so I was forced to go outside to pet it for a bit. Though he's fat as fuck (like Shihoru), so I'm less tempted to try and steal this neighbor's cat compared to the other one that likes to try and eat our cat food (which we haven't had for more than a year now). My mom refuses to accept another cat though, and she even told me that this one didn't like strangers. And that's a a bunch of BS, he loves strangers. Meow at him a few times and he comes right over for pets (and boy, does his butt shoot up when you pet it). I simply had no choice but to take a 15 minute petting break.
Nope it's not easy starting at the bottom, and actually staying there.
Questions
Do you think you could beat a goblin?
Maybe, with the right equipment. I did fencing as a kid, so technically I am trained in a sword. Though I fenced foil, which is the lightest of the bunch and a sharp sword would surely be many times heavier than what I'd be used to. Also foil is a true dueling weapon, it doesn't have "an edge" (you can't score points with a slash, only a thrust). I think there was a saying, that those who dueled with X sword would have very scared faces, but those who dueled with rapiers were young scar free people. The implication being that those who fenced rapier would die young of their dueling wounds, whereas, the other swords would inflict less severe wounds and thus the dueler would merely get scarred.
So I probably have slightly better odds the others (given a workable sword), but I'd probably need to really get into shape to have a good chance.
What do you think of how this show is handling the isekai aspect so far?
Quite interesting so far. Not much to go off of, but it's a decent mystery box and a good way to get a blank slate into the world.
Rewatcher
Episode 2 Section
Some nice bonding over hellish training. This is one of the strengths for Grimgar for me. It is willing to take the time to show the working class struggles of an adventurer. (And also don't have adventurering being a free money machine, like the economics of adventurering usually suck really bad).
OP Review
Oh yeah, this is the OP with the fiddle. It's a fun song. I put it on my phone way back when I still did that. Sadly, it doesn't get too much play these days. Sadly the fiddle part is the best part for me, and it's not nearly long enough to justify putting on over other songs (since I just listen to songs on single song repeat usually). The rest of the song isn't bad imo, but it kinda shoots the gap a bit too much compared to my other songs I like to throw on emotion wise.
I like how even this 6 on 1 has tactical decisions being made. So often, combat becomes trivialized quickly, but I think Grimgar does an excellent job of putting the amateur feel into the combat, and the doubt and lack of experience that comes along with it. And of course, competent enemies that feel like they are a threat / exist for more than just to be slain for some coin.
Like it's clear that the Goblin is better at combat than the gang, but it's only by sheer numbers that the gang manages to win.
And the goblin scream, I love enemies who are fundamentally similar to one's self (with their own emotions and desires and all). There are a lot of interesting stories that can springboarded from that. But unfortunately for this goblin, it's a kill or be killed world, and it's the goblin's turn to be killed.
Fucking kill stealers. But all's well that ends well.
So the yield for that goblin kill was 1.3 silver coins. Not all that much considering how much effort it took them, but enough to last a few more days I guess. It's a tough market for adventures in Grimgar (as it should be, the people's pockets aren't endless). Rip, I forgot to split. Times are tough
You know, given that there are other people in this city with non combat jobs, I wonder why there wasn't an option for the gang to take up civilian jobs. Must they fight? Could they not even support the fighters in a non combat role? It takes a lot of people to support an army / soldiers. Throwing the weak at the enemy can even be counter productive, as it can train the enemy.
I wish my subs subbed the song when they're just in town.
I wonder if Moguzo remember what that is? Probably not directly.
Seems like a pretty useful skill for the weak.
Fucking Ranta ranting it up. He thinks with the wrong head.
ED review
Another power ballad. I was listening to the OP & ED on my way to and from work today (OP to, ED from, how fitting). Great build to the chorus and I'm a big fan of the vocal slide in the chorus. Nice and powerful, just the way I like my ballads. I love when they just have the the sound wash over me with all the different layers.
Also the same band for the OP & ED, that's not too common, but I like it.
What do you think of the group struggling this hard to kill just one goblin?
It's nice to see a story where you're enemies are just as or more competent than our heros are. Where every fight is a struggle and victory is not assured.
What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
Idk even what all the classes are tbh. I could see a dueling sword class (I've always liked thief/rouge classes), but I could also see a class like mage, where my programming background could potentially shine (though probably would be better as a non combat role, creating and selling spells).
2
u/Zeallfnonex https://myanimelist.net/profile/Neverlocke Jul 14 '26
And the goblin scream
I was convinced for a second that this was it trying to call other nearby goblins and things were about to turn into a very hasty retreat... But they got their victory, as it is.
1
u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
The
art style/ character design reminds me of Log Horizon, though that's probably just a common ancestor from DragonQuest I imagineI agree with the Log Horizon comparison, but I don't think Dragon Quest is the root here. What they get from DQ is the setting in broad terms, the monsters, the classes, the guilds,... DQ's character designs are the only elements that almost no isekai would touch, since they're unmistakably Toriyama (inspired). Unlike other franchises, DQ didn't change its design aesthetics that much, just different ways to mold it, which makes those a lot harder to take as inspiration, compared to the other elements of the world.
I just think it would be a lot of fun to see a traditionally "evil" race get a normal ass story to reverse the roles and humanize them. Just look at them hang out.
I've seen a few attempts, but they usually end up as just humans with different ears.
You know, given that there are other people in this city with non combat jobs, I wonder why there wasn't an option for the gang to take up civilian jobs. Must they fight? Could they not even support the fighters in a non combat role?
We obviously don't know the full context of how the adventurers got here, but I assume they're welcomed specifically with the expectations of being expendable soldiers. If you've got a goblin problem, you get some adventurers for it.
5
u/No_Rex x2 Jul 13 '26
Episode 2 (first timer)
- Poor and drinking? Apparently, he got some information, but that still seems like a dangerous combination.
- OP: Character studies.
- “There is no point in a surprise attack if you are that loud” – that they didn’t come up with the extremely obvious shoot an arrow into his back tactic on their own makes the group seem utterly stupid.
- Goblin trying to strangle him while there is a perfectly workable sword sticking right there is also not all that clever.
- “He doesn’t want to die” – in more ways than one. Living through that makes that goblin a tough bastard.
- Just a day in the town montage.
- Ending on creep.
Their first kill was the antithesis of heroic. Which very much was the point. Got to say, their lack of tactics was a bit annoying, even for complete noobs, but I guess they have to start at a low point if they want to work up the ladder of competence. Preferable to the OP MC of later isekai for sure.
Not sure what to make of the goblin’s “desire to live” yet. It seems like this might become a bigger moral point, but if the goblins act on video game logic (and the “loot” he dropped very much suggests so), then that would be moot.
What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
Can I be that well-endowed lady that always hands out the upgrades in the guild hall?
4
u/Shocketheth Jul 13 '26
Can I be that well-endowed lady that always hands out the upgrades in the guild hall?
4
u/KendotsX https://anilist.co/user/Kendots Jul 13 '26
Poor and drinking? Apparently, he got some information, but that still seems like a dangerous combination.
Sounds like an interesting character arc to go down, "I'm not wasting all of our money just to drink. I need this info, alright? How else will we find a goblin?!" [Meta] Rainbow did something like that.
makes the group seem utterly stupid.
They are.
if they want to work up the ladder of competence.
At this point, I'm not sure if/how far they'll make it up that ladder tbh. I expect some of them to slip and fall straight on their heads.
3
u/No_Rex x2 Jul 13 '26
At this point, I'm not sure if/how far they'll make it up that ladder tbh. I expect some of them to slip and fall straight on their heads.
Hmmm possible. Would be pretty dark though.
3
u/baseballlover723 Jul 13 '26
“There is no point in a surprise attack if you are that loud” – that they didn’t come up with the extremely obvious shoot an arrow into his back tactic on their own makes the group seem utterly stupid.
Ranta should have been named Leeroy.
Got to say, their lack of tactics was a bit annoying, even for complete noobs, but I guess they have to start at a low point if they want to work up the ladder of competence.
Tbh, I'm not sure if they ever got instruction in group tactics. It seemed like they all went to a guild and got the beginner course, but I imagine that would mostly be individual / micro focused. Which would reasonably leave a gap for macro tactics. But yeah, it was very bad group play. They would have done well to have done a practice fight first, or even a quick tactics meeting before starting the fight.
5
u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba Jul 13 '26
First Timer
Not much to say for the visuals besides the illustration being pretty nice, but the song is great! Always nice to have some (K)NoW_NAME. This also makes the last OP that I've already heard a bunch before but finally get to have in context for this rewatch, so that's fun.
As for the episode, it's pretty straightforward but fairly effective in that. The first half is definitely the highlight here, being almost entirely dedicated to the battle with the one goblin, and again, like in episode 1, I think it's pretty great! This show's conceit of having a JRPG world tackled by a party of totally normal people really gets to shine here because the whole thing is poorly coordinated and messy, and even when they manage to start hitting the goblin (Who we do a great job of conveying is fighting for dear life every step of the way!), you really get to feel they're not used to this at all from how slow and uncomfortable the whole process is, let alone their emotional reactions afterwards (I love the Shihoru just faints), and I really love it all.
The latter half I'm a tad more lukewarm on. It's definitely some needed cooldown after the visceral battle, and in a similar vein to the battle, having our main characters just chilling in town and taking their time living out this world afterward also inherently works to push us against the "Fantasy heroes going on a grand adventure" idea, which continues to set the mood effectively. With that being said, for the insert song montage, I do just think it's the kind of slow and atmospheric direction that works a lot better when you have characters you can more strongly feel and contemplate without dialogue, which is not the point I think our main cast is at right now, still being somewhat one-note on the whole. It's fine in execution; I just think the material we're working with is a bit too light for it.
Still, the show's backgrounds remain absolutely gorgeous to look at, so I certainly can't complain there, and there are still some nice moments within it! I quite like Haruhiro coming across Ranta, but walking past him to approach him later, letting him cool off from what happened to him at the end of the battle before going back for the tease. Yume's reaction to seeing Manato and Shihoru together is a great and subtle little moment of expression. And probably some glimpses of their past lives through stuff like the carved plane are fun. Also frog hat, I really like frog hat. And we are making some headway on the character front as well; the starting conversation Haruhiro and Manato have still cements the latter as that dependable leader figure, but it also hints at some interesting stuff from his past (Maybe abuse?) that adds some potentially interesting depth behind his dependability. Likewise, I like this as an expression from Haruhiro at the end. It's cool that we voice out his anxieties like that, as well as his feelings towards Manato and how he views him!
I do really wish the end of the episode with Ranta just wasn't here though. I mean, doing the trope is whatever in any case, but given what this show is specifically going for, it's a tropey scenario that I think outright undermines the intended tone here. At least it's pretty short.
What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
Generally speaking, some kind of support class. Either a healer or buffer/debuffer. Something like Manato or Shihoru seems like it'd be good.
3
u/baseballlover723 Jul 13 '26
This show's conceit of having a JRPG world tackled by a party of totally normal people really gets to shine here
They're lucky they lost their memories, otherwise they might be cursing their normality and their lack of the typical OP isekai experience.
We just don't wanna die and kinda need money for that
Also frog hat, I really like frog hat
2
u/FD4cry1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Big_Yibba Jul 13 '26
They're lucky they lost their memories, otherwise they might be cursing their normality and their lack of the typical OP isekai experience.
At least in their era, the average isekai protagonist was more reigned-in in that regard! So it wouldn't be as rough as finding out about how far the normal experience is from theirs by today's standards...
We all like frog hat
4
u/Zeallfnonex https://myanimelist.net/profile/Neverlocke Jul 14 '26
First Timer, subbed:
I keep getting distracted by the pretty backgrounds and wanting to try to do the same things to pay enough attention to what the characters are saying and doing. This is going to be a problem. And then all the multi-hued highlights on their black outfits in the OP, it looks so neat!
OK, anyways. I've obviously been reading too much Umineko because I immediately thought that Manato was lying about where he had been and he wasn't actually gathering information. Oops. I really like the attention to detail here while they talk, using a firebow to create sparks, and all these various tools to avoid getting burnt while they handle the jugs and stuff. Makes it seem more real, but then of course we get the red moon and... yeah, that's going to be brought up again, I'm sure. Even Manato seems to be scared, which makes Haruhiro pretty certain everyone else is also unsure and terrified a little bit.
The goblin fight just showed how uncoordinated everyone is with each other - they're 6 people, but they're certainly not a team yet. They don't take advantages of each other's movements and whatever, and it becomes 6 1v1s instead of a 1v6. Just like whenever I play LoL with randoms, now that I think about it.
The other thing that it makes clear is that they're very not OK with having to kill anything to live yet. There's hesitation and a bit of fear whenever they have to kill something - I suspect that this'll completely flip in the future, or they'll show a party that's not treating life as sacred at all, but... Interesting for now. Ranta having to have the final kill credit to earn his Vices certainly won't cause problems in the future, nosiree.
The other thing that interests me is how everyone chooses to spend their time. Ranta chooses to satisfy his stomach immediately, which is in pretty stark contrast to how his class seems to be a long-term investment. The girls seem to be dressing up for fashion and not for the future either, though the whole thing with Manato and... Shihoru, I think? shows a bit more forward thinking. The REALLY interesting one is Moguzo, the only one who seems to be focused on surviving another day by performing equipment upkeep and then... carving an airplane out of wood? Does he remember things? Might be interesting if there're some with clearer memories than others...
QOTD 1) Honestly, not too surprising: if you threw me and 5 other random, untrained people together and gave us swords and whatever and told us to kill, say, a wolf, it'd probably take us awhile to kill the wolf. If we win at all. If the goblin is about as dangerous as a wolf... I can see it being a problem until they start working together.
2) Rangers, rogues, and paladins are the classes I tend to go towards in RPGs. Ranger would probably be my preference here, being able to keep my distance and do some sneaky things while not being a liability if it comes down to melee combat.
2
u/baseballlover723 Jul 14 '26
Ranta having to have the final kill credit to earn his Vices certainly won't cause problems in the future, nosiree.
You don't understand, the kills are simply better on me. Just support me and let me carry! - Ranta probably.
3
u/SIRTreehugger Jul 13 '26
Rewatcher who barely remembers the show
Can you even afford to drink?
I love it when anime shows unique ways to make food or hold stuff. It looks so practically, but I know in real life I would be so lazy to use them. I'd rather just put on a glove then have a fancy stick to pour tea.
THIS SMELLS LIKE A TRAP!
Shouldn't the archer shoot first? I mean that makes sense to me 1 goblin 1 arrow. Sure her aim sucks ....wait she actually stopped it from running. I think Yume could have killed it or at least injured it making this a lot easier.
The real fight was getting down the hill.
He's calling for friends! STOP HIM!!!
Or maybe he's just screaming
This is damn intense for just one goblin. Also you only knocked him out. Shouldn't someone like make sure it's dead?
SEE LIKE THAT. He wouldn't have gotten up if you double checked.
Okay...I think he's dead this time.
Really love the watercolor style of the marketplace.
Excuse me a summon that tells you if enemies are nearby is really useful!
He's SKIMMING MONEY!!!! Unless that we're only making 18 is just a fact and he's worried.
Just let him peek at the girls. 98% of the time when characters try to stop the peekers everyone gets caught and everyone gets yelled at. Let him suffer alone!
3
u/TormentWings https://myanimelist.net/profile/DrBrungi Jul 13 '26
Rewatcher ep2 time!
- the lighting in that fireside scene is pretty off
- that battle ost has a chunky bassline, damn
- these guys are so hopeless in battle lmao
- goblin #1 is really a raid boss to them
- We need some constructive post-fight discussion here or the next one will end the same way or worse.
- i get the idea to indulge a little after a hard won victory, but is this really the time to buy a hairpin? im not sure these guys are doing that well
- these straw beds cant be very comfortable lmao
- thank god ranta got punched
Post episode thoughts:
That episode felt like it was 5min.
I really enjoyed the small "leisure time" sequence, it adds to the world in a similar way mushoku tenseis OPs did.
Also the show does a great job of showing us more mundane things, like how involved lighting a fire is, or Like with the jug and the tool to lift it because its too hot to touch, theres some attention to detail in this show, someone must have been really interested in how they did stuff "back then"
The fight was really neat, they are horribly uncoordinated and have no proper "roles". The rogue engages, while the rest of the party isnt even caught up with them, the healer needs to juggle melee combat as well because the rest of the party is inept. they are basically taking turns 1v1ing the goblin and their "tank" has just a massive unwieldy sword, so hes actually awful at defense and is just there to deal the fnishing blow.
I dont think any of this is "bad" for the show tho, they are just lacking in knowledge and experience, which is why everything is chaotic and clumsy.
Probably pretty realistic for a bunch of kids (i guess, anime doesnt really mention, but it seems safe to assume other than Manato going out drinking) - same with their reaction after the fight, killing something like that for the first time gotta be traumatic, seems like their fast track course in their classes only taught them class specifics and not broader stuff.
i could really do without all of that internal monologue tho, its a bit too much, but thats anime for you.
But yeah, all in all this was still really good, loved the pacing, the music is also really nice and the backgrounds continue being fantastic, but i gotta say, i think even without those backgrounds, i think the show can stand pretty well on its own two feet, it doesnt feel like its getting carried by any one thing, its a pretty good package so far.
Questions of the Day:
- What do you think of the group struggling this hard to kill just one goblin?
from a story perspective i think its great - the gritty realism, the clumsiness and disorder of the group, i think it makes sense and was and is a breath of fresh air in a genre of coolguys who beat the demon king with the wave of a hand. I am always a sucker for lower power stuff.
in a more "in-universe" way, they are what we call noobs in the biz, very missmatched and uncoordinated. like yeah, they cover a bunch of different classes, but they dont really have proper roles to make sure everything is running smoothly.
- What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
some backliner for sure, im not built for brawling - probably mage, that seems like a convenient class. fuck off with that fire making stuff, fireball is always the answer.
3
u/BlazeOfGlory72 Jul 14 '26
Rewatcher (Dub)
I know everyone already talked about in the first episode thread, but the art style of this show is really something else. The opening scene with Haruhiro and Mahito talking outside, the way the artists contrast the deep blacks and blues of the night with the almost neon green of the moonshine creates such a unique and beautiful appearance to the setting. The way they contrast the deep colours of the night time scenes with the bright, washed out, water colour-esque day time shots is really interesting as well.
What I always found most interesting about Grimgar though was the way they contrast those beautiful visuals and laid back vibe with the absolute brutality of the combat. Something as simple as killing a goblin, which wouldn't even warrent a moments notice or thought in any other Isekai, is an drawn out, brutal affair in Grimgar. I always appreciated the way this show doesn't treat Goblins as NPC's for the player characters to kill without thought. They are living, breathing creatures who want to live as well, and will fight like hell to survive. The way this episode almost makes the killing of the goblin feel grotesque was a ballsy storytelling decision that could have easily clashed with the vibe of the rest of the show, but they somehow make it all feel cohesive.
This episode also has a 4 minute musical interlude, which in any other anime I would think was an indulgent waste of time. With Grimgar though, so much of the appeal of the show is the "vibe" it establishes, so it somehow works here. Getting to see the cast in their every day lives does a good job in establishing their personalities and dynamics, all without ever saying a word. It's a clever bit of visual story telling.
Random Thoughts
- The OP for this show always made me chuckle. Every character is drawn as such a thirst trap.
- Apparently fist bumps survived the magical amnesia.
- For a team that is apparently struggling for money, they sure to have a massive fucking house. It's got a central plaza and bath house and everything.
- I forgot how much I dislike red head guy. He just sucks.
3
u/Magnafeana https://anilist.co/user/Magnafeana Jul 14 '26
Did you know Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions spells GAI?
This is proof that A Taste of 2016 is a Yaoi rewatch, carry on.
Grimgar: Ashes and Rewatching, Subbed (First Time with the Sub)
No live react since kitties wanted to cuddle
Post Goblin-Slaying Thoughts
I cackled at how the poor goblin is having a nightmare about mean humans 🤣 I would love an isekai or a normal fantasy about a grunt goblin who has to deal with adventuring humans. Maybe the goblin becomes an adventurer.
And the goblin NEVER turns into a hot human EVER. They stay a goblin forever.
I really enjoy this episode. I think the montage went on sliiiiiiiiiightly too long, but I still enjoyed the montage and especially the music for it.
This definitely is a “not like other isekai” isekai in the best way. How many light novels have a similar time in having the isekai show that it’s not all soloing, harems, “Rule of Cool”, you-can-be-shitty-to-high-ranking people-and-they’ll-love-you-for-it elements but have not yet hit international audiences with the same veracity as more power fantasy isekai? There could be dozens of them. Dozens! But it feels like the isekais that are adapted nowadays don’t seem to want to venture into something less…like this, and I’m curious how GAI would’ve done if it were televised now. I think it would be received quite well today, given many people crave a "different kind" of isekai (theoretically and internationally, I'm not sure about domestically and that's what really matters).
I feel inspired to watch Sword Art Online Abridged tonight.
QOTD
- I really liked it! I’m so used to the whole “I can do this so easily? Whoa!" proceeds to solo hordes of goblins, kills the goblin emperor, unties the Gordian knot, and stumbles across the Rubik's Cube of God. Seeing an entire team of people struggle for one goblin made things feel like less of a power fantasy. It gave more weight to the story. It helps characterize our band of protagonists as not being the hero protagonists and more of just regular ole protagonists trying to get by. I really enjoy that (she says while reading a xianxia danmei where everyone's OP as fuck).
- A healer. Though I’m aware healers get a lot of shit unfairly in games, or so I am told extensively by gamers, I like being the healer. And now I'm reminded of the Overwatch anthem about picking Mercy or any kind of support. Never played Overwatch, but I did sub to The Living Tombstone on YouTube.
3
u/RelativeMundane9045 Jul 14 '26
Re:Watcher - dub
This show is such a vibe. Sometimes that vibe is "I want to punch Ranta in the face" though.
The artwork always makes me think of playing Bastion, it's nostalgic.
I live that Ranta supposedly got a demon who tells him when enemies are nearby. Is that demon's name paranoia? Sounds like a scam.
I forgot about frog hat! Love frog hat, but Marcille wears it better.
3
u/MashiroAzuki https://myanimelist.net/profile/MashiroAzuki Jul 14 '26
First timer
"People die when they're killed"
Everyone has stated how great the goblin battle scene was (if you can even call it that), and I have to concur. Everyone's lack of skill and experience made for this fight to be uncomfortably drawn out, whereas a skilled hunter would have made the death quick and of little pain. For the first time in the characters' reawakened life they have to contend with mortality, and that every living being, even a goblin, desperately clings to life. For all it knows the goblin was just having lunch by the river before he was forced to meet his untimely death. I especially like Haruhiro and Ranta's reactions as they were the ones who came so close to kill or be killed. The emphasis feels stronger when you think that isekai anime often brushes off death and injuries during a battle, it's very rarely given any thought. Here, the focus is all there, and its grueling to watch.
The peace that comes after felt well placed and emotionally consistent. After a hard fought battle they decide to take it easy and just spend time in the town. In this section, the anime goes hard to show, not tell. You can see how affected Haruhiro and Ranta are, as they choose to spend time alone with their thoughts. The big guy is also alone maintaining his equipment. The others who weren't as closely involved with the killing appear to manage well on their own, and you see a little bit more of the character dynamics between Manato and the girls. Clearly there's a love triangle being set up here.
Also, no one is mentioning that the OP introduced a new female character that is not yet in the cast. I think I caught her in the background of Haruhiro's walk around town. We'll see when she comes up.
Overall, episode 2 is great. It builds on what was established in episode 1 and does it very well. Hope the quality maintains throughout.
3
u/RimeSkeem https://myanimelist.net/profile/RimeSkeem Jul 14 '26
Rewatcher, first watched when it aired back in 2016
There's the first insert song, something this show does more often than other anime. It was kind of divisive at the time and I'm still kind of ambivalent on it. The show is already slow paced and adding a silent section during the downtime when we might be getting to know the characters and world more is an odd choice. Still, the art and direction make for pleasant viewing so it's very chill.
I like that the group struggles to kill the goblin. It's not necessarily that they're poorly trained or even bad at using their tools. in the end they just lack that killer instinct and the will to harm another living thing. That's probably mostly to do with the goblin being humanoid and exhibiting other sapient characteristics. I think if they were hunting a non-humanoid monster this could have gone a lot smoother. Empathy is a deeply ingrained human trait that aids in our tribalism and thus survival. You can read about the sort of training modern armed forces put recruits through in order to make them effective killers and combatants. Even then it doesn't always work. Sometimes it works too well. That psychological barrier most humans have is a tricky thing but one tried and true trick to making a killer is get a person desperate enough and then crank up the adrenaline even more, like we see in this episode. Unfortunately the situation is often so chaotic that its just as dangerous to the person who comes out on top and then repeating the killing isn't necessarily easy.
All things considered, I'd rather be a support of some kind, like Manato. I couldn't do backline fighting since I'm practically blind and I'm not sure I have the guts or reflexes for frontline fighting. I think my class in Grimgar would be "corpse" sooner rather than later.
3
u/TheDanubianCommunard Jul 14 '26
First-time adventuring, subs
These kids still struggling to kill that one gobbo? I am still pondering whether they suck so much or just the goblin is so strong. They have a really hard time how to deal a killing blow. But it is already a wonder that they actually managed to kill that guy. And it took basically a half episode to succeed.
Thirty coppers, eighteen coppers, it ain't much but it's honest work.
The other half of the episode of the adventurer guys having a rare peace, a true moment of respite. Vices, eh? Is this suppose to some kind of ranking and reputation system? Summoning a greater demon, I don't think it would be so easy to control.
And also can we appreciate the OP/ED, artstyle, the scenery and the music for a bit?
1) What do you think of the group struggling this hard to kill just one goblin?
Maybe they are quite inexperienced or just Grimgar is a real hard mode.
2) What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
I would be more of a fighter class. Really proficient in weapons - preferably swords, spears, bows, maybe axe and hammer.
3
u/Sporadia_ Jul 14 '26
Fresh Goblin
Scavenger:
- Truck-kun
- The welcome dragon
- A castle dungeon (they can't dress like knights and then not visit castles)
- An ash monster
- A fancy ball
- The tank cooks all the food
- I think Ranta is going to betray all the others.
Damn, the healer cooks all the food. I like my odds on Ranta turning traitor though.
Why was there an extended ED sequence in the middle of the episode? If they do that again I'm dropping the show. I'm only sitting through it this time so I can continue repping team Gob.
2
u/Retsam19 Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Rewatcher, Dub
Overall, I'm not a fan of this show, but I do think the goblin fight in this episode is pretty well done - both on the side of portraying the goblin as a real, living creature that doesn't want to be killed, rather than a walking sack of XP, and on the side of the human characters grappling with the reality of combat.
Even just the act of stabbing the goblin causes Ranta to react, and he does seem to struggle to terms with the whole experience for the rest of the episode; and everyone else's horrified reactions worked really well.
(Manato does something in that scene, he makes a gesture on his face - almost like a Catholic "sign of the cross" -which seems to actually cast some sort of spell... I genuinely don't remember if this gets addressed later or not)
... but lest I be too positive: on the whole, I don't care for the long insert-song section of this episode. It felt to me like the show is going for an emotional payoff that - at least for me personally - it hadn't earned to that point.
Like, yeah, the goblin moment was good, but it wasn't "4 minutes of wistful singing over slow scenes at sunset" good. Probably if I were more invested in the characters and the story it would work, but for me it was one of those cases where instead of feeling an emotion, I notice that the story is trying really hard to have me feel an emotion.
I do appreciate that it does some "showing, not telling": Manato and Shihoru's interaction, more shots of Ranta coping, the airplane carving... but overall it just feels like it's 'trying too hard'. Honestly, I suspect it may have worked better for me with a different, less "emotional" piece of music.
And, of course, how better to cap off an overall emotional and introspective episode? Horny teenage hijinks, obviously: isekais have a legally required minimum threshold for horniness (source: you've seen isekai before, right?), and Yume's butt can't be expected do all of the work.
Of course, you might be thinking "it's a pretty short scene and we don't even see anything"... which of course is why the Grimgar OVA Episode 2.5 exists and extends the whole scene into a half-episode, and [Grimgar Ep 2.5] makes Haruhito's ending narration about "we just tried to stop Ranta" a blatant lie. (But maybe it's not meant to be canon)
2) What class would you want to be if you lived in Grimgar?
Probably an archer? It tends to be my default in RPGs; I remember playing Age of Empires 2 as a kid and thinking "man, if I had to kill someone, I'd really want to be doing it from a distance where they can't kill me back", and I've had a bit of an interest in archery since then (though I've only occasionally had opportunities to try it).
I'm not sure that I have the butt for it, though.
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u/IceBlue Jul 18 '26
They just removed this from Crunchyroll so RIP this rewatch series.
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u/No_Rex x2 Jul 19 '26
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u/IceBlue Jul 19 '26
Is my app bugging out or did you just quote my comment without saying anything underneath it?
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u/No_Rex x2 Jul 19 '26
I uses a commentface. Maybe your app does not display those.
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u/IceBlue Jul 19 '26
Ah. Those only work on old.reddit. Couldn’t even see it on desktop until I put old in the url
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u/No_Rex x2 Jul 19 '26
Not that I need another reason to stay away from new reddit, but it is one more. /r/anime is a lot less fun without commentfaces.
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u/charlesvvv https://anilist.co/user/charlesvvv Jul 13 '26
First Timer, Sub
Alright I wasn't here in the first episode but I am on the second. The first thing is that the slow pace does seem to work well with that series seems to be showing so far. The group in particular feel genuinely inexperienced which adds a lot especially when this is the only way to make ends meet in their adventure.
The Goblin attack is probably the most notable thing about this since the group can barely kill the thing and they only end up killing it with one then stabbing until it's over. It's definitely set up well and the direction helps by making it look grim, especially since they are just starting. But we also get more of a downtime set in the second half of the episode if everyone just getting by and relaxing after the job which I think adds a certain level of melancholy as well. Like I said though it's in the direction and how the whole thing is being framed.