Danmachi Season 4 takes us on a wild ride through two eventful years, encountering challenging floor bosses, captivating magical swords, and the emergence of a new best girl contender. This season has been a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving us wondering if it marks the triumphant return of Danmachi or the start of a decline for the franchise. Let’s delve into the details and find out!

The Good: A Satisfying Adventure

Let’s start with the highlights of this season:

Bell +5% – Our beloved hero continues to impress with his rapid growth and unwavering determination. Bell’s development might have been more subtle this time, but we can still count on him to shine when it matters.

Ryu +10% – Ryu, a fan-favorite character, faces high expectations in this season. Thankfully, Danmachi does justice to her character, thanks to the exceptional voice acting of Saori Hayami. Ryu’s portrayal throughout the season is nothing short of remarkable.

Aisha +1% – Despite the setbacks in the previous season, Aisha manages to redeem herself and become an endearing addition to the gang. Her character growth, coupled with her Amazonian fighting style, adds depth to her role.

Supporting Cast +2% – Characters like Boris, Eina, and even Hestia bring much-needed comedic relief to this otherwise serious season. Their brief but memorable appearances enhance the overall enjoyment of the story.

Welf +2% – While Bell’s meteoric rise overshadows Welf and Lili, this season allows Welf to showcase his skills as a blacksmith. His heroic moment, holding off the monsters, adds a refreshing twist to a party adventure that seemed lackluster.

Astrea Familia +20% – The highly anticipated destruction of the Astrea Familia finally takes place. Thankfully, it lives up to our expectations, with perfectly executed character introductions in flashbacks and a masterclass episode (S4E20) that leaves us in awe.

Colosseum Fight +10% – Although not as impressive as the Astrea Familia fight, the Colosseum battle deserves recognition for its well-written plot, intricate mechanics, and heroic moments.

Ending +10% – The season wraps up on a high note with an enjoyable date that lightens the overall gloomy atmosphere.

The Good: +60%

The Neutral: Noteworthy Aspects

While not remarkable enough to earn extra points, several aspects of Danmachi Season 4 deserve acknowledgment:

Animation (Fights) +0 – Danmachi is not known for its top-tier animation. However, there are moments when the animators go the extra mile, resulting in excellent fight scenes (e.g., Juggernaut vs. Astrea). On the other hand, some fights, like the one against the slime monster, fall short. Overall, the animation has a neutral impact on the show, neither significantly adding nor detracting from its appeal.

Slime Monster +0 – The potential of an interesting monster is squandered as it becomes mere plot fodder. Despite its missed opportunity, at least it’s not another minotaur, right?

Juggernaut +0 – The Juggernaut is a mixed bag. Its implementation is comically bad in the first half but improves significantly in the second half, especially during the Astrea fight and the final evolutions and augmentations. While it falls short of its full potential, it still provides a decent challenge for Bell’s growth.

Xenos +0 – The Xenos arc doesn’t focus much on the Xenos themselves, apart from Marie. Though primarily serving as a means to move the story forward, Marie’s utility and the mermaid tears mechanic make their presence felt.

Neutral: +0

The Bad: Missteps and Shortcomings

Inevitably, there are areas where Danmachi Season 4 falters, resulting in a loss of points:

Floor Boss -10% – The use of CGI in the floor boss battle is a disappointment. The fight lacks realism and fails to engage the audience fully. However, the team’s coordination prevents this misstep from causing further damage. Undoubtedly, this is the low point of the second half of the season.

Pacing -7% – The pacing feels off in this season. The plot covers a lot of ground, from the slime battle to the two Juggernaut encounters. Spreading the final episode over two separate episodes and condensing some parts of the initial season could have improved the pacing. While a minor complaint, it indicates an area for potential growth.

Jura -8% – Jura, the villain, disappoints due to his one-dimensional portrayal. With the potential to be a complex antagonist, representing the contrast between his deity’s desires and the “justice” of Astrea, Jura falls short as a mere shouty bad guy. However, the mechanic to control the Juggernaut adds intriguing elements to the storyline.

Bad: -25%

Final Thoughts: A Satisfying Adventure

Danmachi Season 4, in summary, is a highly enjoyable installment. While it may not surpass the excellence of previous seasons, it masterfully handles crucial storylines without major issues. The return to the Dungeon, where Danmachi shines, is a relief, as the world-building continues to captivate viewers. Our beloved characters experience growth, although we may miss Ais, Ryu proves to be a worthy second option.

Despite occasional struggles with animation and disposable characters, the future looks promising for the Danmachi franchise. Thankfully, this season delivers without any major disasters in terms of storytelling or production. As the Dungeon beckons, I eagerly anticipate our next adventure.

(Note: If we consider 70/100 as average, the score for this season would be 91%)

Thanks for joining me on this thrilling escapade, and I look forward to our next encounter in the Dungeon!

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