The first episode showed how Rahzel, a spunky young magician, is kicked out by her father in order to get some worldly experience. It seems that their journey has taken a little halt as they find themselves landing in a prison. However, this is no normal prison. It’s more like a dungeon, literally killing people when a certain quota is breached. There, they find their next quest for a happy life: a boy seeking revenge for his father.

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Episode summary

Rahzel was trying to find Baroqueheat when she stumbled upon a little boy who is escaping from the cops. He asked her to help, only for Rahzel to flatly reject. The boy seemed to be interested in getting revenge for his father’s death. However, Rahzel and Alzeid are surrounding by the police and are thrown into the prison. A man in a darkened room noted the capture of the boy. Rahzel remembered about Alzeid’s reason for a journey, which is to find the woman who killed his father as his father is very similar to him. However, Rahzel thought that her aim for a journey is not to find out about the reason. The boy said that his father entered the jail for a minor crime and would be released soon.

However, when the boy questioned the warden who was traveling in a carriage, he realized that his father is executed. In anger, he threw a stone at the carriage and the warden gave orders to capture him. There, they met up with Baroqueheat who is also caught. He claimed he was finding a hostel, but Alzeid said coldly that Heat probably went to a sleazy place, injured someone badly and was jailed. Heat said that Alzeid misjudged him and he would never spend money on women as he believes in free love. Heat also told them that many cities refused to make jails, and all prisoners from other cities came here. However, with a huge influx, they cannot manage so many prisoners and started to kill them.

Alzeid promised to help the boy in revenge as they escaped easily from their cell. Alzeid threatened the guard with the gun and told the boy to take the guard’s gun. Rahzel complained that Alzeid’s gun and Heat’s cigarette are not confiscated, and her bear was immediately taken! The jail warden is notified of their escape as the Rahzel & co. made their escape. The group faced a contracting wall as Alzeid carried the boy. When Rahzel questioned why Heat is holding her so close while carrying her, he stopped his tracks. As the wall continued to contract, she finally said in desperation that it is fine. They went through various standard dungeon traps before they are eventually chased by dogs to a steel door. Alzeid eventually stared down at the chasing dogs and they left in fear.

The room behind the steel door is where they killed all the prisoners, as the boy found an old possession of his father. Heat tried to pick a fight with Alzeid by saying how the boy’s plight is like him, and that it is easier to help someone else’s revenge plan compared to solving his own issues. Rahzel eventually broke the fight as she told Heat that he should not make fun of Alzeid, and told Alzeid that she is not trying to get revenge for him. The warden finally appeared from a room above, as he presented the underground battle scene. He then ordered prisoners to attack Rahzel & co, and provoked the child that his father fights the battle so hard when he is told that his child is waiting for him. Rahzel & co easily dispatched the enemies while talking about the preparation of eggs and bento.

The warden was impressed with their abilities, and told Rahzel & co that he will release them if they kill the boy. However, they simply made fun of him being bald, while Alzeid belatedly says that he hates being looked down. Heat proposed to bring the warden down to their level, as Rahzel used Heat’s shoulders to jump up and used her magic to bring the warden down. The boy pointed the gun at the warden, but he is shaking. The warden asked if he can do it, as Alzeid and Heat are captured by prison officers. Rahzel said how boring revenge is and she shoves the gun into the warden’s mouth. She told him realistically what will happen when a shot is released within the mouth, and asked if he is prepared to see that view.

Rahzel then pointed the gun at the boy, as she explained that the point of time the boy killed the warden, her two friends will be killed. She cannot forgive anyone who takes away her friends, and says that she is likely to be killed by one of the prison officers. Rahzel asked if the boy has the courage to keep passing misery to others. Rahzel also said that compared to people who have already died by the warden’s hands, her friends are still alive so she is willing to protect her friends. The warden tried to retrieve the gun but is stopped by Alzeid and Heat. As they moved out of the town, Rahzel reiterated that she does not bother about stupid things like revenge since murder is still murder. Rahzel only wants a happy life and be a cute grandmother, while the other two become ero jiji.

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Thoughts

If you are looking for an anime that is quirky, interesting and funny, you should really look no further than Hatenkou Yugi. It has been a while since I have found such wicked humor in a series, and they are dispersed well enough to make you laugh every single time. The starting is definitely amusing with Rahzel’s quick rejection to help the little boy from escaping the cops. I mean, it is really great that there are finally main protagonists who seriously do not care about every single person that jumps to them, but are motivated by their own gains like money (or escape this time).

I also liked the eccentricity of the action scenes. This is clearly not a series where you should be looking for “Gurren Lagaan”, “Macross Frontier” or even “Code Geass” action scenes. This show has a distinctively shoujo feel to it, and the action scenes are made to look casual and humorous due to the crazy antics of the character. I mean, try to point out a serious battle in any series where the female and male lead are discussing about their meals and the way to prepare it deliciously.

Rahzel is really one of the most interesting heroines in recent anime. I am really tired of the damsel in distress stereotype, and it is good to find a main female lead who is solving problems for the males, rather than her crying like a baby over some event again. It’s really tiring sometimes to see women in often dismissive or submissive stereotypes in anime, and that is why this series is like a breath of fresh air. Alzeid and Heat are also very different characters that result in huge tension (and of course great interest for the readers). I really like how Heat and Alzeid totally cannot get along, and I swear that they will have more fights considering how different they are.

On the story this time, I am not much impressed except for the ending. Rahzel really strikes a chord with me in the philosophy that murder is murder, no matter how much you try to glorify it as revenge. She also shows her loyalty in her friends, willing to stop the revenge of the boy by telling him that she will save the people that are alive rather than those that have been cried. If anything, Alzeid and Heat definitely gives the warden a nice “pat” on the head.

The next episode seems to be equally intriguing and I must say that I am really anticipating each episode with great expectations. This is definitely a good winter season for me!

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