Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? II (Episode 1) – Party | Banquet of the Gods

Bell and Welf get into a fight with some of Apollo’s Familia, but even after the fight has been broken up there appear to be repercussions as Hestia and Bell are invited to a Banquet for the Gods, hosted by Apollo!
What did you watch?
It’s back for real this time! After the recap episode got me all fired up, I am glad to be able to jump back into the world of Orario with Bell and Hestia. I did talk about rewatching all of the episodes, but I was too busy with all the other great shows that have started recently. Seriously, it’s looking like a really good schedule. Anyhow, it’s great to be back here, so let’s not waste any more time here and get on with the review. Spoilers will follow…

What happened?
We started the episode in the dungeon as Bell, Welf, and Lili were joined by Mikoto who was in the party that used them as bait in the last season. She seemed to continue to be apologetic, but no one else seemed that worried about it and was glad to have her along. Sadly, that was all the dungeon we got to see in this episode though as Bell and Welf got into a fight with some members of Apollo’s Familia. Hestia was pleased that he felt the need to defend her, but also told him not to do it again.
Well, it would appear that Hestia’s advice came too late as Apollo hosted a Banquet for the Gods but in a strange twist asked that they bring one of their Familia members. Of course, that meant that Hestia would have to take Bell. Poor Bell doesn’t look at all comfortable in a formal outfit. Anyhow, the night progressed until Apollo called out Bell and presented one of his Familia that had been severally injured in the fight (yeah, right!) and then a bunch of witnesses. When Hestia denied it, he challenged her to a Familia war.

What did you think?
It was a fairly slow episode, especially as it focused more on the banquet than on the dungeon. That said, it was a fairly effective way to reintroduce all of the main players. We got to see Freya and we already know that she wants Bell. Loki and Hestia continued to fight over who had the better adventurer. Hermes was around and looked like he was finally going to tell Bell just who his grandfather was, but then decided to mess with him instead. Finally, we met Apollo and I’ll talk more about him later.

What was your favourite moment?
The best moment for me was when Hermes left Bell to ask Ais to dance with him, then just as she was possibly about to accept, he “remembered that he had something he had to do”, leaving Bell to step in and take his place. Hermes is a great character and I love the way he continually messes with everybody. He’s more of a mischievous god than Loki in this series.

What was your least favourite moment?
Watching the scene in the bar, it felt so obviously a setup. Why else would this tiny child sit there staring at Bell and then try to pick a fight with him? I wonder if the fact that Bete was there will change anything? Hopefully, it will mean that Loki adds her Familia to Hestia’s Familia in the upcoming war, which of course, was all a part of Apollo’s plan.

Who was your favourite character?
I’ve mentioned him already, but why stop there. Hermes is hilarious and easily my second favourite god. If I was to join a Familia, my first choice would be Hestia and then Hermes. I hope that we’ll see a lot more of him this season after showing up near the end of the first season. He injects the show a charismatic comedic element that the no one else can offer.

Who was your least favourite character?
I wonder if Apollo could be the villain? Oh, look, he’s liking his lips like a mad man. He is without a doubt the villain. You can’t have an anime without a crazed lip-licking villain. At this point, he looks like he wants to eat Bell. I also don’t like how he’s treating Familia members like objects that he can take at will!

Would you like some more?
Try to stop me. I’m ready for the Familia War. There’s no way that it’s just going to be Bell against Apollo’s Familia so I’m expecting Welf, Lili, maybe Ryuu, definitely Ais, probably Mikoto and whoever else Hermes can rope into the fight. Even then, Bell has the argonaut ability so it’s going to be epic whatever happens. That said, I’ve no idea what is involved in the war, so there’s that to look forward to as well. Yeah! I can’t wait.

Other reviews in the series
Anime
- Season One
- OVA One
- Season Two
- Episode 0 – Past & Future
- Episode 1 – Party | Banquet of the Gods
- Episode 2 – Apollo | Sun God
- Episode 3 – Conversion | Gathering
- Episode 4 – War Game | War Game
- Episode 5 – Home | The Hearthfire Mansion
- Episode 6 – Ishtar Familia | City of Lust
- Episode 7 – Renard | Fox Person
- Episode 8 – Ephemeral Dreams | Killing Stone
- Episode 9 – Berbera | War Prostitutes
- Episode 10 – Argonaut | Longing to Be a Hero
- Episode 11 – Rakia | Army’s Advance
- Episode 12 – Song of Love | Goddess and Child
- OVA Two
- Season Three
- Episode 1 – Wiene Dragon’s Daughter
- Episode 2 – Monster | One Wing
- Episode 3 – Xenos | Outliers
- Episode 4 – Aspiration | Distant Dream
- Episode 5 – Ikelos Familia | King of Atrocity
- Episode 6 – Knossos | Man-Made Labyrinth
- Episode 7 – Dix Perdix | The Dreams of Beasts
- Episode 8 – Bell Cranel | The Fool
- Episode 9 – Stigma | Downfall
- Episode 10 – Invisible | Forced Breakthrough
- Episode 11 – Ultra Soul | Decisive Battle
- Episode 12 – Argonaut | Hero’s Return
- OVA Three
- Bonus Posts
Manga
- Series Review
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Apollo will fall.
And I’m going to enjoy watching it!
I can’t wait. I wonder if anyone other than Hermes knows who Bell’s grandfather is or whether they just want him for his special ability?