Overlord (Episode 10) – True Vampire
Something happened to Shaltear that meant she no longer followed Lord Ainz’s commands. Albedo believes that she has turned against them, but Ainz thinks there could be something else at play. Either way, he needs to be cautious.
Overlord (Episode 10) – True Vampire
What did you watch?
We’re now entering the final arc of the first season and it’s all about the build-up to the epic battle between Shatear and Lord Ainz. This one takes us back a little bit to the moments leading up to Shaltear’s “betrayal”. It’s nice that this series is able to throw different characters at us and it still feels like the same show. Anyhow, before I go on too much, let’s just dive in.
What happened?
Sebas and Solution were posing as a wealthy lady and her butler in order to lure out some of the underworld strongmen so that Lord Ainz could learn more about Martial Arts and Spellcasting in this new world. After a lengthy period of time, it would appear that someone has taken the bait. Of course, they are accompanied by Lady Shaltear who has remained in the shadows. Now, it’s her time to shine. Their carriage is stopped by bandits who think they’re about to have a good time with the young lady. Even finding Shaltear in there didn’t dampen their mood… to begin with. She attacked gathering the blood of the fallen as they searched for someone to bring to Lord Ainz. Luckily, they found the hideout of the bandits and went in search of their leader, Brains.
However, Sebas and Solution had another mission to take care of, so they left Shaltear and her vampire brides to take care of things. They entered the hideout and quickly sliced their way to Brains. He was keen to show them just how foolish they had been by entering his lair. He activated his most powerful attack and was then left stunned as Shatear caught his blade between her fingertips. She then yawned as he continued his attack. He didn’t stand a chance, so he ran. Shaltear followed, however, he escaped. That was when she learned that there were more humans outside the hideout. She ran out to attack, killing all but one – a girl with a potion from Lord Ainz. The girl told her that there were others who had gone for help. Shaltear went after them but got caught in a magic attack which left her unable to move.
What did you think?
I really enjoyed this episode. There’s something strangely satisfying about seeing Momonga a little flustered. He generally keeps it in his head, but we are privy to that information so we get to see how he thinks through the problems. Seeing that there are things unlike the game makes for a constant game of cat and mouse. He has to tread lightly, testing every scenario and watching the outcomes. His very methodical and getting to see that happen is a treat. I’m also a big fan of Sebas so it’s always nice to see him get some screen time. Solution is a delight too, be it a slightly terrifying delight, like all of the battle maids.
What was your favourite moment?
So, we got to see Shaltear experience something that caught her off-guard and left her in a real pickle. Before that, however, we got to see some more examples of how people react to overpowered characters when they assume that they are the biggest fish in the pond. We saw it with the bandits and carriage driver. All assumed that Solution was a helpless lady and not an all-powerful slime battle maid. Then, there was Shaltear whose usual appearance is as far from scary as imaginable. Brain’s reaction to her ability to block his attacks left him a crying wreck who turned and ran as fast as he could. It’s always entertaining to see overconfidence shattered.
Who was the most impactful character?
I think Shaltear, obviously, had the biggest role to play in this episode, however, Solution is the character that is the most memorable. I loved how she played the spoiled reach lady who didn’t care about offending anyone, but once she was behind closed doors with Sebas, she was quick to apologise for going too far. Sebas, always dutiful, reminded her that these were the roles they were playing and he was prepared to do whatever it took for Lord Ainz. However, the most memorable moment for Solution was when she found the carriage driver during the chaos with the bandits and devoured him by absorbing him into her chest. I mean, if you gotta go, there are worse ways… Still, her wicked smile was incredible.
What have you learned?
Having a big cast is great, but trying to put too many into the story at once can be overwhelming from an audience’s point of view and a writer’s. It can be too easy to lose track of who’s talking and then you end up with lots of characters standing around doing nothing. Overlord has the right idea by limiting the number involved at any one time. We’ve seen Lord Ainz and Albedo work together. Then, it was Momonga and Nabe. Now, we’ve seen Sebas and Solution, and Shaltear and her vampire brides. Keeping interactions small allows for everyone in those interactions to appear natural. No one wants to see a host of characters standing around listening to one character talk. If they’re not doing anything for the scene, they might as well not be there. Keep it clean and the audience will appreciate it.
Other posts in the series
- Season One
- Episode 1 – End and Beginning
- Episode 2 – Floor Guardians
- Episode 3 – Battle at Carne Village
- Episode 4 – Ruler of Death
- Episode 5 – Two Venturers
- Episode 6 – Journey
- Episode 7 – Wise King of Forest
- Episode 8 – Twin Swords of Slashing Death
- Episode 9 – The Dark Warrior
- Episode 10 – True Vampire
- Episode 11 – Confusion and Understanding
- Episode 12 – The Bloody Valkyrie
- Episode 13 – Player VS Non Player Character
- Bonus
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