The Kingdoms of Ruin (Episode 2) - Heavenly Fire

Adonis, Chloe’s apprentice is free after ten years in prison and he’s been thinking about what he’ll do when he gets out. The country that took Chloe from him is going to pay. However, Doroka has another path for him to choose!

The Kingdoms of Ruin (Episode 2) – Heavenly Fire

What did you watch?

For a show that I picked up on a whim, this has been on my mind a lot. Even knowing that the hero’s mentor dies in the first episode didn’t come close to preparing me for the emotional assault I was about to experience. The big question is whether the series can keep up that level of interest or if will it end up being another fairly standard shounen series. It had a lot going for it after one episode so I’m excited to see which way it goes. Prepare yourself, we’re going in!

The Kingdoms of Ruin Episode 2 Adonis imprisoned

What happened?

Adonis was released from what looked like an iron maiden. Inside, he was further restrained with bandages and chains. It would appear that everything had been done to make sure he couldn’t move. The expressions on the guards’ faces confirmed that as they desperately tried to restrain him once more. Unfortunately for them, Adonis has been waiting for this moment for ten long years. He quickly killed the guards and then almost turned the gun on Doroka, but then shot her chains instead. Adonis left the building and went outside with his magic quill. For ten years, he has been planning what he would do to the kingdom that killed Chloe and now it was finally time to act.

He used his magic to increase the size of a bullet after it had been fired, turning it into a giant missile and embedding it into a building. The military tried to respond but they couldn’t do anything to stop him. Not now that had summoned a giant and was sitting atop it as it strode towards the palace. It smashed buildings and threw debris at tanks and helicopters. Adonis summoned giant guns and slaughtered the people on the streets below. Every one of them was just as guilty as Emperor Goethe, but he was going to suffer even more. However, Doroka tried to confront him, desperate to stop his rampage. She said she knew who he was and how to bring Chloe back. She claimed to be a witch too, but Adonis struggled to believe her. Then, when he finally accepted her word and began to dream of seeing Chloe once more, she was shot by a sniper!

The Kingdoms of Ruin Episode 2 Doroka shot in front of Adonis

What did you think?

The first episode left a lasting impact on my memory and this one was just the same. Seriously! I finished the episode and just sat there in stunned silence for a couple of minutes as I processed what just happened and the fury that was coursing through my body. Adonis was just about to stop. He was about to walk away. However, just like ten years ago, they couldn’t let that happen. I can’t imagine how much angrier he is going to be in the next episode. Now, I’m certain that Doroka isn’t dead as she’s listed as a main character and one of two characters in the title image, but that doesn’t change what Adonis just went through. This series is savage and utterly captivating.

The Kingdoms of Ruin Episode 2 Doroka almost got through to Adonis

What was your favourite moment?

Now, like the last episode, I’m going to highlight a moment that I think was important but it was far from my favourite. We got to see Emperor Goethe and he seemed to be pretty ill. He looked like he’d aged thirty years in the last ten. His wife, the woman in red with the face mask, who is quite possibly an evil witch that is behind everything, looked pretty much exactly the same. He coughed up blood and wondered if he had been cursed by God for killing the witches. Regardless, he had no remorse and actually seemed to think that he had somehow brought about a golden age for humanity. This guy is beyond redemption and again, for what he did to Chloe he better not die peacefully in his bed. This series knows how to turn the screw when it wants to.

The Kingdoms of Ruin Episode 2 Emperor Goethe and his wife

Who was the most impactful character?

We briefly met a bunch of new characters. There were the brother and sister pair that seemed to be in charge of the military. Yamato had massive earlobes while Yuki wore a jacket that was far too long for her giving her sleeves like Doppy from The Seven Dwarves. Neither of them was particularly memorable other than their appearances. Then, there was Eekhout who appeared to be more machine than man and was the one who shot Doroka. Again, other than appearances, he seemed fairly boring. Doroka was the one that brought about the big revelation that she is a witch and she came here to free him so that the other witches who survived can bring Chloe back from the dead.

The Kingdoms of Ruin Episode 2 Doroka reveals herself to Adonis

What have you learned?

They say that two wrongs don’t make a right. So, my question here is how many wrongs does it take because while Adonis has gone full psychopath, he is undoubtedly a product of their actions. Chloe was leaving the country when they pulled her back and murdered her. They locked Adonis away for ten years, which would have been longer had Doroka not freed him. Then, when Adonis appeared to be ready to stop and leave, they did it again by shooting Doroka. It’s easy to say Adonis should be the bigger person, especially as he knows how Chloe would react, but if you keep poking the bear, at some point, it’s going to come at you and whose fault is that? It’s hard to blame the bear.