The Epic Unveiling: Rising of The Shield Hero Season 3 Exposes Dark Secrets

Highlights

The third season of The Rising of The Shield Hero has a fast-paced story, which can be both a positive and negative aspect for viewers.

The fast-paced nature of the narrative can diminish the viewer's overall enjoyment and comprehension, as crucial plot points are hastily presented, resulting in confusion. This could be attributed to the showrunners' urgency to progress the storyline towards the highly anticipated encounter with the Phoenix, as dictated by the limited episode count in the season.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Episode 3, "The White Tiger Siblings," of The Rising of The Shield Hero Season 3, now available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

While the overall storyline of the third season of Rising of the Shield Hero has been fairly decent, it lacks the same level of captivating appeal as the first season. However, it remains intriguing in its own right. That being said, there is a glaring issue present in every episode of this season, which is evident to those familiar with the original light novel or manga adaptation. The problem lies in the pacing of the story.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet

The third season of Rising of the Shield Hero showcases an exceptionally rapid narrative. While a fast-paced storyline is typically lauded in shounen series, there can be drawbacks when the pace becomes excessively swift. So, what exactly makes an ultra-fast-paced story problematic?

Well, there are several reasons why it is undesirable, with the primary concern being its negative impact on the viewer's experience. Instead of allowing viewers to fully relish each intense and meaningful moment in every episode, it feels as though they are being rushed through the narrative. The anime swiftly progresses through significant events that are meant to serve as milestones in the story, potentially leading to confusion and diminished overall enjoyment.

In this episode alone, Naofumi encounters the White Tiger Siblings, acquires them, heals the younger sister, brings them to the village, lets them interact with other demi-human children, discusses the depleting resources issue with Melty, flirts with Nadia, embarks on a trade expedition, faces a group of slave traders who arrive at the village, engages in a skirmish between the villains and the children, hurriedly returns to the village with his group, defeats the bandits, and ultimately sells them to the slave trader in the demi-human country of Siltvelt.

There are numerous events taking place. These events could have easily been divided into two episodes, at the very least. The first one could have focused on the White Tiger Siblings and their adjustment to their new life in the village, allowing viewers to learn more about them. The second episode could have centered around the slave trader's attacks on the village, highlighting the severity of the problem of demi-human slave trade.

Off To a Rocky Start

: However, it would have been more effective to divide this mini-arc into two separate episodes, each with its own unique tone and atmosphere. The initial episode could have concentrated on wholesomeness, while the subsequent episode could have been dedicated entirely to action. Unfortunately, the showrunners felt compelled to fit everything into just one episode, for reasons unknown.

The fast-paced nature of this issue has been evident since the first episode. In the source material, there is extensive discussion about Naofumi's plans following his victory over the Spirit Tortoise and his battles against formidable foes in other dimensions during the previous season.

He would have bought the remaining demi-human slaves in Melromarc, just like in the first episode, but he would have spent more time with them as they worked on rebuilding the village. Naofumi only decided to go to Zeltoble after realizing that he needed more help with the reconstruction. This arc was meant to be a short but meaningful one, but the first episode skipped all the important story points and jumped straight into the next arc.

Moreover, according to the light novel and manga, the time Naofumi and his companions spent fighting in Zeltoble's coliseum was supposed to be intense and thrilling. It was a mini-tournament arc where fans could see how Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo's combat abilities had evolved after the tough battles they faced in the second season.

What’s The Rush?

Instead of receiving the anticipated episode, the viewers were presented with the second episode in which Naofumi's group swiftly moved through a series of three or four battles before finally facing off against Nadia. The confrontation with Nadia deserved its own dedicated episode due to the multitude of significant events that unfolded during the fight. These events included the awe-inspiring display of Nadia's combat capabilities when wielding her lightning spear, as well as the surprising revelation regarding Nadia's identity as a demi-human and the subsequent impact it has on her fighting style. Unfortunately, fans were left with an episode where all of these remarkable occurrences were condensed into a single installment.

Regrettably, the reasons behind their haste in covering crucial plot points remain uncertain. Currently, the staff has not provided any clear explanation or even acknowledged the issue of pacing or the condensed storyline.

That said, there is a possible reason for the inexplicable decision of condensing the source material and narrating it at an incredibly rapid pace. This is simply a knowledgeable assumption, so please consider it with skepticism. The most likely explanation is that the creators of the show aim to expedite the narrative to reach the next significant event in the original novel, which is the epic showdown with the next Guardian Beast, the Phoenix. Regrettably, due to the limited availability of only 12 episodes in the third season, they have no alternative but to hurry through certain aspects like this.