The Ultimate Redemption: Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 Exceeds Expectations

Summary

The Rising of the Shield Hero season 3 starts off strong, making up for the flaws of season

The story and presentation of season 3 exceed the standards set by season 1. It introduces important characters and emphasizes their development, creating a refreshing change of pace. The return of these characters paves the way for a potentially compelling storyline, making it the best in years for the anime.

The third season of The Rising of the Shield Hero is delivering an impressive direction, featuring stunning visuals and top-notch animation. The music perfectly complements each scene, setting the mood and setting the stage for a triumphant comeback for the anime.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season 3, episode #1 of The Rising of the Shield Hero. After a lackluster second season, The Rising of the Shield Hero returns with a bang in its highly-anticipated third season. Following the defeat of the Spirit Tortoise, a new threat emerges with the awakening of the Phoenix, a powerful Guardian Beast. However, Melromarc finds itself defenseless as the Three Cardinal Heroes mysteriously vanish. To make matters worse, Naofumi and his friends face the challenge of reclaiming their village's enslaved inhabitants, who have been sold off to the merchant country of Zeltoble. As they embark on a journey, they soon uncover a series of shocking secrets.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 Is A Return To Form For The Anime

The first thing that sets The Rising of the Shield Hero season 3, episode #1 apart is its remarkable return to its original essence. Season 2 introduced conflicts involving the Spirit Tortoise and Kyo, causing the story to deviate into an unsuitable villain-of-the-week pattern. Moreover, the lack of character development for both the existing and new characters only exacerbated the situation. However, season 3 appears to be dedicated to patiently developing its narrative and characters, while also reintroducing the political and societal conflicts that characterized season 1. This not only creates a sense of anticipation but also signifies a refreshing change of pace.

Season 3’s Direction Is The Best The Rising of the Shield Hero Has Looked In Years

Additionally, the upcoming season 3 of The Rising of the Shield Hero seems to reintroduce significant characters, namely the Three Cardinal Heroes, Malty, and even Aultcray. While their presence was diminished in season 2, episode #1 hints at their renewed importance. Malty reemerges as an antagonist, while the Three Cardinal Heroes and Aultcray are set to undergo character development and unravel their backstories. By bringing back these characters, season 3 holds great potential, and if given ample time, it has the potential to deliver the anime's most captivating narrative in years.

The direction of The Rising of the Shield Hero’s season 3 premiere is another factor that contributes to its successful sales. Unlike the second season, which had subpar art and animation throughout, the third season opens with stunning visuals that are maintained consistently throughout the episode. With Hitoshi Haga taking over as director and the animation assistance from DR Movie no longer being provided to Kinema Citrus, the production has undergone significant changes that have brought the animation quality back to, and possibly even surpassed, the level of the first season.

The music in season 3 of The Rising of the Shield Hero is impressive. Kevin Penkin's score remains excellent and with the addition of Alfredo Sirica and Natalie Jeffrey to the soundtrack, it becomes livelier and better at setting the mood for each scene. The direction of season 3, episode #1 is aesthetically pleasing overall, and coupled with the improved storyline, the episode not only serves as a great start to the season but also promises a triumphant return for the entire anime. Catch new episodes of The Rising of the Shield Hero every Friday on Crunchyroll.