REVIEW: ‘The Daily Life of the Immortal King,’ Episode 20 – “The Four Bizarre Tales of Faction 60”

The Daily Life of the Immortal King is a school life/ fantasy donghua (Chinese animation) produced by Bilibili. After receiving her freshly forged sword, Lin was attacked by a demon. Now, having been possessed by the malevolent being, she plots to attack Sun. Meanwhile, the rest of the group plans to sneak onto campus at night to see if an old urban legend about the school is true in The Daily Life of the Immortal King Episode 20.

Weaving the larger plot concepts in with the more mundane activities of the students has been a trademark of The Daily Life of the Immortal King. Its ability to make the two halves of the show meld together harmoniously, while cleverly keeping the bulk of the cast in the dark about what is happening leads to some ingenious comedic storytelling. Combined with the deadpan way Ling is always covering up what is happening and you have some true comedic gold sprinkled throughout the plot of this show.

The Daily Life of the Immortal King Episode 20 focuses on the students’ night visit to the school to see if an old legend about a mirror being able to show your future at midnight is true. Along the way, other strange stories are shared about events that supposedly happen on the campus grounds at night. Unbeknownst to the students, this is the same night that the prisoner beneath the school intends to make their escape from their captivity. The results are a wonderful blend of the unexpected and the hysterical.

But while this episode is mostly focused on the show’s trademark light-hearted fun, there are a few moments that feel surprisingly dark for the series. While this shift in tone has been indicated by this season’s opening sequence, this episode is the first time we see it in the show proper. Interestingly, this tonal shift doesn’t land nearly as jarringly as I would’ve expected it to.

The final element that is woven splendidly into The Daily Life of the Immortal King Episode 20‘s narrative is Sun’s continued romantic pursuit of Ling. Sun’s innocent attempts to express what Ling already knows to continue to be the wonderful, down-to-earth sweetness that my soul needs.

The visuals throughout this episode deliver every hysterical misstep, harrowing demon encounter, and love-struck gaze splendidly. Just as the story can manage to weave together tones and plots that feel like they have no business being in the same story effortlessly, so too does the visuals. How the animation can make it all come together mystifies me. It is a trick so many series fail at.

When all is said and done, The Daily Life of the Immortal King Episode 20 not only continues to deliver all the elements that have made the series a stand-out already but manages to expand the scope and diversity of the series’ tone to draw in another unique element to its tale. I’m honestly starting to wonder if there is a concept this show couldn’t effortlessly weave into its narrative.

The Daily Life of the Immortal King Episode 20 is streaming on Funimation.