REVIEW: ‘Reincarnated as a Sword,’ Episode 12 – “An Excited Fran Sets Off”

Reincarnated as a Sword Episode 12 is the season finale of the anime’s first season. The episode managed to surprise me by introducing a new character arc and wrapping up a subplot but sacrificing the regular high-octane action scenes in doing so. 

The episode, as usual, continues the last episode’s events, with Fran bursting through just in time to save her fellow adventurers who were separated from her in the previous episode. She also faces the same monster in the last episode that escaped her grasp. However, before being able to finish off the monster in what most likely would’ve been another epic action scene, the fight is cut short by Amanda, who destroys the monster in one hit, astonishing her fellow adventurers and angering Fran in the process. 

Prior to this, the episode takes a few minutes to reveal a bit of Amanda’s past and why she’s so attached to Fran. This is done through many scenes throughout the episode, which I appreciated as it gives every part of the episode’s narrative a chance to shine and focuses more on said narrative and characters than any other element. The big revelation at the end of the episode, which seemingly wraps up her admittedly short character arc, also provides good context for the series so far.

Meanwhile, after conquering the dungeon and completing the mission, Fran and the sword decide to move on to their next goal by venturing out to the next dungeon. Shortly after this, it’s also revealed how a traitor managed to get into the previous dungeon before the adventurers, how they manipulated the monsters in order to stop the mission, and that it all relates to August Allsand, the previously revealed and only main antagonist of the anime so far. Afterward, the anime moves on to the regular light-hearted stuff by showing viewers Fran’s cool new battle outfit, which will most likely be the same outfit she’ll be featured in in the next season.

The episode wraps up all the important details of the previously established major plot points. However, as a whole, the season finale doesn’t feel all that satisfying as several other details of our protagonist and the series’ world are left unknown. The sword’s identity and life before he reincarnated and the full details of Fran’s past, her family, or even how she initially became a slave in the first place were left up in the air. And while some details were revealed, the revelations are never executed adequately as each rare character background or detail is drip fed to the audience, with all the necessary details never being fully revealed. Additionally, while I understand not every series reveals character backgrounds or story details immediately and in one go, Reincarnated as a Sword unfortunately never reveals the full details in general, and the narrative’s unknown details feel less like enticing mysteries and more like frustrating uncertain elements.

What’s more, the series so far also frankly fails at portraying itself as an isekai and would’ve been better off as a pure fantasy anime. Several details that are otherwise constant in the genre, like an emphasis on the main character’s life before reincarnating or displaying the contrast between worlds are rarely ever shown or brought up and if this were to change in the upcoming, recently confirmed second season, it’s already too late for me to care.

All that said, despite Reincarnated as a Sword initially instilling hope in me with its stellar production quality, the series so far only boils down to being one of the most disappointing mixed bags of a show I’ve seen in a long time. But at least it has cool fights.

Reincarnated as a Sword Episode 12 is streaming now on HIDIVE.