REVIEW: ‘The Tale of Outcasts,’ Episode 6 – “Guiding Light”

With Diana shot by a sniper and Naberius releasing his full power in a blind rage, transforming himself into a towering monster, things are on the verge of going far worse than anyone could’ve foreseen. But The Tale of Outcasts Episode 6 brings hope. If Wisteria can find her strength she and Marbas may be able to limit the unfolding calamity from spreading across the country.

Seeing Naberius transform into a full-blown kaiju in the last episode was not what I was expecting. The need to contain Naberius from running amok till he burns out his power is the core of this episode’s story. But to do that, they need a power that can rival his. Of course, Marbas could transform in a similar fashion, but that would simply increase the problem. Unless Wisteria can provide an anchor for him to maintain his control.

The new potential depth of the bond between Contractor and Demon that is revealed here is interesting. How Wisteria aids Marbas in his fight allows the character to grow into more than a delicate child to be protected by Marbas. She gets to pass through her own trial—one that the show does a solid job of presenting visually, as she grows into a more significant role in the show’s larger narrative.

While I love how this struggle grows Wisteria and gives her a moment to shine, the speed with which this series does things once more dampens the effect of a key moment. With barely any time, Wisteria is able to take this huge step for herself, the accomplishment is repeated by another character, making Wisteria’s moment feel a bit less special.

While the struggle to contain Naberius delivers some strong moments, the episode isn’t without one major flop. After a significant amount of build-up over the last couple of episodes, The Tale of Outcasts Episode 6 reveals who and what the Sword Cross Knights Commander is. This reveal lands with a thud simply due to how uninteresting or uninspired it is.

While the narrative is up and down throughout this entry, I did enjoy the way the show captures the conflict between Marbas and Naberius visually. Naberius’s transformation is well done, and his final form is certainly an impressive figure that delivers on the terror his power run amok threatens. Marbas by contrast takes a form that is majestic and radiant thanks to Wisteria’s aid. The pair make a striking contrast on the battlefield, as they throw magical attacks at each other on a scale the show hasn’t witnessed before.

The Tale of Outcasts Episode 6 ultimately delivers a thoroughly enjoyable, if flawed entry. The high points of the episode, such as Wisteria’s triumph and the stellar demon fight, are weighed down by lesser choices. Even with these hiccups, the episode brings a lot to the larger story and leaves plenty of room for whatever adventure comes next.

The Tale of Outcasts Episode 6 is streaming on Crunchyroll.

rating 8/10