REVIEW: ‘Mashle: Magic And Muscles’ Episode 12 — “Mash Burnedead And The Magic Mirror”

Having bested Abel, it seemed like the immediate threats to Mash and his friends have passed. But when a new challenger approaches, Mash may be in for a battle that is even beyond him in Mashle: Magic And Muscles Episode 12.

In many ways, the biggest problem that this series has struggled with throughout its run is how painfully formulaic it is. Everything from character reactions to situations to whether or not Mash will glide through whatever challenges an episode presents him with become obvious within the first couple of episodes. While some of these struggles persist in Mashle: Magic And Muscles Episode 12, the show does manage to veer off course in a significant way. One that could bring some new life to the show when it returns in 2024.

When a new magical foe tries to kill Abel for his failure to defeat Mash, our hero steps in to once more save the day. But for the first time in the series, Mash isn’t able to easily power his way through an opponent. Before the fight is done, Mash has to be helped by someone to overcome this newest obstacle. It’s the best kind of surprise to happen for this finale, as it could signal a significant shift in the show’s approach to the action that takes place within it. If the threats moving forward will provide true challenges to Mash and company, the show could become a much more engaging narrative experience.

And while Mashle: Magic And Muscles Episode 12 does break Mash’s previously invincible plot armor, it manages to do it in a way that establishes his opponent’s power, rather than making it feel like Mash himself got powered down somehow. It would’ve broken the tone breaking if Mash had somehow been straddled with some situation that dialed his strength back for villains to challenge him. Providing the character with a current ceiling to his strength gives him an objective to push towards, beyond his long-term goal of keeping him and his father from being sent away.

The animation delivers Mash’s battle with his newest opponent well enough and the way their powers are portrayed are convincing. Why Mash is finally slowed down by this new threat feels sensible thanks to how imposing the animation makes the adversary’s attacks. However, as the centerpiece moment for the season finale, it would’ve been nice if the bad guy could’ve pulled out more than one attack against Mash. Seeing him blast away at Mash over and over again lost its luster quickly.

Beyond this narrative twist, Mashle: Magic And Muscles Episode 12 delivers much the same as it has throughout its inaugural season. As Mash faces down the newest threat to him and his friends, there is the usual splash of humor throughout the proceedings. While there was a chuckle or two elicited from these moments, by and large, these comedic elements don’t deliver much.

What does work better is the character growth we see from Abel during this episode. Mashle: Magic And Muscles Episode 12 manages to develop his character, taking what was a completely sinister opponent and shifting them into something new without forcing an unrealistic change of heart. Rather than see him cast aside his mantra of “It is the right of the strong to prey upon the weak,” this episode sees him expand upon it in a way that feels both natural and clever.

Mashle: Magic And Muscles Episode 12 manages to make the season’s finale possibly the best entry of the show so far. It manages to incorporate everything a fan could ask for of the show’s formula, while also pulling out a surprise that gives what comes next some added potential if the series can build on what this episode does when it returns.

Mashle: Magic And Muscles Episode 12 is streaming on Crunchyroll