REVIEW: ‘Mashle: Magic and Muscles’ Episode 20 — “Mash Burnedead And The Tall Tower”

With the appearance of Innocent Zero (Shin’ichirô Miki, The Wrong Way to use Healing Magic), the Divine Visionary Exam grinds to a halt. With everyone in the stadium frozen in time, Zero prepares to make off with Mash (Chiaki Kobayashi), whom he identifies as his son. But before he can make good on his escape, Wahlberg (Mugihito) appears, challenging the mage in Mashle: Magic and Muscles Episode 20 “Mash Burnedead and the Tall Tower.”

Before the fireworks start, we learn that Wahlberg and Zero have a history. The opening doesn’t fully explain the nature of their connection. The implied connection lends a little more weight to their imminent battle. Before the pair can cross wands, Zero summons an army of mindless minions to threaten the frozen students. Knowing that he cannot protect his charges and battle Zero, Wahlberg uses his magic to free several of the school’s most powerful students to protect the helpless crowd. Plus Dot (Takuya Eguchi, Dead Mount Death Play) for some reason.

Among the individuals unfrozen by Wahlberg are characters that play the role of antagonists elsewhere in the story. While they have been threats in the past, it is good to see them willingly team up with Mash and company to fight the greater threat. This cleanly establishes what level of villain these characters occupy. Though fighting the worst guy doesn’t excuse them for being bad themselves.

While Walhberg spirits Zero and himself away so they can focus on their battle, Mashle Episode 20 keeps the viewer in the arena. Here the freed mages set their combined might loose on the villains. During the extended battle, they use a wide variety of music. While the tricks of the protagonists are familiar, several surprising new attacks are utilized by the villains. Most notable is the trademark spell of Sitter Baby.

Sitter Baby is a creepy man sporting a pink onesie and matching pacifier. He turns his targets into baby versions of themselves. The mana of the victim is greatly reduced and they are strongly influenced by a baby’s desires. With both Dot and Lance (Kaito Ishikawa, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai) both falling under the evil mage’s spell, the duo must overcome the restraints of their situation to survive.

This moment in Mashle Episode 20 is equal parts funny and adorable. The baby versions of both characters are immeasurably cute. They scramble between enemy legs in their bid to stave off death. Also, since the transformation puts a pacifier in their mouths, making their dialogue inaudible, the show subtitles their words for the viewer. These subtitles show how much font choice can add to the personality of a scene. The big, bulging lettering adds to the ridiculous nature of the moment. The situation is even brought to a close through a clever idea by Lance. Once implemented, the solution is brilliantly obvious. Everything about this moment stands out as the best of the episode.

While the grand melee goes on within the arena, we see Zero’s henchman Cell War (Natsuki Hanae, Sabikui Bisco) construct a massive tower outside. From here, he plans to threaten the arena with a rain of magic attacks. Mash is dispatched to stop Cell. This confrontation signals the easy-to-predict low point of the episode.

As with most of Mash’s confrontations, Cell can provide no threat to our overpowered main character. His recent battle with Macron could’ve been a turning point for Mash’s battles. Instead, we see Mashle Episode 20 revert to the past. Mash’s ability to overcome most obstacles without effort remains intact, reaffirming him as the most boring part of the show’s action.

The story also catches up with Ryoh Grantz (Jun’ichi Suwabe, Tekken 8) as he speeds to the arena to offer his aid. While traveling, his assistant inquires about the nature of Wahlberg and Zero’s connection. Here we learn that both were once apprentices to the same great mage. The first of the Divine Visionaries. Laying out the true nature of Wahlberg and Zero’s connection sets the stage for their impending duel. Hopefully, the show lives up to expectations, given how it has built up both characters.

With chaos still reigning as the credits roll, Mashle Episode 20 leaves plenty for the viewer to look forward to. Despite still struggling with some recurring problems, the series can deliver some fun and action when it puts its mind to it.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles Season 2 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.