REVIEW: ‘The Witch And The Beast’ Episode 9 — “The Witch and the Demon Sword: Final Act”

With the Demon Sword unleashing its world-ending might, the situation looks grim. But with this new threat raining destruction on the city, Ashraf (Toshiyuki Morikawa) decides that it is time for Guideau’s (You Taichi) full power to be unleashed. A kiss shared with Helga (Miyu Tomita) sees this done. Will it be enough to prevent humanity’s destruction in The Witch And The Beast (Majo to Yajû) Episode 9, “The Witch and The Demon Sword: Final Act?”

There are two common ways to approach an epic battle. You go for flash and style, or you go for substance and gravitas. The flash is the more common path. Blink and you miss it hyper-sonic attacks, combined with huge, fiery explosions can grab an audience like few other things. But while these eye-catching moments are visual treats, the second option has a special kind of magic all its own. Though pulling it off can be harder.

When a battle chooses to focus on gravitas over flash, it’s making a conscious choice to steady a fight. Rather than wow the viewer with visual shock and awe, the battle seeks to draw them in with atmosphere and weight. It’s the scale, the consequences, and the aura of those participating that make the fight grand. The Witch And The Beast Episode 9 delves into this style of battle perfectly. Despite assembling a group of characters that seem capable of mind-blowing feats of strength, the episode allows them to project their presence more than their fists. Creating something truly epic as the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Before the battle starts, The Witch And The Beast Episode 9 jumps back a little, retracing the final moments of the last episode. As Ashraf offers to make Helga’s wish for a kiss come true, we see the witch embraced by Guideau. This moment establishes the kind of emotional weight the entirety of the episode will strive to create. Rather than just having a typical exuberant reaction to her first kiss, Helga’s internal reaction is far more measured and deep. She mentally explores the moment. As she observes the experience, Tomita conveys the importance of the scene through the voice work amazingly. As someone who often finds annoyance in how over-the-top many anime treat moments like first kisses, this moment feels more meaningful than most.

The art used during this critical moment further enhances it. The direction captures the kiss itself through a lovely still image. With heavy line work capturing the lighting and radiance of the moment, Helga’s emotions are further driven to the front of the viewer’s mind. As the moment continues, subtle actions on the part of Helga drive even more emotion into the scene. How her hands unsteadily creep up Guideau’s shoulders imparts so much. Her fear and vulnerability feel truly raw here. But as her hands come to rest on the other woman’s shoulders, the grip they take speaks of determination and strength. An incredible reminder of how much can be said with so little.

Once the moment passes, we see Guideau emerge from her coffin at her full power. Striding off to join the battle, Ashraf requests that Guideau not use her right hand. He would like to bring the demon sword back alive.

The three-person battle between the Demon Sword and Guideau with Matt Cugat takes a paced approach to its fighting. Playing out almost like a turn-based video game, each participant launches their attacks. Characters deal with blocks, parries, and counters by their target. While this pacing keeps the moment from becoming truly exciting, there is an elegance in its approach. This paced back-and-forth allows the scale of the battle to escalate smoothly. As each participant takes their turn, the viewer learns more about them and their style. It ultimately comes together as more like a formally arranged duel than a chaotic battle.

Despite the slower pace, there are no doubts about the cost of the engagement.  Yokohama Animation Lab does a great job of capturing the destructive force the combatants unleash. Buildings are cleaved in two with little notice or effort. The raw destructive force is always present and demands attention.

The most satisfying moment in The Witch And The Beast Episode 9 comes after the battle. As the episode begins to wrap up, we see the executioner running to reach a safe haven. As he is about to reach his destination, a rock comes screaming across the sky, severing his arm just above where his forbidden instrument was attached. Guideau continues to play sniper, as she pummels the villain from afar, rendering him immobile and begging for mercy. It feels good when a bad guy gets what’s coming to them.

From there we see the villain brought before Ashraf, Helga, and Matt, to determine their punishment. While it’s clear that Matt wishes to carry out a death sentence, he leaves the decision up to Helga, as the most aggrieved party. With the murderer of her family at the executioner’s feet, in the cruelest way possible, her final decision is probably the most believable she could give. Her cold and angry declaration at this moment comes as a stark contrast to the vulnerable woman we saw share her first kiss.

The Witch And The Beast Episode 9 wraps up the Demon Sword Arc in the best way possible. Its blend of epic scale, emotional depth, and brutal consequences is exactly what fans of the series would expect and want.

The Witch And The Beast Episode 9 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.