REVIEW: ‘Delicious in Dungeon’ Episode 18 – “Shapeshifter”

Now, on the trail of the transformed Falin, the party ventures deeper into the dungeon. But as they navigate some dense fog, they find they have been infiltrated by Shapeshifters. Immediately, they must puzzle out who is real or fake in Delicious in Dungeon Episode 18 (Dungeon Meshi), “Shapeshifter.”

Before the title monsters show up, we get a bit of exposition from the party as they follow a blood trail left by Falin. Thoughts are shared about who Falin is searching for and their connection to the dungeon’s history. Laios also mentions that the Ludicous Mage is the same individual he encountered in the living paintings.

While his friends show some frustration with Laios’s oversight, for once, he should be forgiven. While many of the character’s absent-minded moments easily deserve scolding, this one feels more understandable. So much has been going on, and with the entire party at the point of exhaustion, this oversight feels more forgivable.

When the monsters arrive, what elevates this episode’s utilization of the classic creature type is a clever twist to its powers. Rather than simply making a perfect copy of the original, it draws on the perceptions of those nearby to fill out their personality and appearance.

With a party of four, each bringing their outlooks on each other, this tweak to the shapeshifters’ powers leads to some visual hilarity. Several copies look nothing like their original due to the added perceptions of their companions. This is particularly true for Laios (Kentarô Kumagai).

None of Laios’ copies look anything like him. One is monstrously tall, another crossed-eyed and incapable of stringing together a coherent sentence. While these portrayals are comical to see, Delicious in Dungeon Episode 18 quietly glosses over what their presence says about his friends’ feelings towards him.

Due to similar outward flaws, the rest of the party quickly identifies all but one of their doppelgangers. The remaining copycats require far more work to root out. To facilitate this, Laois has everyone prepare dinner while he observes them.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 18 does a commendable job of balancing some obvious details that come to light with the need to keep the situation going. It doesn’t beat the joke to death, nor does it fail to get the effort put into solving the puzzle across. Laois’ final judgments are correct, though not always for the reasons you’d expect, and with a couple being surprisingly keen.

This blend of keen and oblivious helps the episode reinforce how different Laios’ mind works. While some of the elements overlooked by the protagonist feel too obvious to go unseen, the unique observations Laios makes help to build up who the character is.

The final twist to the scenario comes with the revelation of a “puppet master” waiting in the wings. This monster is the actual threat, as the doppelgangers are just illusions. How Laios draws out this predator tries to continue the laughs for the episode but doesn’t succeed. He draws out the monster by mimicking a dog’s bark, seemingly challenging the monster. While this initial weirdness has some humorous value, especially combined with his friends’ reactions to it, the joke goes too far.

Upon the reveal of the monster, Laios charges the creature on all fours, continuing his dog impersonation. While he’s saved from a gruesome end by Marcille’s (Sayaka Senbongi) magic, the whole moment is eye-rolling. Laios’ explanation of getting “too into character’ doesn’t help it. But it’s the only sizable stumble this comedically driven entry has.

With the shapeshifters defeated, the party settles in for a nice meal. Their dining, however, is interrupted when they realize Senshi’s (Hiroshi Naka) bag has vanished. Their search for the missing item brings them into a trap set by a mysterious assailant. This creates a striking final moment, as the tension contrasts powerfully with the light-hearted fun of the episode’s core.

Throughout everything, Delicious in Dungeon Episode 18 provides a rock-solid visual presentation. From the comical portrayal of flawed shapeshifters to the always delicious-looking food, the visual presentation excels here.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 18‘s greatest triumph is its clear tone. Where past entries often try to mix the various energies of the series to ill effect, this entry manages to pick a lane and stick with it until it’s committed to shifting at the very end. This lets both humor and tension live together far more successfully than is often the case.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 18 is streaming now on Netflix.