REVIEW: ‘Delicious in Dungeon’ Episode 20 – “Ice Golem/Barometz”

With Izutsumi (Mitsuho Kambe) joining the party, the journey continues in Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20 (Dungeon Meshi), “Ice Golem/Barometz.” But as the party reaches where their struggles began, Izutsumi struggles to acclimate to her new group’s unique tendencies.

The opening moments of this episode waste no time reminding the viewer of Izutsumi’s abrasive personality. As the party works through a small passage, Izutsumi grows frustrated and begins pushing the party forward. This causes several members to tumble out of an opening, falling into a familiar large, cavernous opening.

Putting Izutsumi’s more frustrating qualities front and center as Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20 opens is a great way to begin the story. As the narrative explores her personality, it sets a baseline for who Izutsumi is. There is plenty of room to grow here.

As the group dusts itself off after their unforeseen tumble, Laios (Kentarô Kumagai) identifies the opening as the space where they first fought the dragon. While the space is blanketed in snow, Marcille, Laios, and Chilchuck find many of the belongings they left behind after their defeat. While the group is overjoyed to reacquire many necessities they couldn’t replace before setting off again, their celebration is soon disrupted by an unexpected guest.

When Senshi discovers some fish frozen in a sphere of ice, Marcille uses the desire to have the fish for dinner to continue Laios’ magic training. She has him make a magical circle so they can free the trapped fish. However, when the circle is activated, it reveals that the sphere of ice is an Ice Golem. Now awakened, the monster begins to attack the party. When a falling icicle threatens Marcille, Laios is forced to take the hit, putting him out of action. With the group’s main fighter down, the battle quickly falls to Izutsumi to carry.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20 does a great job of imparting the speed and dexterity Izutsuni implores in her fighting technique. Her reflexes border on predictive as she repeatedly dodges strikes that appear to hit. It quickly becomes apparent that she could be a worthwhile addition to most parties, even if she can be a pain. Once Chilchuck identifies where the golem’s core is, Izutsumi wastes no time finishing their adversary. One final gorgeously executed feat of acrobatics that sees her spinning and flipping through the air leads to the death blow being delivered.

While the central purpose of this battle was to highlight Izutsumi as a fighter, something it does splendidly, there is a glaring problem with it. Why didn’t Marcille use one of her trademark fire spells and melt the walking mountain of ice? In one shot, we see her aiding Laios, but that doesn’t feel like a reasonable excuse. Surely she could’ve turned her back on him for the five seconds it would’ve taken to spray their attacker with fire?

Once the battle is done, the entire party finds itself chilled and soaked from the fight in the snow. Hoping to avoid potential illness, Marcille herds the group into a shelter to warm up.

As the party tries to warm up, Marcille (Sayaka Senbongi) suggests everyone get out of their wet clothes before they catch a chill. While she offers to hold up a curtain for Izutsumi to change behind, she brushes off the offer, figuring no one could be affected by the sight of a beast person topless. However, Laios is greatly affected by her, requiring both Chilchuck and Senshi to restrain him. Laios remains blindfolded for the rest of the time the party is drying off. Even when the group partakes in the dinner Senshi (Hiroshi Naka) has prepared, his blindfold remains. He can’t be trusted to keep to himself.

This moment continues Laios’ streak of failing to be funny. His inability to respect Izutsumi’s person highlights the lack of consideration he perpetually shows others where his interests are concerned. This moment is effortlessly Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20’s worst moment, as it continues to make Laios more unlikeable.

Once the party is dried and ready to head out again, Senshi gifts everyone a Mandrake snack he’s prepared. Izutsumi rejects the gift, giving hers to Laios. Predictably, Laios cannot accept Izutsumi’s refusal of the snack and begins pestering her about receiving it.

Laios’ obnoxious refusal to accept Izutsumi’s stance quickly becomes grating. Like a child repeatedly asking why, his interactions in this scene lack substance. The behavior would make someone refuse the treat simply to spite him.

Beyond letting Laios showcase his annoying side, Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20 uses the moment to prompt a memory Izutsumi has of Tade. This flashback and the following ones that accompany it later in the episode struggle a bit. While Tadde is a sweetheart in them, they fail to feel useful to the narrative.

They showcase how Tade is easy-going and accommodating compared to Izutsumi’s stubbornness, but not in an impactful way. The moments present themselves as a vehicle for Izutsumi’s growing understanding of the person she should be. That helpfulness and compromise will help her get along with others. But the moments feel so small that if they didn’t impact her when they happened, they don’t feel like they would now.

When dire wolves attack the group, Izutsumi leaves the fighting to Laios to investigate a nearby tunnel. When Marcille follows after her, asking why she’s not helping, Izutsumi points out that they left the Ice Golem to her, so it’s only fair. This dismissive attitude feels callous, though not without some logic. However, when a dire wolf gets the jump on Izutsumi, Marcille saves her. This brush with danger helps convince Izutsumi that maybe working with the group will yield more favorable results. The fact that the others don’t hesitate to help with her injuries, despite her willingness to leave them in danger, further drives the point home.

Once everyone is put back together, Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20 concludes with a dinner in which Izutsumi accepts the offer of monster food. And, of course, she loves it.

While Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20 delivers some strong action and exploration of Izutsumi’s character, it stumbles frequently. How it tries to change Izutsumi’s outlook doesn’t always work, and Laios continues to detriment the viewer’s ability to enjoy the show’s strengths.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 20 is streaming now on Netflix.