REVIEW: ‘Delicious In Dungeon’ Episode 23 — “Griffin Soup/Dumplings”

Having overcome the griffin’s threatening presence, the party looks to help Senshi (Hiroshi Naka) overcome his traumatic past. Before they can do that, they need to know what lies in his past that affects him so. Studio trigger’s Delicious in Dungeon Episode 23 (Dungeon Meshi), “Griffin Soup/Dumplings” takes a deep dive into the dwarf’s past to reveal his troubling history with the dungeon.

Senshi’s flashback occupies close to half the episode. We learn about the small party with whom he originally entered the dungeon and how the desire for wealth drew them deeper and deeper into its passages until they eventually couldn’t get out. A relatively short time is spent in Senshi’s past. However, this allows Delicious in Dungeon Episode 23 viewers to connect with the other members of his party. The group dynamic is quickly apparent, allowing viewers to see how each personality fits into the group.

As Senshi narrates the deteriorating situation, the viewer is skillfully pulled into the tragic moments of the tale. The nature of the story would be enough to hit viewers in the feels, but seeing how the past continues to affect Senshi in the last episode heightens the story’s weight as we’ve seen how it continues to affect him. The animation brings all of the growing tension and fear to life excellently.

This peel into the past also wonderfully executes how it presents the inexperienced Senshi. As a youngster, Senshi feels like a personality that, with time and given the trauma he suffers, could grow into the man viewers have come to know.

Another thing that makes Delicious in Dungeon Episode 23’s journey into the past impactful is how it balances the horror Senshi experiences with some warmth. Even as the situation reaches its darkest moments, the party’s leader remains kind to Senshi. He is caring and considerate, allowing the story to bear some positivity. This warmth within the cold, unforgiving tale makes all the emotions of the tale more impactful.

Once the tale ends and Senshi explains why the griffin strikes such fear in him, Laios (Kentarô Kumagai) proposes a way to hopefully ease his friend’s mind. While Laios often struggles in the sensitivity department, his proposal here makes a surprising amount of sense, even if his delivery leaves a bit to be desired. His plan to help give Senshi some peace about what may or may not have happened in the closing days of his party’s journey by helping him confront it head-on is genuinely smart. Knowing the truth could hurt Senshi if the worst outcome ends up being true. However, knowing the truth would allow him to confront and process it further rather than endlessly wondering about it.

With the help of some nearby mushrooms that can morph creatures into other creatures, they’re able to recreate the final meal Senshi had with his party, facing its chilling secret. Happily, the worst outcome didn’t come to pass, and Senshi can sleep a little easier knowing what truly transpired.

As the party heads out to search for Falin, Thistle, and the Winged Lion, they inadvertently walk through a ring of transforming mushrooms. After a fitful night’s sleep, they each wake up to find themselves in a body not their own. Laios is a dwarf, Marcille (Sayaka Senbongi, Kaiju No.8) is a half-foot, Senshi an Elf, Chilchuck (Asuna Tomari) is a human, and Izutsumi (Mitsuho Kambe) is a kobold.

While this metamorphosis initially feels like a visual gag, we see each character discovering some huge changes with the alterations of their bodies. Marcille can cast only a couple of spells before suffering mana sickness because her new body lacks the mana of an elf. Each person finds new strengths and weaknesses from the change to their physiology.

These changes prove troublesome when the group encounters a flight of gargoyles. Everyone tries to step into their usual roles but with poor results. The party is forced to retreat, even though the challenge presented feels conquerable under normal circumstances. This brief fight helps establish exactly what the party is dealing with. It showcases what they are all capable of before a true danger comes, setting the viewer’s expectations well. Given that next week is the finale, it seems likely that another confrontation will be in the cards.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 23 dives into the past, crafting an engaging backstory for one of its central figures. It also prepares a curious set of circumstances that will impact the party heading into the season finale. Whatever happens, the events of this story are sure to help make the finale something that sticks with viewers.

Delicious in Dungeon Episode 23 is streaming now on Netflix.