‘Requiem of the Rose King’ episode 3 review: ‘I Am the Shadow, the Darkness Behind the Light’

Rose petals cascade in a show of utter brutality.

January 29, 2022

Spoiler warning: This review discusses specific plot developments from Requiem of the Rose King episode 3.

Thus far, Requiem of the Rose King has made a mixed impression. The writing is strong and the characters retain their manga counterparts’ compelling depth. With that said, this is very clearly an anime made on a tight budget. The animation last week was so poor it actively distracted from the story being told. Does episode three alleviate the problem, or at least mask it more successfully?

This episode’s most pivotal scenes comes right off the heels of last week’s reveal. Having seen his father’s decapitated head with his own eyes, Richard enters a rage state and mows down enemy soldier after enemy soldier. Though ostensibly on the side of York, he is for all purposes an independent agent on the battlefield: a harbinger of death that turns the tide from the shadows.

Nothing good can come after such an intense eye close-up. (J.C.Staff)

This scene stands out not just for its narrative weight but also for the way in which it is animated, or rather, painted. The majority of it consists of illustrations of Richard in all his fury, slaying opponents while bathed in an aura of dark red and purple. The colors used are gorgeous, and the decision not to hone in on actual bloodshed pays off. The focus of each frame remains on Richard, reinforcing the notion that this is truly his revenge story. The combat is pivotal less in and of itself and more as a reflection of Richard’s crumbling mental state.

This scene also highlights the series’ balancing of beauty and carnage. There are several shots of roses amidst the blood smears, resulting in decadent, arresting images that work well both aesthetically and thematically. This isn’t a work that shies away from death, but rather one which depicts its callousness head-on. By juxtaposing the spilled blood with rose petals, the series reinforces the high dramatic tone while undercutting Richard’s mission. It demonstrates the disconnect between how glamorized Richard’s personal crusade is within his mind versus how brutal it actually is.

This confrontation of brutality extends into the wind down period once Richard slows to think more clearly about his role in the war and his allegiance to his father’s crown. Though he considers himself a shadow, the scene does not take on an artificially grim aesthetic. Instead we see Richard amidst the soft gray clouds and sunlight. Shadow or not, he’s committed such violent acts in the light of day and indulges in killing with no moral justification. When he kills a man who is already brutally injured and unable to move, we see not blood splatter but a swarm of rose petals cascading from the wound up into the soft sky. Again, the contrast between violence and aesthetic beauty highlights the strict personal dogma that led Richard here.

In terms of the animation elsewhere, this episode is a bit better than last week but still feels very limited. There is a lot of panning across the same image for several seconds at a time, and close-ups on characters’ faces are 50/50 in terms of just looking off and rushed. There are multiple occasions in which characters shift from being faceless to having normal features abruptly and jarringly. The frequency of this occurrence makes one ponder if there might be something more interesting gained thematically if some characters were just left permanently faceless, but that’s clearly not what the production team is going for. With that said, budget issues and all, there are still some very cool images throughout ala Richard’s murder spree and the creative use of silhouetted forms.

Though it looks a bit iffy, the episode sounds great. On a second listen the theme song is even more impressive, immediately pumping one up for the intense character drama and life-or-death stakes. The soundtrack throughout is very nicely composed and well-utilized, and most of the vocal performances are quite good. With that said it’s certain sound effects that fully push the episode into such high quality territory. The use of bird calls specifically while the princes are out hunting really conveys the seclusion of the forest.

Family bonds will be tested going forward. (J.C.Staff)

Character-wise, we get brief glimpses of Henry and what the prospect of losing his throne means to him. The sharp contrasts between what he and Richard think of royal responsibilities versus burdens is a large part of why they work so well as the series’ two biggest fixtures. Beyond them, Warwick and Edward also get some spotlight building up to the next conflict. The introduction of Elizabeth signals yet another dangerous contender for power’s arrival even as the existing cast has no shortage of tension. This is a series where conflict is perpetual and human greed is seldom sated for long.

Overall this episode is a marked improvement over last week’s and rekindles excitement for the series going forward. There are definitely budget issues holding Requiem from being as great as it could be, but the animators pull off some arresting visuals here in spite of said limitations. The sound design also continues to impress and Richard’s inner struggles continue to fascinate. Here’s hoping we get more episodes like this one and fewer like last week’s.