Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? III Episode 2

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? III Episode 2

Expedition to the 19th Floor

I know we’re only two episodes in, but so far I’m feeling like this season of DanMachi might end up being better than the previous two. I don’t think it’s going to be great, but there are certain aspects of it that are headed in the right direction.

To me, one of the strongest parts of this series is the inclusion of the dungeon. And a big part of why I didn’t like DanMachi II all that much was because the vast majority of the season took place outside of the dungeon. I know the dungeon isn’t very unique as far as fantasy series go, but it’s what makes DanMachi interesting.

Does anyone really care about what goes on within Orario? I don’t. But at least within the dungeon, each of the floors brings a new and unique setting for adventure. And from what I can tell, we’re going to be spending a lot more time in there with this whole monster arc.

Aisha of the Ishtar Familia from the anime series DanMachi III
Aisha of the Ishtar Familia

Speaking of the monster arc, something I predicted last week already came true within this episode. I said that after meeting Wiene, Bell would start to view the other monsters within the dungeon as sentient beings as well and that this would cause some internal conflict for him.

This was illustrated this week by Bell not fighting back against the lamia that attacked him. But, that could also be in part because their upper bodies did resemble Wiene — blue and scaly.

My only real concern with this development is what it means for the future of the series. Are all the future monsters going to be plant-based after we learn that the creature-based ones are sentient?

Monster | One Wing

For me, the best part of episode 2 came with the “introduction” of the harpy on the 19th floor. There was a sense of mystery surrounding her, we got a better idea of the sentient monster situation, and I thought the scene was just directed well all around.

Let’s start with the sentient monster situation because I don’t have any problems with that part. We already knew that there were other sentient monsters besides Wiene. The OP aside, we were told of at least one other in the form of the armored monster.

However, in this episode, for the first time, it’s hinted that the sentient monsters — or monsters in general — are a cohesive group of sorts. The random monsters stuck in their nightmares might not see it this way, but those who have achieved sentience do.

The harpy on the 19th floor from the anime series DanMachi III
The harpy on the 19th floor

This is expressed in two distinct ways. First, the harpy refers to another monster by name. This implies some form of allegiance or camaraderie between the sentient monsters. Second, she refers to Wiene as one of her own despite not being the same race. And this is taken further by her using the collective “we” when speaking of monsters in general.

The mysterious aspect of this encounter was another thing I liked a lot. But, there’s something that detracted from it, in my opinion. That thing is the OP. Yes, the harpy’s appearance, dialogue, and disappearance were mysterious. However, we’ve already seen her and other sentient monsters allying with Bell in the OP.

This is one of those times where the OP kind of spoils a part of the series. It’s not the most egregious OP spoiler I’ve seen — the third OP of One Piece is — but it’s still a spoiler because it reduces the mystery.

Wiene’s Future

I believe last week I said that it seemed obvious that Wiene would join the Hestia Familia as a real member by the end of the arc. But after this second episode, I’m not so sure about that being the case for one major reason: Everyone outside of the Hestia Familia.

Even if the Hestia Familia accepts sentient monsters as “people,” that doesn’t mean the other Familias or general population will as well. And we got a glimpse at this reality when Wiene saved the little girl from falling crates only to be pelted with rocks by the civilians.

This illustrates the difficulty Bell and his companions are going to face. They can’t realistically change the civilians’ views on monsters in a short time. That would take generations to accomplish. And likewise, they can’t stop the many shadowy Familias from continuing to hunt monsters.

How the townspeople view Wiene from the anime series DanMachi III
How the townspeople view Wiene

But the hardest part of all of this would be changing the monsters themselves. Yet, that’s probably what needs to happen. As long as there are monsters trapped in their nightmares and attacking adventurers who enter the dungeon, they’re not going to be seen as people and they’re going to be killed.

As I mentioned earlier on about the future of the series only containing plant-based monsters, what other solution is there, really? It’s either that all the creature-based monsters are purified and can live among the general population, or all monsters are vilified and killed.

We already know, from the harpy, that the sentient monsters see the other monsters as their comrades. So would they really accept being incorporated into society while their comrades are still being killed in the dungeon?

I think what might make the most sense is for there to be a separate monster society. It could either be in the dungeon or elsewhere in the world. But I don’t see how they can coexist with adventurers in Orario unless all monsters are purified.

Conclusion

What do you think of DanMachi III episode 2? Do you care about what happens in the greater Orario area outside of the dungeon? Do you think the OP spoiled some of the mystery that could have been? And, how do you think the monster issue is going to be resolved? Let me know in the comments.

If you enjoyed this review, remember to click the like button ❤️ down below. Also, follow me over on Twitter @DoubleSama so you don’t miss out on any future content. And come join our Discord server if you’re interested in discussing anime with other members of the community.

Finally, I’d like to thank HeavyROMAN for supporting DoubleSama.com at the Heika tier this month. To learn more about how you too can become a supporter of this blog, check out Patreon.com/DoubleSama.

My review of the next episode is available here.

Leave a Comment