We’re already two months in, but I still haven’t quite put all the names to faces yet. Obviously, I recognize Monica; she’s our heroine, after all. I also still recognize Claudia, ’cause we just met Miss Unhealthy Fixation last week. But this whole time, I was like, “Say her name. Say the name of the girl with the ponytail so I can jot it down in my notes!” I know she helped Monica out with the horse riding a few weeks ago. I have no problems associating people with what they do. Names, on the other hand, are a little trickier. Well, her name is Casey, and I should really memorize it. After all, she has a big role to play in this week’s episode.

I actually feel pretty bad for Casey. Not because she feels like she has to kill Felix. After all, people die if they are killed. Well… not always. But I digress. I also don’t feel bad for Casey because she thinks no one in the kingdom cares about her family or the land they preside over. All aristocracy is bad. Just overthrow them already and install a democracy. They still won’t help your family, but at least you can pretend you have a say. Rather, I feel bad for Casey because she is forced to give an exposition dump mid episode while trying to hold the most powerful mage in the world at knifepoint. Oof. “I’m doing this because of that. And I believe that because of this. And this and that, and that and this.” I’m sorry, but it doesn’t feel natural.

For instance, what is Casey trying to accomplish by prattling on and on like that? Is she hoping to persuade Monica to her side? I don’t think so. Assuage her guilt and cope? Meh. Rather, that information is for the audience’s benefit, and that’s not worth making a character behave oddly. Some of you might be mad about this take, i.e. “Goddammit, some exposition is important!” I know, I know. I just think you’re better off conveying all those necessary details in some other, hopefully more subtle fashion. I don’t even hate this anime. I just think it could do better.

While Monica is desperately trying to prevent a magical thingamajig from exploding and thus claiming Felix’s life, Casey dumps even more exposition on us in the form of her sad, tragic backstory. Lots of dead brothers. Damn those evil dragons. As a reward for being stuck with the chore of clumsy storytelling, Casey finds out about Monica’s secret identity. I’d like to say I’m curious to see what she’ll do with her newfound knowledge — hopefully not dump it on someone else — but I suspect she’ll be redeemed and thus return as an ally sooner rather than later. Power of friendship and all that.

Maybe Monica can help Felix understand how some of his subjects perceive him. Like bro, you need to work on your image. I know you want to become king at all costs, but there might be less assassinations if, y’know, people don’t think you’re a loser who can’t think or act of your own accord. And conversely, maybe she can help Casey understand that Felix has his own ambitions. At the very least, convince Casey that assassinating is Felix is a foolhardy cause anyway. Even if she was right about the puppet thing, does she really think the duke can’t just find another pliant figurehead to manipulate?

Anyway, my reward for watching this show is the ED I still thoroughly enjoy. Also, I’ve finally settled on sticking with the English dub, because I rather like Gallica’s voice. Not to be mean, but I don’t think I recognize Monica’s Japanese VA from any previous work.