The following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of DanMachi IV, "Parasite (Viscum Album)" now streaming on HIDIVE.
The first true terror of DanMachi IV has revealed itself and the promises of a darker season this time around were not exaggerated. While the odds are certainly stacked against the party this week, there was a sense of hope and optimism throughout that felt well-earned and is keeping the hype going.
Last week, a mysterious monster appeared at the end and attacked the party with a projectile attack. It hit Chigusa and began spreading a plant-like infection through her just as it had through the other survivor, Luvis, and all the other adventurers caught in the monster's traps.
The Next Step
The more intelligent the monster appears the more frightening its brutality is, as proud adventurers are robbed of arms and legs and found hiding in fear. It's an uncomfortable sight that conveys the proper threat without indulging in the violence too long. The start of the episode follows the party assessing the situation.
These conversations that break up the major fight scenes can be useful for summarizing the learned information, introducing new facts, and creating tension through discord. However, scenes like these can also devolve into talking in circles, which is why this exchange between the party was a relief.
The obvious choice at first would appear to be to run and get out of the dungeon for the good of the injured, but as the situation is laid out more and more thoroughly, it becomes clear that won't work. It would be better to face the monster, so it doesn't have the chance to get stronger before they return to kill it.
Playing on Hard Mode
Previously, the action in DanMachi was effective thanks to some occasionally stellar sakuga and the personal struggles of the characters going into the fights, as the opponents were just monsters. But this new foe and the uncertainty of their situation have added a new layer to the combat, where half the thrill comes from seeing how both sides play a vicious game of chess.
Bell is the glue holding everyone together and the strongest of all of them, so his becoming temporarily separated from the rest as a result of this week's battle should be crippling. However, this episode was far more hopeful than expected, and Lili's confidence is making her an MVP this season.
Even with some distance between Bell and the gang, he's still fierce and confident as ever, if the music didn't make it obvious. Keiji Inai's score has been impressive across the whole series, but at darker times like these, the intense horn section's proclamation of oncoming battle gets the blood pumping just right.
Small Obstacles / New Friends
Bell's proudest moment in this episode is also the one that feels admittedly weak given the buildup. In episode 1, Eina told Bell about a particular monster that was especially deadly, but its reveal and how quickly it is vanquished here felt a little underwhelming. Perhaps it's just because there's a much bigger threat now, but it felt like such a small moment to build up.
To the scene's credit though, it is nothing if not exciting, but perhaps that energy could have been saved for a scene with a bit more weight. At the end of the battle, Bell stumbles upon a new ally - or at least one hopes that they're friendly - and the episode ends with the party in the thick of trouble, but confident in their odds.
As DanMachi's cast expands, so too does the tension injected into the plot and the emotions going into each battle. Even just three episodes in, the performances have been stellar, and each setback and comeback really emphasized how far the party has come and how it'll only get harder from here.