Knight’s & Magic: Season 1/ Episode 9 “Force & Solution” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

Our history teacher takes the focus off of the kingdoms of the east and sends us west. Leading Knight’s and Magic in a direction which may make its final handful of episodes interesting.

Introducing the Kingdom of Zaloudek: Carlitos, Cristobal, Catarina, Kerhilt

As Kerhilt noted back in episode 6, war is coming. One which took, I think at least a year, for the Kingdom of Zaloudek to get ready for, but it is now here. As for why they want to go to war? Well, to reclaim former glory. You see, there was a time when all the western lands were one country – Phada-abahden. Something Carlitos, seemingly the oldest sibling of the Zaloudek heirs, wants to bring back.

The problem was before, everyone was equally matched and that prevented Zaloudek from bringing this dream to reality. However, after Kerhilt sold them the mechs Ernesti was working on, they gained an advantage. One which allows them to boldly declare war and march across the land taking out multiple kingdoms in the process.

Commentary

I think I’m in love… again. For this is what Knight’s and Magic needed. A real, brings a serious threat to Ernesti, type of villain. One with technology beyond his, in the form of leviathans that can drop mechs, and with their own customizations which make it so they aren’t some mole hill but a mountain to climb.

Plus, to make things even better, they have personality. Such as Cristobal almost sounding like a character out of Game of Thrones when talking about Princess Eleonora, noted below. I mean, earlier on in this series, could you imagine a character talking about tying up and drugging a woman as punishment? Much less, can we also applaud that, we now have two compelling female characters on here? Nevermind those characters being villains?

For while I once enjoyed Helvi, after episode 6 and her talking about cleaning and the dirty stuff being men’s work, I fell out of love with her. So for there to be a woman like Catarina in government and then someone like Kerhilt who can not only hold her own but seems like a bad ass, compensates for Helvi’s disappointment well.

The Fall of the Kuschpercha Kingdom: Cristobal, Eleonora, Martina, Isadola, King Augusti

From what it seems, the last great kingdom to stand in the way of Zaloudek’s dominance is the Kingdom of Kuschpercha. One which has this “Shild Trider” wall that has long protected them. However, it is of no match for the new mechs that Zaloudek has or their leviathans which drop mechs from the sky.

That combination leads to an utter massacre that has King Augusti arrange for his daughter Eleonora to go with Princess Martina and a woman named Isadola to a nearby kingdom. One which would give them safe passage to the east. But, alas, despite the King’s sacrifice to buy them time his daughter and allies are found and captured.

Yet, while the king is slain, Eleonora is kept alive. If only because, while a wild man it seems, Cristobal listens to Catarina and forces himself to go along with her plan. One in which he is to marry Eleonora. However, he takes little interest in this but gets no pleasure out of torturing her since she doesn’t fight back.

To say the least, he sounds like a mini-King Joffrey.

Commentary

I just love how they built this family up over the course of, what, 12 or so minutes? They established intention, their personalities, family dynamic, and probably did more to make them of interest to use than anyone within the eastern empire over the course of, now, 9 episodes.

But I get it. There was a need to build up Ernesti to the point where, when a family like the Zaloudek does come in, they aren’t your usual over powered villain. One that our hero has to catch up to. Rather, the way things are currently presented, Ernesti has his strengths and they have theirs. Thus making them almost an even match. And while it seems clear Ernesti is going to win in the long run, at least the battles up to that victory should be interesting.

Invading the West: Ernesti (Ernie), Emrys, Gustav

Through means not explained, it reaches the eastern kingdoms that something is going on. Leading to Ernesti, Emrys, and the rest of the gang heading west. Leading them to discover the Zaloudek take over and reclaim a few mechs with their stolen technology. Which, like when the Kingdom of Zaloudek swept the land, made for an easy campaign. That is until Gustav and the Leviathan were discovered. Much less Gustav showed off his mech which, rather than having magic rods, had additional swords for arms.

This leads to quite the fight between Gustav and Dietrich which gets interrupted by Kerhilt. Someone who thinks she saved Gustav from defeat, but he refuses to openly admit it. Leaving Ernesti’s team hoping their commander has something to combat the advantage the Leviathan brings.

Commentary

You have to wonder who is Zaloudek’s version of Ernesti? For this flying version of Ernesti’s horse drawn carriage is something quite noteworthy. Especially since, to our understanding, the Alvs, and now Ernie, are the only ones who know how to make powerful Ether reactors. So who in the hell helped the Zaloudek make something which could carry about half a dozen Silhouette Knights and have that thing fly above the clouds?

That aside, I am kind of wondering what the Crown Prince and Ernie were doing scouting? Why would you put the best mind of the kingdom in harms way? Emrys I can understand since he has to prove himself and, more than likely, he was probably betrothed to someone in the east. But Ernie? They already stole his tech once, who is to say they want just grab him this time? If not kill him since, if he dies, and they get their hands on any of his modern mechs, that is it for the eastern kingdoms. If the Zaloudek family decides to be so bold, they could rule the continent if they wanted.

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. Are there rules for war or is it just a free for all?

Other Noteworthy Moments

Overall

Highlights

• Real villains being introduced.

On The Fence

• Ernesti’s enthusiasm, no matter the adversary, is starting to get old.