Danmachi season 5 episode 4 review: Syr's backstory gets a dramatic touch in J.C. Staff's production

Under the production of J.C. Staff, Danmachi season 5 episode 4 was released on October 24, 2024. Titled God and God: Seidr, the episode focused on the connection between Syr and Freya and revealed the former's actual identity. The esteemed studio has done well to accentuate the episode's appeal with a touch of drama, action, and lots of heartwarming moments, before ending it with a hint of intrigue.

Primarily, the episode's focal point was Syr, whose backstory was finally revealed. At the same time, Danmachi season 5 episode 4 gave fans a teaser to the Freya Familia's strength. Undoubtedly, the rest of the season will showcase their true might, since the story is far from being over.

Credit has to go to J.C. Staff, as the production studio faithfully adapted the events from Fujino Omori's light novel series. With intense action and tension pervading throughout the episode's runtime, it was a fabulous experience for fans.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from Danmachi season 5 episode 4.

Danmachi season 5 episode 4: Evaluating J.C. Staff's production, adaptation, and Syr's character

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Danmachi season 5 episode 4 picked the events from the previous installment and opened with Syr and Bell Cranel having a moment at an isolated inn. The opening scene set the tone for the rest of the episode, creating further questions about Syr's identity.

As the ashen-blue-haired girl looked at Bell with glowing pink eyes, almost as if to enchant him, some fans drew connections between her and Goddess Freya. Evidently, the episode cleared all doubts fans had over Syr's identity in the episode. Yet, before that, the episode expertly built up the events leading to the inevitable truth.

The opening scene in Danmachi season 5 episode 4 did complete justice to volume 16 of Fujino Omori's light novel series. Although J.C. Staff had to remove a few scenes here and there from the light novel to cater to the episode's pacing, the end result was satisfactory.

Syr, as seen in the opening scene (Image via J.C.Staff)

Notably, Danmachi season 5 episode 4 covered the remainder of volume 16. In other words, the final chapter covered more than 50-60 pages from the light novel. Therefore, fans can figure out the amount of details the production studio had to cut. For example, the opening scene had more depth in the light novel, with Syr expressing her feelings properly.

Although the anime adaptation removed some essential dialogues, it retained the scene's essence and important sequences. Moving on, Danmachi season 5 episode 4 did well to introduce Hogni, one of the executives of the Freya Familia. His pompous manner of speech and demeanor added a nice touch to the episode.

The comedic moments were surprisingly well done by J.C. Staff Studios, especially in an episode where drama and tension pervaded throughout the narrative. For example, the short scene featuring the tavern waitresses talking about Bell and Syr while Ryu sulked over the fact that they spent a night together was a side-splitting comedy from the series at its best.

Besides that, Hestia's scenes also contributed to the episode's comedic elements. However, the narrative quickly turned into a foreboding tone, as soon as the Freya Familia's Hogni, Gulluver, and Allen decided to punish Syr for going against their Goddess' will. Danmachi season 5 episode 4 featured some intense action after the season premiere, showing Bell Cranel in action.

Although the battle scenes didn't have the same zest as the previous season, the choreography and animation were on point. J.C. Staff did well animating every frame in the Ryu vs. Hogni battle. While it wasn't flashy, it was well coordinated with impressive animation quality.

The battle scene featuring Ryu and Hogni also teased fans about Freya Familia's true strength. The fact that Hogni could hand over a devastating loss to Ryu, who is immensely strong on her own, spoke a lot about the Freya Familia, and why they are considered the strongest in Orario.

What's more foreboding is that fans have not seen Ottarl in action yet. In any case, the intense battle scenes in Danmachi season 5 episode 4 contributed to the episode's allure. Yet, more than those moments, the episode's primary focus was Syr. From the opening scene to the final scene, the narrative expertly weaved her character, drawing a connection between her and Freya.

Danmachi season 5 episode 4 disclosed that Syr was a persona Freya received from a young child in the past. In return, she gave the girl a spell and a new identity, Horn. The revelation that Horn's past identity was Syr, and she exchanged it with Freya to become her was astonishing and confusing.

Somehow, Danmachi season 5 episode 4 couldn't properly reveal the connection as the light novel did. Perhaps, the esteemed studio will do it in the next episode, where Freya will likely reveal her backstory and her reason behind using Syr's persona in the first place.

Danmachi season 5 episode 4: Exploring the flashback featuring Syr and Freya

Syr's past in the episode (Image via J.C. Staff)

The seed of knowledge on Syr's backstory was embedded in the flashback scene in Danmachi season 5 episode 4. Interestingly, the scene removed some essential facts, such as Horn being an orphan when she met Freya for the first time. Moreover, her internal monologue, where she appreciated Freya's beauty, was also absent in the episode.

All these substractions somehow drove Syr's backstory and identity into a flux of confusion. Nevertheless, the light novel revealed that on a frosty night, Syr met Goddess Freya and told her that she wanted to become as beautiful and elegant as her. It was a request Freya had never heard before, so she was amused.

Freya, as seen in the past (Image via J.C. Staff)

She accepted Syr's request and asked for her identity. In return, Freya gave her a magic spell called Vana Seith, which allowed the girl to transform into Freya whenever she wanted. That's how she could also transform into her Syr persona.

Whenever Freya wanted to be Syr, Horn transformed into the Goddess and remained seated on her throne. As such, there were many important facts the episode couldn't incorporate due to the time constraints. Possibly, the next episode will reveal them more coherently.

Horn, as seen in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

That said, Danmachi season 5 episode 4 episode revealed Horn's resolve. Since she shared Freya's consciousness, Horn knew that her beloved Goddess was smitten with Bell Cranel.

She felt Freya's grace would be tarnished if she were to love Bell. That's why, she wanted to kill the boy. However, her plans failed since Bell Cranel saw through her disguise in the episode.

Danmachi season 5 episode 4: Bell rejects Syr

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The final segment of Danmachi season 5 episode 4 was heart-wrenching for Freya (Syr). Bell, who wasn't aware of Syr's actual identity as Freya, listened to the girl's monologue on why she asked him on a date.

Initially, Syr believed in the slow-burn romance. However, as time passed by, she realized she had to lay down her feelings on the table and free herself of the burden.

Finally, she confessed her actual feelings of love to Bell. However, Bell Cranel followed Welf's advice and gave Syr an answer. Even though it tore him from the inside, the boy apologized and rejected her.

Freya in the final scene (Image via J.C. Staff)

J.C. Staff has done well to storyboard the scene, with rain falling in the background, symbolizing Syr's internal feelings of sadness. Tears rushed from her eyes just as rain dropped. The entire scene was cinematic, showcasing the production prowess of J.C. Staff.

Finally, the ending scene in Danmachi season 5 episode 4 created intrigue, as Freya transformed into her original self and discarded her Syr persona. She thought she should have done it long ago. Freya then ordered Ottarl to make the preparations, as she wanted to make Bell Cranel hers.

Conclusion

Danmachi season 5 episode 4 was a cinematic experience, with lots of drama, comedy, and action. The episode ended on an intriguing note, leaving fans excited for the next episodes. J.C. Staff's decent production envisioned Fujino Omori's light novel and brought the iconic events to life in great animation quality.

Although the episode could have made the narrative slightly less complex, there's still hope that the production studio can fix them in the upcoming episodes. As such, it remains to be seen whether the studio can maintain the animation and production quality for the rest of the season.