Danmachi season 5 episode 6 review: J.C. Staff raises the intensity with Freya and Bell's moments

Produced by J.C. Staff, Danmachi season 5 episode 6 came out on November 7, 2024. The episode, titled Distorted City - Orario, was an ode to Goddess Freya, who weaved a net of false narrative around Bell to ensnare the boy and make him hers. With impeccable production, the esteemed studio breathed life into the narrative, highlighting Freya's chemistry with Bell.

Although the episode had other moments of acute importance, eventually it was Freya who truly shone. The Goddess of Beauty left no stone unturned to succumb Bell Cranel into the pit of despair and project herself as a compassionate Messiah to the boy. Freya's twisted mentality and yet unbridled affection for Bell was the dichotomy the episode drove home.

Obviously, the narrative's credit goes to Fujino Omori, the author behind the original light novel series. Yet, the way J.C. Staff brought the written words to life was something special. From Freya and Bell Cranel's nighttime scenes to Eina Tulle's feelings for Bell, every scene contributed to the episode's construction. The end result was a wholesome experience that every light novel reader would cherish.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from Danmachi season 5 episode 6.

Danmachi season 5 episode 6 review: Exploring the adaptation, production, and J.C. Staff's treatment of Freya and Bell

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After turning Orario into her sandbox, Goddess Freya began to plant the seed of doubt in Bell Cranel's mind. At least, that's what Danmachi season 5 episode 6 was all about. Under the production of J.C. Staff studios, the episode was a wholesome experience, showcasing the familiar characters in a different light.

Bell Cranel was no longer the Bell we know, who merrily chatted with Goddess Hestia or talked about weapons with Welf. Instead, he was conditioned to indulge in an all-out war, called the Baptism in Folkvangr, to evolve as an adventurer. At night, he was invited by the Goddess Freya, who ensnared him with her false narrative to brainwash him.

Goddess Freya wanted to erase Bell Cranel's identity as Hestia's child and make him hers. She wanted Bell all to herself, and for that, she could go to any extent. Freya's Familia members, who were unaffected by charms, followed the Goddess' whims and built on the false narrative.

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

For example, the opening scene of Danmachi season 5 episode 6 saw Heith, the Freya Familia's healer, inform Bell that he has been afflicted by a rare curse. Heith knew the real reason, yet she had to follow her Goddess' orders. She even offered Bell to erase his memories, but the boy refused.

Right off the bat, Danmachi season 5 episode 6 plunged Bell Cranel into further misery. He wondered whether the memories he shared with Goddess Hestia, Lili, Haruhime, Welf, Mikoto, were all false. Despite the doubts, he desperately chose to cling to those memories, something Freya wanted him to get rid of.

If Freya wanted Bell to submit to her, she needed him to become a cleanslate. It wasn't possible without weakening Bell's Liaris Freese skill, which gained its power from the boy's strong feelings or affection for the ones he loved. Yet, before that, Freya wanted to ensure that each subject in Orario were under her spell.

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

That's why, she assigned Horn on a mission to transform into her persona and find those who escaped her charm. Danmachi season 5 episode 6 revealed that Freya's charm didn't reach the depths of the dungeon. So, people of Riveria or Ouranos were unaffected.

Because of that, Freya went to Ouranos's chamber and struck a deal. She asked the ancient God not to interfere with her desire. In exchange, the Goddess of Beauty assured Ouranos that Freya Familia would make significant effort to conquering the dungeon and lay the groundwork to defeat the Black Dragon.

Ouranos in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

Ouranos knew he didn't have the strength to go against Freya, when she was determined on her desire. Moreover, the Goddess' proposal was tempting. Hence, he grudgingly accepted the request. Besides, Freya's efforts to foolproof her sandbox didn't end with Ouranos; After a while, she went to the Guild and found Eina Tulle discovering the truth about Bell from her diary.

She confiscated it and charmed the elf girl again. Every step Freya took in Danmachi season 5 episode 6 was meticulous. While she had Horn fix the loose ends of the charm in Orario, she busied herself with brainwashing Bell Cranel. At night, Freya invited Bell to her room to comfort the boy.

Freya and Bell in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

Bell still couldn't accept being a Freya Familia member. With doubts still hovering on his mind, Bell asked Freya to update his skill, aware of the fact that only a patron God could accomplish such feat. He was astonished when Goddess Freya easily did the deed.

It was then explained in Danmachi season 5 episode 6 that Freya used Status Snitch, a rare item which allowed other Familia to update any person's stats with ease. Undoubtedly, Freya had thought it all through. Not only that, she even learned Bell's past feats from Eina Tulle's diary, so that when the boy asked her about it, she could have answered him.

Freya makes a bold request to Bell (Image via J.C.Staff)

That's exactly what happened at the second night, when Bell Cranel narrated his story. Seeing Freya correctly answering his questions further plunged Bell into the sea of doubt. He began to wonder whether he was truly a Freya Familia member. Besides plunging him into a misery, Freya also showed a compassionate self to the boy.

She made bold advances to Bell, such as asking him to unbutton her dress since she wanted to get changed. Such requests turned Bell red in embarrassment, and he left the scene. Bell Cranel's innocent and childish gestures made Freya laugh like a child, and filled with her a joy she never experienced before.

Freya rolls on her bed in joy (Image via J.C.Staff)

Undoubtedly, Danmachi season 5 episode 6 was about Freya and her execution of plans. In this respect, J.C. Staff has done a tremendous job. The episode carried a tense atmosphere throughout, with the audience aware of Freya's nature. Her scenes with Bell at night were intense, with border fanservice contributing to the overall tension in the air.

From a production perspective, the episode had everything a fan could have asked for. The staff has done well to come up with a solid storyboard for the episode, which retained the essence from volume 17 of Fujino Omori's light novel series. The episode has already covered almost half of volume 17, leaving a few key chapters for the next episodes.

Danmachi season 5 episode 6 review: Hestia and Ais's scene, Eina Tulle's feelings for Bell

Hestia and Ais in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

Although Danmachi season 5 episode 6 largely centered on Freya and Bell Cranel, there were some sweet moments that can't be overlooked. One of them was Hestia and Ais's scene. Following her meeting with Hermes in Orario, Hestia saw Ais on a bridge. She went there and found out that the girl had come to the bridge for a reason she was unaware of.

Notably, Hestia knew how important Ais was to Bell Cranel. She knew Bell would further lose his hope and resultantly his ability over his Liaris Freese skill, if Ais turned away her face from him. So, she requested Ais Wallenstein to avoid Bell Cranel at all cost.

Ais Wallenstein in the episode (Image via J.C.Staff)

When Ais asked why, Hestia chose not to answer. Interestingly, Ais was fine with such response from the Goddess. The scene was contextually important, as it confirmed that Hestia acknowledged Bell's feelings for Ais, if it wasn't already confirmed in the past.

At the same time, the scene suggested Ais's feelings for Bell. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come to the bridge, where she once trained Bell Cranel and shared countless hours of special moments.

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

Besides Hestia and Ais's scene, Danmachi season 5 episode 6 also revealed Eina Tulle's feelings for Bell Cranel. The episode confirmed that the elf girl had feelings for the boy, as she read the written notes from her diary. She minutely recorded every moment she spent with Bell as her advisor. Gradually, she developed feelings of love, without even realizing them.

Danmachi season 5 episode 6: The missed opportunities

Bell Cranel uses Firebolt (Image via J.C.Staff)

Unlike the other episodes, Danmachi season 5 episode 6 had a decent pacing. Yet some aspects beg for betterment. For example, the Baptism scene in Folkvangr could have been way more polished.

It seems J.C. Staff is saving the intense animation quality for the next half of the season, where fans will witness intense action scenes. Besides that, the episode didn't have any jitters. While there were mild frame drops, the overall episode has consistent.

Conclusion

Freya glares at Bell (Image via J.C.Staff)

Danmachi season 5 episode 6 had everything a light novel fan could have asked. The episode did justice to Goddess Freya's character, showcasing her brutal and childish side at the same time.

At the same time, the episode showed Bell Cranel spiraling into further misery, with the seed of doubt planted into his mind. It remains to be seen how J.C. Staff maintains the excellent production quality for the rest of the season.