Failure Frame episode 4 review: An uneventful installment compensates with foresight & setup for the future

Heading into Failure Frame episode 4, the series had been one of the most well-received of the Summer 2024 anime season thus far, with fans expecting that trend to continue. Officially released on Thursday, July 25, 2024, the anime series did indeed continue to impress, but via a much different route relative to what it had established prior.

Whereas the series up until this point had been very action-centric, Failure Frame episode 4 took something of a breather, allowing additional plot points to be focused on and set up. While not necessarily a negative considering what was set up, it does unfortunately put something of a hard stop on what the series had been rolling with thus far.

Failure Frame episode 4 review: A clear direction, set up of Touka’s allies, and key foreshadowing are the positives

Failure Frame episode 4 review (Image via Seven Arcs)

Failure Frame episode 4 achieves this hard stop by seeing Touka reach the town of Milz, in which lies a dungeon with monster materials he needs. However, rather than rush right into the dungeon, he takes a survey of the town’s layout and offerings, which helps to further flesh out the series’ worldbuilding. It’s also welcome as it further characterizes Touka as someone great at planning who understands the necessary steps to successfully achieving his goals.

This also characterizes him as cautious, which again plays into planning by showing that he likes to gather as much information as possible before making any major moves. He and viewers are heavily rewarded for this, with a trip to the town’s pub revealing key info. This info helps to further worldbuild the series, but also provides clear setup to Touka’s eventual first ally and what will be his first major group of enemies in the series.

In this regard, Failure Frame episode 4 is exceptional in its direction, providing clear setup and forethought to the installment’s events and how they’ll affect the series later on. The installment also excels in this regard when it comes to providing a clear path forward for the story; in other words, both the direction of the episode itself and the direction it sets the series up to go in are commendable.

Yet the episode also takes the time to further expand on prior plot points, such as seeing the Princess Knight reappear in the town of Milz. Here, fans learn that her true name is Seras Ashrain of the Holy Empire of Neah, a former knight captain with a bounty on her head. It’s an effective scene which both gives fans necessary information on a previously introduced character, while also setting up her future involvement in the series.

Failure Frame episode 4 furthers this into setting her up as a true ally of Touka’s, first seeing the pair shop together before they’re reunited as they crawl the town’s dungeon. The final act of the episode sees the pair agree to work together under specific circumstances, eventually leading to Touka discovering her true identity. While their current alliance is still temporary, the installment makes it clear that she and Touka will soon become full-fledged friends and allies.

Their conversation also leads to a fantastic setup for the future, revealing that golden-eyed monsters are a result of the demon king’s influence. Touka immediately thinks of his classmate Kirihara Takuto, who emitted a golden aura when flaunting his magic. It’s a minimalistic yet effective foreshadow which serves to further intrigue viewers, in turn cementing its presence in their minds and convincing them to tune in again next week.

With all of this in mind, Failure Frame episode 4 deserves significant praise for turning what could’ve been a “filler” episode into a truly significant and substantial installment. There’s plenty to be learned from most every scene and line of dialogue within the episode, and it all combines to create a viewing experience which can almost be forgiven for its general lack of action and tension.

Failure Frame episode 4 review: An uneventful outing, and a continued unnecessary and poor use of CGI are the negatives

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However, the episode doesn’t quite do enough there when considering the opportunities it had via placing Touka and Seras in the town’s dungeon. While there is conflict and action throughout the episode, it’s nowhere near as engaging or exciting as that of prior episodes. Even as little tension as was present in the third episode as Touka was surrounded by the Holy Watchers would be welcome here, if only to give the sense that Touka was somewhat in danger.

That being said, this episode was clearly focused on building Touka up as a cautious, cunning, and intelligent individual, and in this regard the installment’s action succeeds. Yet in the same breath, this episode was too sudden and large of a departure from prior action sequences to reasonably expect viewers to be as engaged. While it’s successful in achieving its goal, the path Failure Frame episode 4 took relative to prior episodes can and deserves to be critiqued.

Thankfully, there are no “new” negatives or downsides to the series which weren’t already present in prior episodes. However, unnecessary use and poor implementation of CGI animation continue to be the anime’s major pitfalls. Scenes of Touka and Seras speaking in town highlight this incredibly well, with these scenes shoehorning CGI in when in all reality, 2D animation would not only have worked, but looked better.

There’s also the fact that what CGI animation is present in the episode is, for the most part, poorly integrated. The scene of Touka in his inn room specifically highlights this, being incredibly choppy as he moves from feeding Piggymaru to sitting down on his bed. While other scenes, such as Seras chasing after Touka in the dungeon, are at least better implemented than those in prior episodes, this inconsistency in implementation is nonetheless an issue.

Failure Frame episode 4 review: Final thoughts

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On the whole, Failure Frame episode 4 is a massive success, and continues what has been an incredibly hot start for the series. A relatively uneventful episode in terms of action and events is more than justified by the focus given to worldbuilding, character development/introduction, and clear foreshadowing for future events.

Simultaneously, the episode’s only flaw which isn’t inherent to the above approach is the continued use of CGI at times where it’s both unnecessary and poorly integrated. While fans are obviously hoping the action returns soon, it’s extremely hard to argue that the anime’s fourth installment misused its runtime in any major way, shape, or form.