The Ancient Magus’ Bride – Season 2 Episode 20 Recap & Review

Even a worm will turn.

Episode 20 of The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 begins with a flashback. In it, Adam introduces Alcyone to Philomela and says she’ll be helping him and Iris take care of her. We receive a montage of Alcyone, Iris, and Adam spending quality time with Philomela at various locations. On a different day, Philomela gets sick so Adam performs a hex on her to relieve her of her symptoms. He explains the process to Alycone in the kitchen and reveals critical information about his family to her. 

Adam informs Alcyone that Sargants (his family’s bloodline) serve people and specialize in carrying out people’s dirty work. Furthermore, someone happened to sell Iris to Adam to serve as a lab rat for his sorcery. Despite their intense confrontation during their youth, Adam claims Iris helped him become more disciplined. She enticed Adam to abandon his mother, lineage, and family name. After discussing things with Adam, we cut to Alycone spending quality time with Iris and Philomela. 

Iris wishes she had a camera to document Philomela’s youthful journey. She tells Alcyone that her and Adam’s tight situation prohibits them from snapping photos. Iris shares her first impressions of Adam with Alcyone and she questions if Iris hates Adam. She says she’s unsure but she’s glad that she managed to produce a child like Philomela. Iris asks Alcyone that she promises to teach Philomela about the difficult and joyous times they spent together if anything terrible were to happen to her or Adam. 

Suddenly, a group of men infiltrate their home and Iris tells Alcyone to flee with Philomela. Despite perishing from the men’s attack, Adam places a Hex on the men so that they perish alongside him and Iris. Adam commits suicide as we cut to Iris crawling on the ground. She recalls a  curse-oriented encounter she had with Adam during their childhood. Iris dies as Alcyone continues running away from the area. Unfortunately, she fails to escape and gets attacked by the men. 

In the present, Alcyone comforts Philomela as we cut to Chise and Morrigan. Morrigan asks Chise for something but Elias tells Chise to pay her no mind. Elias realizes Morrigan’s a godly entity and is slightly worried for himself and Chise. She brings up a “golden branch” to Elias and offers the two a helping hand in exchange for it. Chise and Elias accept Morrigan’s terms and help her combat Lizbeth’s men. While Morrigan and her forces combat Lizbeth’s crew, Elias and Chise use the opportunity to head for her building.

Elias summons Lucy and the others. Isaac forges a plan and asks everyone questions to see if their interests align. Suddenly, the female werewolf attacks them. Zoe and Zaccheroni tell Elias and the others to save Philomela and to let them handle the female werewolf.

The episode closes with the two planning to defeat the female werewolf. 


The Episode Review

The Ancient Magus Bride Season 2 gives fans another episode full of reveals, thrills, and set-up. This episode delves a bit into Philomela’s youth with Alcyone and her parents. Fans will love learning more about the Sargant’s background of servitude and how Iris and Adam met. Unfortunately, their first encounter wasn’t a joyous one as it was just as upsetting as their inevitable demise. 

This goes to show audiences that Lizbeth is far from redeemable and must pay for all the wrongs she committed. On that note, seeing Alcyone comfort Philomela during her time of sorrow was just as upsetting. From failing to protect Philomela from the men in the flashback to her not knowing what to do for her in the present, this episode will entice fans to sympathize with Alcyone greatly. 

The whole bit between Morrigan and Chise was a bit odd and more context could’ve been shared about her deal with Elias to help fans recall prior events. Nonetheless, this was an interesting chapter of The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2. I’m interested to see Zoe and Zaccheroni fight the female werewolf. Considering she harbors some ill will toward Lizbeth, it’s possible for the two to sway her toward their side. We’ll have to see if that happens though. 

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You can read our review for Season 2: Part 2 of The Ancient Magus Bride here

 

  • Episode Rating
    (3.5)
3.5

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