Though I Am an Inept Villainess Episode 4 Review: Keigetsu Asks Reirin for Help
The episode shifts Keigetsu from isolated schemer to someone who reaches out, and the review frames her as a villainess with no real alternatives, drawing a literary parallel to Becky Sharp.
Reporting from 1 source: Anime News Network.
Anime News Network reviews episode 4 of Though I Am an Inept Villainess, focusing on Shu Keigetsu's breakdown and her decision to contact Kou Reirin through magic flames. The review compares Keigetsu to Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair, arguing her villainy stems from having no other options, and notes Reirin's unexpected helpfulness and hidden awareness.
The review opens by warning against discarding Shu Keigetsu, noting that people have been discarding her for a long time. Her parents died, her sponsor at court refused to stand up for her, and other court ladies spurned her, pushing her to steal Kou Reirin's life and body. The reviewer compares her to Becky Sharp from Thackeray's Vanity Fair, a heroine who became unscrupulous because of her position as a poor young woman.
In this episode, Keigetsu breaks down and asks Reirin for help through the magic flames of a candle. Reirin responds without anger, telling her exactly what to do. The review notes that Reirin's helpfulness is partly an act, a coping mechanism she learned to protect herself, as shown last week when she made excuses for LeeLee while revealing she knew what her lady-in-waiting was up to.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network Though I Am an Inept Villainess Episode 4