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K: Return of Kings
Episode 4

by Theron Martin,

How would you rate episode 4 of
K: Return of Kings ?
Community score: 3.7

If you're grading solely on action scenes then episode 4 is one of the franchise's most trivial episodes to date, as the only action in it is the tail end of the Fushimi/Yata/Gojo fight. In terms of plot development, though, it may be one of the most important to date.

Note that neither of those classifications use quality qualifiers like “best” or “worst,” because on those standards the episode is decidedly in the middle. While events do transpire, they unfold at a snail's pace, as if the story was stretching so that it could break at a certain point at the end of the episode. Hence what good the episode does feels restrained and toned down. Yes, it's pleasant to watch Neko fawning all over Shiro like a pet eager to welcome back her master (which she essentially is), but that goes on a little too long, as does Shiro's exchange of words with the Green King via his parrot, which happens in the wake of Shiro's arrival interrupting Kuroh's fight with Yukari. That's far from the last place where the episode drags, either. This more languid pacing does provide more room for a little extra humor, but coming at the expense of all of the stalling and needless rehashing is hardly worth it.

On Shiro's arrival Yukari retreats, though not before Shiro has enough of a conversation with the Green King's medium to confirm that Shiro was being baited into showing up again. For some reason the Green King wants the Silver King in play rather than sitting on the sidelines as an unknown factor, and that concerns Shiro enough to call for a pow-wow with the Blue and Red Kings, which keeping in Shiro's low-key, almost absurdist demeanor means that all of the major players from each clan get crammed into Shiro's apartment for a “coffee table” discussion. They all relatively painlessly agree that the Green Clan poses a common threat, especially in light of Shiro's revelation that the Gold King, which had been indirectly keeping the Green King in check, has recently died, and so agree to join forces to deal with the Green Clan and its leader's machinations. All of this seems to have to do with control of the Slates, though exactly who they are and why they are so important has yet to be clearly-defined.

And that's all that the episode actually accomplishes. We do also learn that Munakata has a pretty low opinion of Shiro's trustworthiness due to Adolf Weisman's behavior decades past, but that is hardly a surprise given Munakata's stern nature. In essence, this seems more like a transitional episode and stage-setter for the next big plot push than the actual meat of one, so a return to more lively fare seems certain for next episode.

Rating: C+

K: Return of Kings is currently streaming on Viz.com.


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