Written by: Gabriel Castillo | Published on: January 31, 2021
Skirting around the powerful monsters at the bottom layer is a must for a weak little spider but this girl's gotta eat. However, there is a price: one meal turns into an all-out war against some pesky primates.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Summary
The massive Earth Dragon pays no attention as the weak little spider hides behind a tiny rock. After fleeing from the dangerous dragon, she finally learns the name of the dungeon: The Great Elroe Labyrinth. The spider attempts to establish a temporary home but instead ends up in a war against a horde of monkeys.
The Great Elroe Labyrinth
The name of the dungeon is finally revealed! Kumoko lands at the bottom layer of the labyrinth where powerful monsters roam (e.g., the Earth Dragon). Since she cannot take on all the strong monsters just yet, heading back up to the upper layer (where weaker monsters stay) seems to be the best course of action.
Icky Bugs
Exploring becomes incredibly difficult on an empty stomach. The hungry little spider eats a little bug stuck on the wall but immediately regrets her decision. Despite the disgusting — even life-threatening — taste, she gains some handy resistance! This short bit offers a nice bit of comic relief amidst the character’s troubling situation.
Monkey Business
While exploring, Kumoko ends up encountering a massive army of monkeys. Instead of fighting them all, she kills a stray that lets out a reverberating shout right before dying. Feeling comfortable, the little spider sets up a temporary home to rest. Little did she know that her recent victim’s death throes would call the horde of monkeys! The CGI monkeys go all-in with coordinated attacks and even sacrifices to defeat the spider. Which means that these monsters are actually smart! They’re not just a mindless mob which suggests that other races could be the same. Looks like Kumoko is in for more exciting and complicated fights!
Surrounded by monkeys and unable to escape, Kumoko has no choice but to face them head on. Finally, she has a straight up battle and this one is quite a struggle. Apart from using speed and tactical decision-making, the spider makes use of her recently acquired trump card: poison synthesis.
VERDICT
Author's Rating: 7/10
Overall, the episode was entertaining especially because of the face-to-face skirmish against a seemingly overwhelming force. The fight was satisfying as it pushed the main character to the edge and forced her to be more creative than usual. The action itself was nothing spectacular and the CGI felt a bit janky against the background. The monkeys definitely stood out in a strange and almost uncomfortable way (especially when the evolved version was running). They were supposed to be a menacing mass of monkeys but they looked too awkward to look threatening. CGI aside, the monsters were pretty interesting since they displayed intellect and coordination. Additionally, learning about the dungeon and its layers was a solid bonus.
The post-credits scene revealed a new and more challenging destination to explore: the middle layer. The pace seems to be moving slightly faster as things heat up! Now that Kumoko has found the middle layer, what will she encounter next? How will she overcome the intense environment? Find out next week!
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