K: Return of Kings

Episode 5

The first minute or so of episode 5 provides a brief burst of action as secondary members of both Scepter 4 and Homura combine their efforts to clean up some low-level Green clan members who are causing trouble. This does give a handful of mostly-ignored characters a brief window to show off, and the efficiency with which they can complete their task when they cooperate is not lost on them (although any degree of cooperation still sickens Fushimi). That is, however, exactly all of the action content present. Other than a couple of scenes of Neko being Neko, the rest of the episode consists entirely of a series of various conversations.

What keeps the episode from being dreadfully dull is that very few of the conversations are frivolous. The juiciest bits involve the revelation of what, exactly, the Green King is up to, how the kings fit into the overall power structure of the country, and (to an extent) the role that the Dresden Slates play in the whole situation. The first and last of those cases is also the last one which plays out, a conversation between Shiro and the Green King (via parrot) which reveals that Adolf has personally known the Green King since the war days, when they apparently once shared a common vision: to advance the evolution of humanity. The Green King now seems determined to do that heedless of the consequences, which no longer sets well with Shiro. Though not the first time that the Slates are brought up this episode, this conversation also definitively clarifies that the Slates are the source of the kings' power and are responsible for the random appearance of powered individuals. Had the Slates not been under the control of the Gold King for so long, there would be a lot more around. That's what the Green King wants, which is why he's after the Slates, and that looks it is going to lead to all-out war next episode as he deploys his elites and even ventures out himself.

The other key conversation, while it has far less plot relevance, involves the Blue King speaking to the Japanese Prime Minister. It clarifies that the kings do have a highly influential impact on government when they want to, and by dint of taking over the former Gold King's responsibility for the slates, the Blue King also gains that influence. Lesser conversations involve concerns being expressed over the Blue King's possibly-deteriorating power and a discussion amongst top Homra members about how what may be coming and how Yata has to learn to be less impetuous and take on more responsibility. Shiro/Adolf also reminisces about his sister, who he has been apart from for decades but who apparently played a major role in the current system coming to be what it is.

So bigger and more active things are coming and this episode is just the set-up. Some of the content is just a slog, but it offers enough intriguing details, little bits of character development, and (finally!) important insight into the Big Picture for the episode as a whole to be tolerable as a lead-in to the major plot push.

Rating: B-

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