The Lady of Beatings, the Bloodstained Lady, or the Mad Dog Noblewoman. Call her whatever you want, but watch your mouth ‘cause whenever Scarlet is around injustice, “It’s clobbering time.”
I’ll admit, after the first two episodes of May I Ask for One Final Thing? I was more interested in the fisticuffs than the story. The events were a little too disjointed for me, and the tone swung around too much. What genre combination were we heading for? Was it a boarding school setting, a chosen one story, or was it about revolution and toppling the corruption within the caste system?
Now I know. The central theme is, “Self-serving, greedy nobles are the most satisfying to punch!” But while that seems goofy, it has a deeper meaning, and Episodes 3 and 4 dig in. They’re all about the world-building—an epic fantasy Victorian-era society where the Nobles freely commit crimes against the crown, each other, and especially those they see as “lower class.” May I Ask for One Final Thing? is also about the masks our heroes wear when society forces them to conform, and who they become when the quest for justice and equality sets them free.
The series also comes with the giggles, especially in the exchanges between Scarlet and her brother Leo. As Prince Julius points out, the pair is clueless when it comes to subtext and each other’s motivations. Two character traits that point to their innocence—something that, despite the winking humor, we know will be tested.
Most deliciously, besides the tasty apple tarts, we might be witnessing the start of a romance. Or spicier, we may be getting a Why Choose? situation, aka a reverse harem. For my fellow book fans, the deeper storytelling, deepening relationships, and reveals in the next two episodes remind me of Emily Wilde, Wendell Bambleby, and the great black hound of faerie, Shadow. IYKYK. The signs are there in the very literal Scarlet’s begrudging interplay with Julius, who puckishly can’t stop playing with her. She clearly amuses him in ways no one else has. Then there’s the loyal, although ferocious beastkin, Nanaka. He may be posing as Scarlet’s footman, but he’s more like her assistant, and they’re becoming inseparable.
By the end of Episode 4, Scarlet, Julius, and Nanaka are on the case (no spoilers), and the plot thickens as they learn just how corrupt the world around them is. Meanwhile, we find out more about how much magic abounds and who can do what. Oh, and as I suspected in my previous review: Gather around, Dungeon Masters, here there be dragons. Another hint: there are clues in the closing animation about the secretive and duplicitous Terenezza. The intrigue builds around her, and new plot lines get introduced. Ooh, and we meet a hooded red-haired warrior whose goals remain in the shadows until the last minutes of the fourth episode.
I’m happy I stuck with May I Ask for One Final Thing? It’s more than a brawler’s delight. The series is shaping up to be a layer cake of crime drama, epic fantasy, giggles, action, and possibly some romance. And if that’s too sweet for you, Scarlet is always ready with a knuckle sandwich.
Episode 3
“I Considered a Negotiated Resolution, but May I Biff and Pow Those Noblemen Instead?”
Episode 4
“May I Go to See My Fists’ Beloved One (Punching Bag)?”
New episodes of May I Ask for One Final Thing? stream on Crunchyroll every Friday
JAPANESE VOICE CAST & CHARACTERS
from Crunchyroll
Asami Seto as Scarlet El Vandimion
Wataru Kato as Julius Von Pallistan
Shoya Ishige as Leonardo El Vandimion
Miyu Tomita as Nanaka
Kazuki Ura as Sigurd Forgrave
Taito Ban as Kyle Von Pallistan
Ai Kakuma as Terenezza Hopkins
Sally Amaki as Rosalia Rei Madeleine
TBA as Lord Zatharin
TBA as Donovan
TBA as Godwin Bene Carmine
TBA as Lord Heine
TBA AS Prince Alflame Rare Vankish
English Dub Cast
Scarlet voiced by Morgan Lauré
Julius voiced by Reagan Murdock
Nanaka voiced by Lexi Nieto
Kyle voiced by Kyle Igneczi
Terenezza voiced by Emily Neves
Leonardo voiced by Alex Hom
Sigurd voiced by Kieran Flitton
Rosa voiced by Krystal LaPorte
Envi voiced by Rebecca Danae
Leonardo (Child) voiced by Nia Celeste
Kyle (Child) voiced by Lara Woodhull
Duke Vandimion voiced by Daniel Penz
Heine voiced by Aaron Roberts
Additional Voices by Vanessa Benoit, Kent Williams, Marianne Bray, Hannah Magers, Dio Garner, Tom Henry, Brian Hathaway, Matt Holmes, Kieran Flitton, Keith Kubal, Barry Yandell, Alex Hom, Charlie Campbell, Emily Lopez, Gerard Caster, Mike Smith, Mac McGee, Trey Upton, Van Barr Jr.
CREATIVES
Original Novel by Nana Otori, original illustrations by Satsuki, and manga created by Sora Hoonoki
Directed by Kazuya Sakamoto
Series Composition Written by Deko Akao
Character Design by Eriko Haga
Prop Design by Kazunari Araki
Monster Design by Seiji Handa, Kenji Terao, Tomohito Hirose
Art Setting by Morihito Ohara, Ken Tsubuki
Color Design by Hironori Nochi
Director of Photography Tetsuya Kawada
Editor Kiyomi Yamada
Music Composed by Hinako Tsubakiyama
Sound Director Satoshi Motoyama
Animation Production LIDENFILMS
Main Animation Production LIDENFILMS Kyoto Studio
English Dub Crew
Voice Director: Emily Fajardo
Producer: Zach Bolton
Adaptation: Jared Smith
Mixer: William Dewell
Engineer: Jameson Outlaw
