That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 4 Episode 4 Review & Analysis

The fourth episode of That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime Season 4 saw the formal acceptance of Tempest into the Council of the West, the regulatory organization made up of the various human nations in the West that was established to serve as a stronghold against the rising threat of monsters. The most interesting and significant development in this episode was the meeting of the Council to vote on the inclusion of a nation of monsters into an organization once created as an anti-monster measure.

With decent pacing and intriguing seeds in the plot being sown, That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime, season 4, episode 4 was a very enjoyable set up for what is going to be a highly significant, action-packed arc.

An End to the Dungeon Hijinks, For Now

Demon Lord Frey’s Surprise Appearance Means No More Goofing Off in the Dungeon

The episode begins in the Dungeon, with Rimuru, Ramiris, Veldora and Milim once again thwarting the efforts of adventurers taking on the difficult challenge. At this point, they’ve gained a level of fame among the adventurers who frequent the Dungeon, and are part of its increasing reach and success. It was a fun and light-hearted start to an episode that would get relatively serious as it reconnects to the main story, especially with how vulnerable and guilty Milim looks when Demon Lord Frey makes a surprise appearance to remind Milim of the task she was given and takes her home.

Milim attempting to hide behind Rimuru as they, Veldora and Ramiris crept away to safety away from Frey’s icy gaze was a good comedic moment, since she had been especially loud about needing a bigger challenge in the Dungeon now that they’ve grown accustomed to operating their Avatar bodies. That being said, the Dungeon stuff has started to take valuable time away from the more interesting plot developments and potential plot points, which lowers the overall impact of the episode. This could very well be the point, since Rimuru themself has been using the Dungeon to avoid more important responsibilities, but perhaps more focus on the agenda of the Eastern Empire and the clear antagonists of this arc could give episodes more narrative weight.

After the remaining trio narrowly avoid getting scolded by Frey, Rimuru is approached by Shuna, who is well aware that Rimuru has been shirking their responsibilities to play with their friends in the Dungeon. It was like watching a group of kids get scolded by their teacher, who also happens to be one of the kids’ older siblings.

Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.

Easy (5)
Medium (7)
Hard (10)

Start

Rearrange the covers into the correct Japanese release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)Start

The use of “yandere eyes” to illustrate Shuna’s disdain was a particularly funny detail, given her pink hair and the fact that she is named for a certain species of fuchsia plant with a gentle purple flower. It’s a nod to the pink hair commonly associated with yandere characters. This isa reflection of the “nadeshiko” flower that shares its name with the concept of the “ideal Japanese woman”. Anyway, it was good fun until Mjolmille came with an important letter containing a summons from the Council of the West as part of their acceptance of the participation of Tempest in the organization.

The Council of the West’s Vote to Include Tempest

Human Leaders Worry About War Brewing in the East

After a brief rundown of the economic system in the West, Mariabel recounts her desire to be running the world from the shadows, and her brief appearance introduces the actual meat of the episode in intriguing fashion before we’re introduced to the Council of the West. Located in the Kingdom of Engrassia due to its centrality to the various member states, the leaders of the various member states debate on whether to accept Tempest’s application. There are varying opinions, but the general anxiety among the leaders is the fact that Rimuru is a monster leading a nation of powerful monsters, who has decimated a human kingdom before, as seen with the Kingdom of Falmuth.

The other concern is the fact that the Nasca Namrium Ulmeria United Eastern Empire is currently engaging in increased military exercises as if preparing for war. The Eastern Empire has greedily gobbled up many nations in the past, and will have its sights set on the West. As Mariabel Rozzo revealed in the previous episode of That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime, she loves being in the super-elite class that operates the world from the shadows.

As it turns out, she is actually already in control of the two biggest decision-making entities in the West: the Council, and the Five Elders. Some of the leaders at the Council meeting showed the intention to use Rimuru in the brewing war against the Eastern Empire, but given his strength and the fact that they didn’t know his disposition, they were wary of potentially turning him into an enemy.

However, the decision is ultimately to allow Tempest into the Council. Hinata Sakaguchi, despite being in attendance, was not consulted once about the Demon Lord that she “fought to a draw”, and the nobles’ clear agendas and clear lack of direction were in painful contrast to the meeting she attended in Tempest. Just when she realizes she would rather go the rest of her life without interacting with another noble, the first prince of Engrassia asks to speak with her. His design is brilliant, communicating just the exact kind of pomposity and delusions of grandeur one would expect from a high-ranking noble, let alone the prince of a rich and powerful nation.

Hinata Sakaguchi’s Trust in Rimuru is Made Clear

The First Prince of Engrassia’s Hare-Brained Scheme Is Shot Down

Put simply, the Prince of Engrassia is terrified of having to meet Rimuru at the next meeting and wishes to have Hinata Sakaguchi, the knight who fought such a terrifying presence to a draw, at his side to protect him. Unfortunately for him, Hinata has no confidence that she could beat them in a second encounter, not to mention the far more pressing fact that she has absolutely no interest in enabling and participating in any “tests of character” the western nobles want to administer to Rimuru when he arrives. Hinata Sakaguchi trusts Demon Lord Rimuru, and after making that clear, she leaves the Council headquarters.

Back in Tempest, Rimuru, Benimaru, So’ei, and Shuna prepare to depart for the Council meeting, leaving Shion behind to protect the realm, and the episode ends as it began, with some comedy to offset the seriousness that came with the meat of the episode. Seeing Shion squish Rimuru with such convincing and comedic physics, is the kind of ridiculousness that the series does particularly well, and it’s likely that we’ll be having fewer of these fun moments when things start to get real as the arc progresses. That Time I Got Reincarnated As a Slime season 4, episode 4 was a great foundational episode to set up things to come, and paid enough attention to the main plot to ramp up the anticipation for episode 5.