Emotional and psychological abuse is just as serious as any other form of abuse, potentially causing long-term effects on an individual’s mind. However, it’s possible to recover. Professional help is usually needed. But before any of that, you have to want to get better. You must be able to accept help and care from others.
In The Ancient Magus’ Bride (season 2), emotional abuse plays a key role in the character arc of a girl named Philomela. This girl’s “Grandma” taught her so many toxic things. Most of all, Philomela was taught she was worthless. There was nothing she could do that would ever give her value. Philomela’s Grandma also struck the child with a cane at times, mixing physical abuse with emotional brainwashing and endless verbal attacks.
I’m hoping that Philomela can break away from her abuser as the series goes on. But at this point in the anime, she’s still too afraid to accept help from those who try to support her. If you want to follow the story of Philomela, join me for my episode reviews of The Ancient Magus’ Bride season 2.
Episode 13: Nothing Venture, Nothing Have (Part 1)
Before offering any recaps or responses, I have a different rant in mind. I’ve always had trouble understanding these weird episode titles in the second season. Now I know for certain that it’s a case of the manga/anime creator attempting to use English and failing hard. Someone, please tell Japanese creators not to include so much bad “Engrish.” Sorry for the cranky opening paragraph, but I had to get it out of my system. Anyway, let’s actually go over the episode now.
With the college closed off to outsiders, many students feel anxious. They are being given extra mandatory classes for self-defense. The teacher for Chise’s class is Fabio Zaccheroni. All the students pass the first test, which was to destroy Zaccheroni’s hostile familiars using weapons. Each student had a different reaction to the stress of fighting. When it’s over, Philomela becomes suddenly ill. Chise and Lucy carry her away, but Philomela begs not to be taken to the nurse’s office. That’s the gist of the episode.
One of the best parts of this installment was the conversation between Simeon and Elias. Simeon helped clarify Elias’ definition of “friend,” and asserted that they were now friends. It’s bizarre how a being like Elias manages to be cute sometimes. Then again, I’ve often said he has the emotional mind of a young teenager. At any rate, I’m very happy that he’s learning about friendship. Simeon is a great person to teach him.
The next thing to cover is my response to the test (fighting those monsters). Zaccheroni is a psychopath, and I had hoped never to see him again after his creepiness last time. I don’t blame Chise or Rian for fighting him. Rian’s kick was very satisfying. Moving on, I enjoyed seeing the kids respond to the fight in their own ways. I was most interested in Zack’s reaction. If not for the protective talisman, he would have died. By his own admission, he’s not cut out for fighting.
Though I don’t want to take up more time writing about this episode, I have two notes left. First, Chise seems to be increasingly affected by the dragon’s curse. She slaughtered the monster without even using a weapon, but not through any skill of her own. It was the dragon inside her. As for the last note, I am highly suspicious of Veronica. It’s possible that she’s bullying Philomela. Perhaps Philomela wishes to avoid nurses because of visible bruises. I hope I’m wrong about Veronica.
Episode 14: Nothing Venture, Nothing Have (Part 2)
After a very brief recap, I’ll provide my responses to selected parts of this episode. The mother wolf that Chise spared before wanders around the city, crying for the children that were stolen from her long ago. At the college, Chise has a talk with Philomela in her room, explaining that she wants to help however she can. After Chise and Lucy leave, the artificial fairy Alcyone delivers a pre-recorded message from “grandma” that urges Philomela to carry out her mission.
Elsewhere, the witch Mariel and her werewolf companion search for the cursed book outside the college. They also ask a shady witch information broker about it. But in the end, they conclude that the book must still be inside the college. While that’s happening, Chise and her friends are busy studying for exams. That’s all the main events in this episode, so next I’ll offer some more specific commentary.
At one point, Philomela and Lucy are trying to wrap their heads around Chise’s extreme altruism and helpfulness. Interestingly, Chise states that her apparent selflessness stems from “an inflated ego.” We know Chise is sometimes self-deprecating, and I don’t believe she’s arrogant. But this line is still fascinating because it shows another one of Chise’s strong points: introspection. She is constantly thinking, trying to interpret herself and how she should respond to the world. I don’t always agree with her conclusions, but I love the way her brain works.
The character psychology in this anime has always interested me. Season 2 presents some characters who are well worth studying. Philomela is probably my favorite of these. The most obvious thing about her psychology is that she’s being intensely emotionally abused by her “Grandma.” Moreover, this abuse has been going on for many years. I empathized with Philomela when she tried to drink the water, but couldn’t force herself to override her family’s “programming.” I can only hope Philomela will someday be free and happy.
On the topic of Philomela, I think it’s possible she’s one of the werewolf children who were stolen from their mother. I could be very wrong, but it’s a neat idea. As for the other parts in this episode, the witches were pretty interesting. I didn’t catch the name of the male werewolf, but he seems cool. The designs for the wolves and other magical creatures in this anime never cease to impress me.
The information broker at the bar was creepy but entertaining. I didn’t like that he seemed to have no visible body apart from a swarm of magical bees. Last of all, I loved the messenger lizard with the hat who appeared briefly in this episode. I mean, that litte guy is so fuckin cute! Look at his hat! I am melting.
Episode 15: Needs Must When The Devil Drives (Part 1)
The students are sick of having nothing to do but study. Violet and Jasmine, the redheaded twins, alleviate the group’s boredom with a type of magic puzzle game. Rian and Philomela end up in a conflict – well, more like a one-sided temper tantrum on the part of Rian. He’s angry at Philomela for being so subservient and limiting her own abilities. Chise tries once again to comfort and connect with Philomela, but as usual, she walks away without anything changing.
A few other things happen – like the werewolf mother returning to “Grandma” and begging to see her children again. Also, Simeon recovers from his magic loss and continues his friendship with Elias outside of the infirmary. On a rainy day, Elias and Chise sit down for a chat. Before long, they are joined by Violet, who says that Jasmine is terribly sick. While Chise talks with Violet, the infirmary gets swamped with an entire crowd of sick students.
This ominous closing of the episode left me thinking there must be an epidemic going on. I don’t know if it’s magical in nature, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that it’s happening now. My guess is that the user of the cursed book – probably Philomela – is spreading the illness with magic. The goal could be to force the college open again, allowing for the escape of whoever stole the book. Alternatively, the illness might be another way of draining magic power from the sorcery students.
My favorite part of this episode was when Alcyone spoke with Elias in the courtyard. Chise observed early on that Alcyone reminded her of Elias, but perhaps even more childlike. Alcyone apparently also got the vibe that she and Elias might be similar. She approached him to ask if he was also an artificial fairy. Elias talked with her for a while. Although Elias is a natural being as far as we know, he seems “artificial” in the sense that he is not used to human emotions.
I suspect there’s more to Alcyone than meets the eye. Despite supposedly being a low-spec artificial fairy without human sensibilities, she may have the capability to learn. Even if she can’t increase her intelligence, I believe she could learn to feel emotions. In fact, she may already feel something like love toward Philomela. Maybe she loved her master, too, because even after he died, she kept the stored memories of him and his family. Young Philomela was adorable in those memories.
Anyway, that’s all for my thoughts on episode 15.
Thanks for reading~
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