We've been waiting for this for years…
Blue Exorcist (Ao no Exorcist) spoilers ahead!
Summary:
- Despite a bad start, Blue Exorcist Season 3 got much better in Episode 3.
- Studio VOLN preferred to start with the Academy Seven Wonders arc, but ran through selected events too quickly.
- Episode 3 ended on an intriguing cliffhanger — Izumo accidentally meets Takara.
The Shimane Illuminati arc didn't start off well — it didn't live up to fans' expectations. It's not the only release this season to suffer from a bad beginning. The first episodes of Solo Leveling certainly created hype, but it was mostly negative, not exactly what the creators of the popular title expected.
However, despite the bad start, Blue Exorcist Season 3 got much better in Episode 3. Maybe the series even has a chance to correct the mistakes of previous adaptations.
Bad start
Blue Exorcist Season 3 was vulnerable from the start: despite a fairly workable manga plot, A-1 Pictures botched the adaptation in the first season, and the second season flopped due to an extended hiatus, poor production decisions, and an unpopular arc.
For a long time, it seemed that Blue Exorcist was a lost project that would never succeed. However, another studio (Studio VOLN) decided to release a sequel after all. Although there were other fan fears associated with these changes.
Unfortunately, the first episodes were not successful and received a lot of criticism. First of all, fans had problems with the new art, which was less visually appealing but more in the style of the manga.
An equally important problem was the pacing. Studio VOLN preferred to start with the Academy Seven Wonders arc, but ran through selected events too quickly, completing 12 chapters in two episodes.
Most popular arc
Despite expectations, the third episode was very good. That's not surprising, because it starts the Shimane Illuminati Saga — one of the most popular and intense arcs in the Blue Exorcist universe, and definitely the most colorful, as declared in the title of the third season.
The main characters and their friends prepare for a festival. There are no action or fight scenes in the episode. But it has several other intriguing elements — amusing character interactions and the secrets hidden by the Academy's inhabitants.
The pacing of the episode has become more relaxed and organic. Even the art is starting to feel comfortable, as the beautiful locations of the festival draw all the attention.
Many viewers admit that they are really looking forward to the next episode. Episode 3 ended on an intriguing cliffhanger — Izumo accidentally meets Takara, who speaks for the first time in a long time. The mystery of his identity has been intriguing since the first season.
However, he doesn't seem to be the only character with secrets (Takara has started talking about a girl's family secret). We can expect a lot of secondary character development in this arc, if the anime follows the path of the manga. Anyway, the next episode will already start the active phase.