Shangri-La Frontier - Episode 14

The second half of Shangri-La Frontier kicks off with an episode that once again inspires hope for the future – but impatience is growing. Between humorous moments, new characters, and a heavy metal opening, the series struggles with pacing issues. When will the long-awaited payoff finally arrive? Let's take a look at the current episode.

A Frustrating Setup Act

After a short break, we start the new year with… another episode that feels more like a setup act. I know I'm repeating myself, but halfway through a two-part season, I can't help but feel that almost half of the episodes so far have consisted only of preparation and training – with minimal plot development.

Shangri-La Frontier is a series where I enjoy many scenes in the moment, such as the funny scene where Sunraku buys skills. But when I have to explain what happened, there's not much to say.

The first third of this episode only showed Sunraku training a newbie in a completely different game.

While the glimpse into the "Glitch-Hunter" culture was interesting, it somehow felt like a bonus chapter at the end of a book, which actually fits into the main story but was outsourced out of fear of pacing problems. Only here it wasn't outsourced... and the pacing suffered as a result.

Training That Feels Like a Bonus Chapter

The new character that Sunraku is training in the fighting game seems likable – maybe he'll reappear later? The new opening song, by the way, as metal as can be, presented many new characters who are supposed to appear in the second half. I'm looking forward to that.

But I wonder how long we still have to wait without… ANY of the big revelations of the last six episodes being resolved.

Instead, we continue training for the inevitable boss fight, and the episode ends with the announcement: "Now let's do a side quest first."

Logic Behind the Annoying Side Quest

The side quest makes sense, because other players were already farming experience points with this boss. Since it will probably be removed after the defeat, it is clear that some players want to prevent this. I liked how this was linked to the previously established problem of the PKers (Player Killers).

The confrontation with other players could be exciting, but the timing feels strange.

Maybe I'm impatient, but the side quest promises lucrative rewards. Hopefully, it will feel just as rewarding for us viewers.

Conclusion from a Patient Viewer

Sometimes you have to get through grindy passages to be rewarded with all the more beautiful boss fights.

Let's trust the path – and hope that the side quests don't feel like annoying chores.