The finale ofOverlord IVwas a particularly dramatic affair, as the Sorceror Kingdom’s siege upon Re-Estize advances into the royal capital. There is certain twisted vibe to this episode, and this is one of the few times when the evil of Ainz Ooal Gown is made apparent.
The episode was a particularly interesting finish to this eventful arc, and several key aspects are finally drawn to a close. For one, theoverarching mastermind behind the fall of Re-Estizegets her wish for immortality granted, and on the other hand, the world learns what happens when you mess with Ainz Ooal Gown. Filled with action, standout animation and combat, as well as an odd but appreciated insert song sung by Princess Renner, the thirteenth and final episode ofOverlord IVwas a fitting conclusion to the season.
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Preservation of the Crown
Princess Renner and Climb meet with King Ramposa in order to discuss something of great importance; however, they first have a disagreement about what Renner is to do now that the Kingdom has fallen. Ramposa tries to order Climb to take Renner away, going as far as to grant the young knight his blessing in taking Renner’s hand in marriage; however, they both refuse. Ramposa turns his attention towards something of huge symbolic importance –the preservation of the historyof the crown of the Kingdom of Re-Estize. After collecting some of the kingdom’s most important historical records and artifacts, Ramposa explains that he can’t figure out a good hiding place for them; one where they will be able to withstand the destruction of the kingdom.
Renner reveals that she and Zanac had developed this plan a long time ago, and have prepared a place in the warehouse district specifically for the purpose of hiding something as valuable as history itself. Climb is tasked with carrying the valuable bundle to the warehouse district; however, on his way back, he has the fortunate misfortune of meeting Mare there while on his way back from the warehouse district. While he desires to engage the threat, Mare’s attempt to get him to evacuate so that he doesn’t get hurt reminds him that he promised Renner that he’d hide the goods and head straight back to the palace. He grits his teeth and runs back, witnessing the destruction of his home.
Demonic Sacrifice
When Climb returns to the palace, he is intercepted by Cocytus’sYuki Onna,who lead him through a door leading to a horrific scene: Renner, covered in blood and croutched next to a dead King Ramposa. The powerful blade, Razor Edge lay beside the princess, who appeared to be completely shocked at what happened.Climb angrily arms himself with Razor Edge, and charges Ainz; however, he is absolutely no match for the elder lich. At some point, Ainz even gives Climb Razor Edge to make it a little more interesting, but it also seemed to be a test. Ainz draws the runic sword he got from the merchant Osk, and makes quick work of Climb, who wakes up to Princess Renner’s face. Climb is horrified to find out that the princess had been conspiring with Ainz’s Sorcerer Kingdom from the very beginning.
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Now that she has been reborn as a demon, Renner has achieved her goal for immortality, soon convincing Climb to pledge his allegiance to Ainz Ooal Gown and the Sorcerer Kingdom, and relinquish his humanity so that they may be together forever as demonic lovers. Renner’s association with the Sorcerer Kingdom has been alluded to throughout this season, and her brilliance as a tactician was noted even by her brother Zanac. The last hurdle to her ambition was her father, whom she killed using the blade. Ultimately, the destruction of Re-Estize was the tactical handiwork of Princess Renner – Albedo’s ultimate insider – and the success of her ambition marks a particularly dark development inOverlord.
Get the Good Side
The best thing about the finale toOverlord IVwas the incredibly beautiful art and animation, which cast a dramatic light over the episode. Studio Madhouse has shown flares of this ability to create stellar animation,particularly when it comes to fight scenes, and this episode in particular shone in a way that makes fans wish the whole show looked like this, all the time. Ainz’s short battle with Climb was dramatic and the stakes were incredibly high, and like with Brain Unglaus’s bout against Cocytus; Climb’s valiant effort to fight for something greater than himself was a particularly climactic moment in the episode. The emphasis on a dramatic feel for this episode is also evident in the usage of CGI in Princess Renner’s oddly-placed victory lap insert song; which centered the character in a way that has not happened this season yet. Evidently, the episode seeks to make it apparent who the true antagonist is this season, and like various other anime titles before it,Overlord IVhammers home the point that the scariest monsters in any setting are human beings themselves.
The insert song sung by Renner herself was given a particularly musical quality when it came to the various shots and angles employed in the animation side of things. It’s clear in her mannerisms, demeanour and wardrobe that Princess Renner has undergone a certain evolution; one which came from her sinister betrayal of every last person in the Kingdom of Re-Estize, not to mention her own family. Overall, it was a fitting finale and one filled with several high moments, with the art, animation and general feel of the episode being a lot more dramatic than usual, and less reliant on the series' brand of subversive humour. For once, things were serious, brutal and even evil; without a hint of human-like hesitation on the part of Ainz or Renner, and the final scene, featuring Ainz seated upon a makeshift throne fashioned out of rubble, with the “important pieces of royal history” that the king sought to preserve serving as the first valuable spoils from Ainz’s new conquest.With this, Ainz is satisfiedthat the world knows never to cross Ainz Ooal Gown.
