Let This Grieving Soul Retire [Season 1 Episode 16]

“Let This Grieving Soul Retire” Episode 16: The Vacation That Broke the World (And My Brain)

Okay, let’s cut to the chase: if you thought Krai Andrey’s life couldn’t get more chaotic, Episode 16 just took “retirement goals” and threw them into a volcano… while sipping parfaits. The Grieving Souls finally go on vacation (because even fake Level 8 hunters need a break from accidentally saving the world), but surprise—their idea of “relaxing” is accidentally triggering an apocalypse. And honestly? It’s the funniest disaster I’ve seen all season.

First off, let’s talk about the chaos engine that is Sitri. Remember how she’s the “cute” one with the pet chimera? Yeah, turns out her “relaxing vacation brew” is just a fancy way to say “orc pheromone bomb.” One minute, the team’s laughing over ice cream; the next, a horde of orcs is crashing their picnic like uninvited relatives at a wedding. And poor Tino? She can’t even finish her parfait before having to kick monster butt. As one fan put it, “Poor Tino, can’t even enjoy a parfait.” Relatable. We’ve all been there—except our interruptions are usually just spam emails, not bloodthirsty orcs.

Then there’s Arnold, the show’s resident “I’m a real Level 7 hunter” guy, who’s basically the anime version of that one kid who brags about his Pokémon collection but can’t beat the first gym. He’s stuck on an escort mission fighting orcs, lightning spirits, and fire spirits—all because Sitri’s brew decided to play matchmaker with every monster within a 10-mile radius. And when Arnold finally confronts the Grieving Souls? They’re just… chilling. Krai’s probably napping, Liz is making fun of his haircut, and Sitri’s feeding her chimera more snacks. It’s like watching a cat knock over a vase and then act like it’s the vase’s fault.

But here’s the thing that makes this episode work: it doesn’t take itself seriously. At all. The humor is dumb, chaotic, and exactly what we need. The running gag about Krai’s “Thousand Tricks” (which are just him lying and making other people do the work) is still gold. And let’s not forget the best part: the team’s obliviousness. They’re so busy arguing over who gets the last macaron that they don’t realize they’re the reason the kingdom’s on fire. As another fan pointed out, “Krai’s just the leader by default because he’s not crazy.” Truer words never spoken. If the rest of the Grieving Souls were in charge, Zebrudia would be a smoldering crater by now.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the animation. Is it groundbreaking? No. Is it fun? Absolutely. The fight scenes are flashy enough to keep you engaged, but the real stars are the character moments—like when Tino pouts over her ruined parfait, or when Liz teases Arnold so hard he looks like he’s about to explode. The art style’s bright, colorful, and fits the show’s silly vibe perfectly. It’s not trying to be Attack on Titan; it’s trying to make you snort-laugh into your popcorn. And honestly? That’s a win.

But wait—let’s talk about the “deeper” stuff (if you can call it that). Krai’s whole schtick is wanting to retire, but every time he tries, the universe throws a monster at him. This episode doubles down on that: he just wants to relax, but his friends’ chaos keeps dragging him back. It’s like if you tried to quit your job, but your coworkers kept accidentally starting wars. Relatable again. And the best part? Krai doesn’t even care. He’s just like, “Ugh, fine, I’ll fix this… but only if I get a raise. And a nap. And another parfait.”

Some fans have complained about the lack of “mystery” with Krai’s internal monologue, but let’s be real—do we need mystery here? The show’s strength is its absurdity. If we didn’t hear Krai’s thoughts, we’d miss gems like, “Why is the lightning spirit here? Did I forget to pay my electric bill?” (Okay, maybe not exactly that, but you get the idea.) The monologue is part of the charm—it’s like having a snarky best friend commentating on the chaos right next to you.

And let’s not sleep on the supporting cast. Arnold’s slow descent into madness is hilarious—he starts off as this tough-guy hunter and ends up chasing the Grieving Souls like a toddler throwing a tantrum. The Foggers (his team) are just along for the ride, looking confused half the time. It’s like watching a group of dads try to assemble IKEA furniture—chaotic, slightly pathetic, and weirdly endearing.

Is this episode perfect? No. The “OPM-style name mix-ups” are hit-or-miss (we get it, Krai can’t remember names—stop beating a dead chimera). And sometimes the fanservice feels forced (looking at you, Liz’s “accidental” bikini fight). But honestly? Who cares? This show isn’t here to win awards. It’s here to make you laugh so hard you snort milk out your nose (pro tip: don’t drink milk while watching).

As one fan summed it up: “This show knows what it is and is extremely good at meeting those expectations.” Exactly. It’s dumb, it’s chaotic, and it’s exactly what I need after a long day. So if you’re tired of “deep” anime with existential crises and want to watch a fake hero accidentally save the world while complaining about his workload? This episode’s for you.

Final verdict? 8/10. Deducting points for Tino’s ruined parfait (unforgivable) but adding extra for Sitri’s orc-baiting brew (genius). And hey—with Season 2 announced? We get more of this chaos. Krai’s retirement can wait. The world needs more accidental heroes… and more parfaits.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make sure my own “vacation brew” isn’t secretly attracting monsters. Stay safe out there, folks. And for the love of all that’s holy—let Tino finish her parfait.

P.S. Cursive is the future. – Nate Bargatze (No, I don’t know why that’s a running joke either. But it’s funny.)