Mikata ga Yowasugite Hojo Mahou ni Tesshite Ita Kyuutei Mahoushi, Tsuihou Sarete Saikyou o Mezasu [Season 1 Episode 9]

“The Banished Court Magician: Episode 9 – A Flashback-Filled Rollercoaster That Divides Fans”

Let’s cut to the chase: Episode 9 of The Banished Court Magician Aims to Become the Strongest is not for everyone. If you’re here for non-stop action, you might find yourself reaching for your phone mid-episode. But if you care about why characters do what they do? This one’s a deep dive into the messy, human side of fantasy—and fans are split right down the middle.

First, let’s recap the basics for anyone just tuning in: Alec Huguette, our main guy, was kicked out of the royal court for “only using support magic” (rude, right?). Now he’s building a ragtag crew of misfits to prove he’s more than a healer. Episode 9 throws us into a fight with Gloria, a villain who’s basically a walking edgelord with a blood magic fetish. But instead of letting Alec and his crew beat him up for 20 minutes, the show hits pause—again and again—to show us why Gloria’s so messed up.

And that’s where the drama starts.

The Flashback Problem (Or Is It a Win?)
If you scrolled through MyAnimeList after watching, you probably saw comments like: “Who thought it was a good idea to have 2 minutes of flashbacks for every 1 minute of current events?” (shoutout to Comment 5). Yeah, the pacing is… weird. One second, Alec’s crew is dodging Gloria’s blood blades; the next, we’re watching Gloria’s childhood friend waste away from an illness. It’s jarring. Some fans fell asleep (looking at you, Comment 6: “I literally fell asleep in the middle of this episode. Can someone tell me what happened?”). Others? They ate it up.

Take Comment 3: “What I always like most about this show is the strong bond between the party members.” Even with all the flashbacks, that bond shines. When Ornest—Alec’s spear-wielding buddy—starts panicking about Gloria’s immortality, his friends don’t leave him hanging. They banter, they cover each other’s backs, and for a second, you forget you’re watching a fantasy anime. You just see a group of people who’ve got each other’s backs.

Gloria: Cringe or Compelling?
Let’s talk about the villain everyone loves to hate (or just hate). Gloria’s whole schtick is “I’m dark and tragic and I use blood magic!” But some fans found his act more eye-roll than intimidating. “Gloria is a bit cringey lol,” admitted Comment 14. “This dark and edgy character keeps screaming like a goofball.” Fair. There’s a scene where he yells about “embracing the darkness” while covered in blood, and you can almost hear the voice actor straining to sound cool.

But here’s the thing: The flashbacks work for some. Comment 2 pointed out, “Ornest has some sad story, not sure if it’s his brother or his childhood friend but it’s hard to watch that boy going through illness.” Gloria’s backstory isn’t just “I’m evil because I want to be”—it’s about loss, and feeling powerless, and turning to magic to fix a broken heart. Is it original? No. Is it effective? For fans who care about depth over destruction, yes.

The Cliffhanger That Left Everyone Screaming
Just when you think the episode can’t get more chaotic, it ends with a bombshell. Alec finally shows up to save the day (took him long enough), but then—boom—Gloria stabs himself with his own sword, and Alec gets possessed by a demon. Cue the credits.

Fans lost their minds. Comment 11 summed it up perfectly: “ALEC YOU BETTER MAKE IT ON TIME TO SAVE HIM!!! HE MAY BE A DUMBASS BUT HE’S FULL OF HEART!!!! HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK DID GLORIA JUST DO???????????????? I KNOW HE HURT HIMSELF TO USE MORE BLOOD MAGIC BUT HOLY FUCKING SHIT WHAT THE HELL DID HE DO?!?!?!?!?!?!?! aaaaaand i’m pretty sure he just got possessed by a demon…….. OH COME ON WHY’D IT HAVE TO END ON A CLIFFHANGER LIKE THAT?”

Relatable. We all hate waiting, but that’s the point—now we have to tune in next week to see if Alec survives.

The Verdict: Keep Watching or Drop It?
Let’s be real: This show isn’t breaking any new ground. As Comment 4 put it, “I realized that the show doesn’t have any unique features whether character-wise, setting, plot, magic/powers, relationships, etc. I think I’ve seen all of it before.” If you’re tired of “banished hero” tropes or slow-burn character arcs, Episode 9 might be your breaking point. Some fans even dropped it: “Dropped,” said Comment 15, plain and simple.

But if you’re invested in Alec’s crew—like the fan who gushed about “the strong bond between the party members”—this episode is a must-watch. It’s messy, it’s slow, and it’s not perfect. But it’s human. And in a genre full of over-the-top battles and one-dimensional villains, that’s kind of refreshing.

Final Thought: Episode 9 is a test. It’s asking, “Do you care about the why as much as the how?” If the answer is yes, stick around. If not? There’s always another fantasy anime with more explosions and less talking. But for those of us who want to know why Gloria cries when he uses blood magic, or why Ornest yells so much? We’re here for the long haul.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go scream into the void about that cliffhanger. See you next week.

— A fan who’s definitely not still thinking about Alec’s demon possession. (Okay, maybe a little.)