The Rising of the Shield Hero [Season 4 Episodes 1-12]

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4: A Rollercoaster of Side Quests and Unresolved Tension

Let’s cut to the chase: Season 4 of The Rising of the Shield Hero is like that friend who promises a road trip to a concert but detours to every small-town tourist trap along the way. You’re still driving, you’re a little annoyed, but hey—there are some fun moments in the detours.

Picking up right where Season 3 left off (remember that awkward assassination attempt on Raphtalia?), Naofumi and his crew head to her homeland to fix things. But first, they get stuck in Siltvelt, a demi-human kingdom where everyone’s either trying to spoil Naofumi or kill him. The first few episodes are a mix of “wait, who are these people?” and “why is there an aphrodisiac bath scene?” (Yes, that happens. Werner, the lion dude, calls it a “courtesy to previous Shield Heroes”—sure, Jan.)

The Siltvelt arc centers on Fohl and Atla, two tiger demi-humans with a vendetta against Jaralis, the lion man who killed their dad. If you’re thinking, “Who are Fohl and Atla again?”—you’re not alone. Fans on MyAnimeList were split: some liked Atla’s spunk, but most couldn’t care less about Fohl. The duel between Fohl/Atla and Jaralis/Lyceras is classic Shield Hero: underhanded tricks (poison! gas bombs!), last-minute power-ups, and Jaralis turning into a tentacled chimera after eating his own goons. Gross? Yes. Entertaining? Kinda. But let’s be real—this arc feels like filler. As one fan put it: “I thought Jaralis had an evil political plot, but it was just generic world domination. Pointless.”

Finally, Naofumi and crew sail to Q’ten Lo, Raphtalia’s birthplace, where they face an eight-headed hydra (Orochi) and a government army led by a power-hungry advisor named Makina. The Orochi fight is actually cool—teamwork! Clever strategies! Raphtalia slicing all heads at once! But then we meet Zodia/Shildina, Sadeena’s long-lost sister who’s also the oracle miko. Shildina’s arc is where things get messy. She challenges Sadeena to a duel, uses illusion magic to win, then gets possessed by a past emperor and goes on a rampage. The finale is a blur of spirit battles, soul transfers, and Raphtalia becoming Q’ten Lo’s new empress.

So, is Season 4 worth watching? It depends. If you’re here for Naofumi and Raphtalia’s relationship, you’ll get crumbs (they’re cute, but not enough). If you love side characters with tragic backstories, you’ll have a field day (though most are forgettable). The animation by Kinema Citrus is solid—fight scenes are fluid, and the fantasy landscapes pop. But the pacing is off: the Siltvelt arc drags, the Q’ten Lo arc feels rushed, and the Phoenix (the big bad teased all season) is nowhere to be seen.

Fans on MyAnimeList summed it up best: “Better than Seasons 2-3, but that’s not saying much.” It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a fun ride if you don’t overthink it. Just don’t expect the Phoenix to show up—we’ll have to wait for Season 5 for that.

Final Verdict: 6/10. Watch it for Raphtalia’s glow-up and the Orochi fight, skip it if you’re tired of filler arcs. And remember: failure is always an option. (Thanks, random fan comment.)

P.S. Keel is a girl. Mind blown.