Izetta: The Last Witch 05
Shumatsu no Izetta episode 05
Izetta, Die Letzte Hexe 05

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis

Finé is given the title of Archduchess of Eylstadt. At the coronation, she gives a speech and reveals Izetta, who puts on a demonstration as a witch. The monarch of Germania discusses the situation with Major Berkman. Berkman believes the witch is true and that Eylstadt will attack Germanian forces to back their threats to use Izetta. Even as he speaks, a report comes in of Izetta’s devastating attack on the HQ of Germanian forces in Eylstadt. The press publishes film and newspaper articles about Izetta’s attack.

Later at a bar, Berkman and his aide Rickert discuss the attack. Captain Basler joins them at Berkman’s summoning. He gives his report and agrees to join the Major to get Izetta. As Berkman explains to the uncertain Rickert how Izetta is powerful, but is not all powerful. If she were all powerful, witches would rule the world and their monarch would be dead. The next day in Eylstadt, Finé has a briefing with General Schneider, Finé’s counselor Sieg, another aid, and Izetta. As they discuss how best to use Izetta, word comes that Germanian forces are moving through a mountain pass were there are no ley lines.

At said pass, Jonas is with his fellow soldiers, waiting for Izetta to show up and save the day. Three planes from the Eylstadt Air Force show up with Izetta there. However, this is a decoy. The real Izetta uses a mic and hidden speakers to command the Germanian forces to surrender. They don’t, she Izetta pretends to cast spells to disarm troops and cause a massive rockslide. In reality, Bianca and her fellow, royal guards are actually responsible for this. Word of Germania’s latest defeat comes back to Berkman, who has a spy in the Eylstadt army. Said spy is looking for Jonas, who’s out getting water. Jonas overhears Schneider and Sieg discuss how this attack was faked to look like Izetta did it.

Thoughts and Review

Well, Izetta: The Last Witch 05 was a really good episode for the most part. Then the writers ended things with poor writing which may kill the whole series for me.

Finé’s Plan

I liked Finé’s plan on how to use Izetta from the start. By making a big production of Izetta’s power at Finé’s coronation, you get folks attention. Obviously, Finé needs to have the Allies interest piqued as well as send a message to Germania.

Then you have Izetta attack Germanian forces, which happen to be over a ley line, allowing Izetta to unleash. That was a nice way to establish the bluff by saying, “We’re not bluffing and here’s our proof.”

The bluff worked on most of the Germanian peoples. However, we had Major Berkman determine that this was likely a bluff. I’m glad the writers didn’t just have him play a hunch or mysteriously know what his enemy was up to. Thanks to Berkman’s aide Rickert, we have a sounding board for Berkman to explain why he believes Izetta isn’t all powerful.

The final element of Finé’s plan is more of a stretch. We are expected to accept that all of Bianca’s girls are master snipers, able to perfectly shoot guns out of the hands of the enemy. Add to this making the explosions for the rockslide seem like Izetta spells. While this stretches credulity, I went ahead and accepted it just the same. It is just a story, right? 😉

Breaking Believably With Convenience

Where the writers broke things was at the end of the episode. The fact that Germania has a spy in the Eylstadt Army was fine and perfectly believable. They’d be fools not to have one to gather intel. However, the Germanian spy happened to know all about Jonas and was looking for him. OK, I can accept that Germanian Intelligence might know that Jonas had seen Izetta and would want to get close to him. But there were other soldiers who saw her too.

However, were things fell apart were the terrible conveniences that happened afterward. It is ultra convenient that Jonas is getting water and his precious photo of his family leaps out of his pocket into the water. It is ultra convenient that said phone goes down the stream just to the point of a secret meeting between General Schneider and Sieg. The convenience continues with Schneider and Sieg blathering all the details of the fraud committed to make it seem like Izetta defeated the Germanian forces in the mountain pass.

Clearly, all of this was done so Jonas could overhear. Whether Jonas has his faith destroyed or not remains to be seen. However, the next item is to have the Germanian spy make contact with Jonas. Then Jonas can spill the beans to the spy (more so if he’s lost his faith) and the Germanians can get the confirmation on Izetta. I don’t like the use of massive convenience to push plot forward.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Since not a lot more happened with this episode, I’ll just wrap up with some final thoughts.

• Italy is apparently Romulus in this Earth. That amused me.
• Despite where things appear to be going with Jonas, I’m still hoping to see him and Izetta hook up before all is said and done.
• I love Izetta’s reactions to everything. She feels like a real person to me. She’s nervous and doesn’t feel like she belongs when she’s in the meeting with Finé and her staff. She collapses from nerves after bravely putting on her show. She really is awesome.
• I figured Captain Basler would return at some point. Glad to see him back.

In the end, Izetta: The Last Witch 05 is mostly a good episode. However, the writers using massively convenient plot points at the end of story to set up things to come. That was not so good.