Episode 7 Review – Pagma's Sword Dance
Warning: Contains spoilers for the episode.
I think there’s something Grid learned in this episode, and that is that it’s not all about having the best weapon or the most valuable item in the game. There’s something that goes far beyond that—something you can’t obtain so easily.
This episode shows us exactly that. Grid tries to escape a reality—his reality—by logging into “Satisfy,” but there’s something he can’t leave behind. His past haunts him even in the game; he can’t escape it, and there are things that seem to never change.
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On the Way to Kesan Canyon
Grid is determined to become one of the best players in the game, and to do so, he must complete the quests he needs to complete—there’s no other way; he must do what he has to do. To that end, he sets out on a quest he’s been preparing for: heading to Kesan Canyon.
Grid has forged a sword and raised it to level 8+, which makes many admire his sword’s level—it’s ironic that Grid is now showing off his sword’s level when he was the one who previously criticized a player for boasting about his armor’s level. It was Grid himself who said that having maxed-out armor wasn’t everything.
The path to finding Pagma’s Sword Dance Paintings is not easy; it’s a quest that few have been able to accomplish, as they must face all kinds of enemies and monsters. However, if he wants to continue his journey, he must complete the quests assigned to him, even if they’re difficult or nearly impossible for his level.
But the real danger hasn’t been the monsters he’s faced. The hardest part of this chapter for Grid has been confronting his past. In a cave, he encounters players who used to bully him in real life. This makes Grid want to take revenge on them and refuse to offer them any help. But revenge isn’t as sweet as he thought it would be; even against bad people, taking revenge only makes him feel bad himself.
Pagma’s Sword Dance
After defeating the monsters in the cave and confronting his past, Grid manages to find Pagma’s Sword Dance and thus completes the mission. This will be of vital importance to Grid within the game, as the level and reputation he has been gaining without even realizing it are factors to take into account.
Possessing Pagma’s Sword Dance is a legendary combat skill that allows him to use and enhance many more abilities, which is turning Grid into a player to be reckoned with—something we even saw in this episode. Grid is forging his path through hard work and great courage.
Grid will gradually become a recognized player within Satisfy; every mission and every new skill he develops pushes him closer to fulfilling his dreams. But being recognized and successful hasn’t made Grid forget his past. So, as he builds his future, it’s nice to see how he’s improving as a person—not just as Grid, but also as Shin Youngwoo.
What will it take for Grid to become a better person and not seek revenge once he gains power?
Episode rating: 7.5/100