Episode 20 of GARO: The Animation, titled “Double Dealer,” is currently streaming on FUNimation for paid subscribers. Free members can watch this same episode seven days from now on March 6th.
I am surprised that Octavia has managed to conceal her association with Mendoza all that time.
The arrival of Leon and Ema at Alfonso’s made me curious about whether or not they did the deed because I had a feeling it would happen sooner or later. It was during the first half of the series when Ema inquired if Leon was a virgin or note, which she expressed disappointment when he answered “yes.”
Alfonso inadvertently confirms it when he asks about Ema’s condition, which made Leon assume the question was of a sexual manner.
Leon’s mind is officially in the gutter.
I was surprised to see that Mendoza was actually still alive and living within the castle walls still up to his schemes. Mendoza is confident that neither Leon nor Alfonso will be able to stop him. I am curious as to why Mendoza is still alive and why the Watchtower had ordered Herman to look after him.
But I was equally surprised to learn that Octavia was not a Horror.
At least I understand why Octavia is loyal to Mendoza though.
I became a little more sympathetic to Octavia because God was neither watching nor listening when her family was slaughtered by wolves. That horrible memory is more than enough to curse God for not doing anything as your family dies. It also teaches a lesson that one should never put blind faith in a deity let alone God.
This reminds me of the latest episode of Maria The Virgin Witch, where God wasn’t really listening to the soldiers’ prayers in battle.
I had the “holy s—t” look on my face when Octavia summoned a beast to save herself from Alfonso and the others, but used Laura as a sacrifice. This scene made me truly understand the name of the title because Octavia was “double dealing.”
Octavia served as the personal maid, but held her true alliance to Mendoza.
The second meaning was that Octavia ultimately betrayed Laura when she was treating her like a surrogate younger sister, too. Rhetorically asking, this is how Octavia treats Laura at the end?
Octavia takes it further by commanding the Horror to devour her right leg to throw Ema off the trail.
I thought Octavia was a Horror in disguise or a weak person, but I was shocked that she is one of the most hardcore characters in the series. I have the feeling that Octavia may transform into a Horror in the future to attain power to kill the Makai Knights.
Her guilt trip is an obvious sign when she directs the blame towards Leon and Alfonso for what happened to Laura.
But Octavia was ultimately at fault.
This episode was an enjoyable “cat and mouse” game where Octavia came up as the victor.
