DanMachi: Season 4

DanMachi Season 4 returns with its most anticipated season yet which will see our hero – Bell Cranel experience the absolute wraith of the Dungeon directed by Hideki Tachibana.

This season ran for two cours consisting of 22 episodes in total with the first part airing from the 21st of July 2022 – the 29th of September 2022, covering “The Labyrinth Arc”.

While the second part returned from the 5th of January 2023 – the 16th of March 2023, covering the “Calamity Arc” which covers volumes twelve to fourteen of the light novels by author Fujino Ōmori.

DanMachi season 4 follows the exploits of Bell Cranel, a 14-year-old solo adventurer under the goddess Hestia. That very same boy receives a letter. It contains a mission– an expedition into the Dungeon, deeper than he’s ever gone before. Facing uncharted territory, the boy sets out alongside his friends on a brand-new journey.

However, this will be a journey that will test both Bell Cranel and his party of adventurers to their utmost limits.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to see our protagonist go through so much hardship and affliction, after an impressive first episode, highlighting the massive achievement it is for one to reach level 4.

Not only does an adventurer that’s reached level 4 have amazing mobility, power, and strength – they are regarded as power-houses that are capable of taking on any challenge and fighting anyone on an even plain field.

Yet all that means nothing in the presence of the Juggernaut.

It turns out that the Dungeon is more complex than an endless labyrinth spawning monsters from its walls left and right, the dungeon can also try to protect itself from extensive damage – one of these ways is by spawning a creature that’s as heartless as its black reflective scales.

When coming face to face with the Juggernaut, all hope is lost, for its speed is as blinding as its approach at killing anyone in sight – without mercy, targeting vital areas, and inflicting the most pain for its self-pleasure.

No magic can harm it while its reflective shell is intact as it’ll only deflect the magic back at you with double the consequences, it’s capable of intelligence and its speed is so fast, it allows the creature to soar through the air-like paper.

Bell and his party have had to deal with one anomaly after another, first beginning with the Green Moss – an intelligent monster that was capable of using traps, luring adventurers, and letting other monsters do its dirty work while it evolves at an alarming rate.

Then the unexpected encounter with the 27th-floor boss The Monster Rex Amphisbaena, which had spawned weeks before its expected date left the party in an unprecedented situation to deal with it without the help of their leader Bell, who had unknowingly along with Ryuu found their way in critical condition into the deep floors.

The rest of the party has no other option but to rise to the occasion and take on the mantle as true adventurers willing to go to the depths of hell to achieve their goal and rescuing their friend. They will come out of this stronger that’s for sure, proving to Bell that he’s not the only one with ambitions to rise above the rest.

From the very beginning of DanMachi, I’ve felt it position itself as light-hearted series, typical of your young protagonist creating his harem of beautiful women but I’ve changed my opinion on that since the latest season.

It can get dark and gruesome beyond belief for a series that began from humble beginnings.

I’ve had so many scares throughout the entire season, asking myself – who’s about to die, how will Bell’s party defeat Amphisbaena without their leader, and if Bell and Ryu will make it out alive?

Ryuu Lion is a serene, sanguine character, full of integrity who’s willing to risk life and limb to help others even though the world of adventurers’ in Orario views her as a psychopathic for the crimes she committed to avenging her fallen comrades against Evilus.

The time spent with Bell Cranel on the deep floors forces Ryuu to take a closer look at herself and question why she’s always managed to continue living on regardless of how hopeless things may seem.

Season 4 forces everyone to grow past their limits one way or another, if they hesitate for even a split second it could mean life or death for their entire party at hand with no one able to tell their story.

In episode twenty we get to witness the tragic demise of the Astraea familia which Ryuu was a part of at the claws of the Juggernaut – shout out to J.C.Staff for delivering a perfect representation of what makes the Juggernaut so fearsome, leaving Ryuu as the sole survivor become engulfed by her need for revenge against those to blame for the massacre of innocence.

This season demonstrated amazing voice delivery from the cast voicing over Bell Cranel and Ryuu Lion whilst, in the deep floors, you could hear the fear, rage as well as hope within their voice – lying to one another through every adversity till the very end.

With one of the most satisfactory finales to the season, I’ve ever witnessed. No unreasonable power-ups, no beating around the bush – it’s a fight for redemption with everything hanging on the line, where perseverance is key.

With that said, DanMachi Season 4 has been nothing but greatness to watch, surpassing all expectations with its brutality, lore, and incredible animation.

I give Season 4 of DanMachi a 5 out of 5 rating.

Let me know whether you’ve watched the latest season of DanMachi and whether you agree with my review or not in the comments section below.

Thank you for reading another review from, LSR.

Happy Freedom Day!!!