Seven Deadly Sins - Season 3, Episode 12 Review (Spoiler Alert)

Seasons - 4

Episodes - 100

Genre: Shonen, Fantasy, Supernatural, Adventure

Episode Rating – 6.5/10

In One Word - Fustrating

Available on - Netflix, Apple T+, Amazon Prime Video

The fight between Meliodas vs Escanor in The Seven Deadly Sins (Season 3, Episode 12) is one of the most intense and anticipated battles in the series. However, its execution received mixed reviews, primarily due to animation quality and pacing issues. Here's a breakdown:

Pacing

The episode builds up well to the fight, with an escalating tension between Meliodas (now in his Assault Mode) and Escanor at high noon. However, the pacing feels inconsistent. The beginning effectively sets the stakes, showing the Sins' reactions and foreshadowing Escanor’s overwhelming strength. But once the fight starts, it rushes through crucial moments that could have had better weight. The fight feels short, lacking some of the slow, dramatic moments that could have heightened the impact.

Strengths

1. Emotional Weight – The battle is not just about brute strength; it symbolizes the clash of two dominant yet different characters. Meliodas is embracing his demonic side, while Escanor is at his absolute peak of power.

2. Character Dynamics – Escanor’s confidence and arrogance contrast Meliodas’s cold, calculated aggression.

3. Power Showcase – Despite the animation struggles, the concept of Escanor’s peak power, "The One," is still awe-inspiring. His attack "Divine Sword Escanor" is one of the most hyped-up moves in the series.

Weaknesses

1. Animation Quality – One of the biggest complaints. Studio DEEN's rushed production leads to stiff animation, poor shading, and jarring still frames. The battle, which should have been fluid and cinematic, often feels choppy.

2. Impact of Attacks – In the manga, every hit feels massive. In the anime, the lack of detailed impact frames and proper weight on attacks makes them feel less intense than they should.

3. Meliodas’ Role – While Meliodas is strong, he feels underwhelming compared to Escanor, making the fight one-sided too quickly. His struggle should have been more emphasized.

Conclusion

The battle between Meliodas vs Escanor is one of the most hyped fights in the series, but its execution in the anime does not fully live up to expectations. The pacing is decent but rushed, the concept and emotional stakes are excellent, but the animation severely drags down the impact. If properly animated, it could have been one of the greatest battles in shonen anime, but instead, it remains a missed opportunity.