The new movie, Goblin Slayer: Goblin’s Crown, is a short, one-hour fantasy adventure. While not the grandest of Goblin Slayer’s quests, it is nonetheless an interesting story about how fragile life is–both in the literal and metaphorical sense.
*This article contains spoilers for both Goblin Slayer: Goblin’s Crown and the original Goblin Slayer.
Image source: 「ゴブリンスレイヤー」/ Goblin Slayer公式 on Twitter
A few months have passed since Goblin Slayer and his party protected Cow Girl’s farm from a goblin invasion. Now, in the dead of winter, Goblin Slayer receives a letter from Sword Maiden seeking his aid in a rescue mission.
Deep in the mountains, goblins have been raiding a medium-sized settlement in large numbers. Thus, the guild sent a party of newbie adventurers led by a young noblewoman, Noble Fencer, to clear out the goblin nest in the caves above the village. However, the party has not returned.
Goblin Slayer’s party must fight not only goblins but the elements themselves as they investigate what happened to Noble Fencer’s party–and attempt to solve the mystery of why the goblins they face seem far more intelligent than usual.
Image source: 「ゴブリンスレイヤー」/ Goblin Slayer公式 on Twitter
Over the course of the film we not only see the actions of Goblin Slayer’s group but of Noble Fencer’s as well through a series of flashbacks. It’s here that we get a look at a full party other than Goblin Slayer’s–and see just how fortunate he is to have found a team that meshes together so well.
In a lot of ways, Noble Fencer is the exact opposite of Goblin Slayer: prideful, well-spoken, and a dynamic leader. However, what they share is caution when it comes to goblins. Thus, when they discover the goblin’s caves after smashing a large goblin host, they decide to simply starve the goblins out. They barricade the cave’s exits and stab any goblin that gets too close. It’s a solid plan–far safer than charging in blindly. However, what neither she nor the rest of her party factor in is the time of year and the material cost.
In the snowy mountains, exposed to the elements in the dead of winter, the siege is far harder on the party than on the goblins. Soon their supplies run low and the need to feed a whole party of people causes them to overhunt the area.
And here’s where Noble Fencer’s party differs the most from Goblin Slayer’s. When Goblin Slayer’s party has been facing imminent death or tough conditions, they work harder to support each other. Noble Fencer’s party, on the other hand, looks for who to blame–and who better to blame than the party’s leader. Instead of calling the mission a wash and turning back to town, the party’s ego demands they stay–with Noble Fencer force to make the long walk to town and back to get supplies alone.
It doesn’t work out well for her by the time she returns, the male members of her party are dead and she, herself, is subsequently captured. By the time Goblin Slayer and the rest find her, she’s been, raped, tortured, and branded. To keep herself sane, Noble Fencer focuses on two things: revenge and getting her sword back.
The sword itself is an obvious metaphor. It is a symbol of her strength–her personal agency. Without it she became powerless–a toy for the goblins–but by regaining it, she can once again be the strong, proud warrior she was before. She’ll get her life back.
But the unsurprising truth is that the experience has shattered the world she thought she knew–and no amount of drive can suppress the PTSD flashes that lance through her mind unbidden. However, this wound to her soul is something that Goblin Slayer can understand–it is something he experienced and continues to live with every day. He knows how important a goal can be to keep a person living. Because of this, he even allows the swordless Noble Fencer to join the party while they exterminate the goblins–despite her obvious mental instability.
And in the end, he’s right to allow her to come along. The fight against the goblin horde allows her to once again feel in control of her life. Like with the Sword Maiden before her, Goblin Slayer knows what to do to start healing the mental scars left by goblins in others. It’s just a shame he is unable to do so for himself.
Image source: 「ゴブリンスレイヤー」/ Goblin Slayer公式 on Twitter
While Noble Fencer’s story looks at the fragility of life in a more metaphorical sense, High Elf Archer is dealing with it in a much more literal–though less immediate–way. At 2000 years old, High Elf Archer is still little more than a child by elf standards. At some point, she became fascinated with the outside world full of mortal beings–wanting to know more of these creatures who would live little more than a blink of an eye.
And as she befriends them, she can’t help but notice the signs of their all too short time together. In the months since she joined Goblin Slayer’s party, Priestess has already shown noticeable changes in her physical development. But High Elf Archer knows she will forever look the same as far as her companions are concerned.
Their time together is painfully fleeting. None of the party have a lifespan that is even a fraction of hers. Even the next oldest party member, Dwarf Shaman, is only 107–and he’s already an old man. But through Lizard Priest, she has the potential opportunity for a new type of friendship.
Lizard Priest’s goal in life is to become strong enough–adventure long enough–that he becomes a dragon. In the world of Goblin Slayer, Dragons are truly immortal. Even an elf can technically die of old age.
The idea of having a non-elf friend to grow old with–one that will even outlive her–is wonderful in her eyes. Because what High Elf Archer wants is companionship–despite its fleeting nature in the world of mortals. It’s a great piece of development that explains why High Elf Archer acts aloof so much of the time (she’s afraid of making connections and getting hurt when they pass on) and why she can’t help but become emotionally attached regardless.
If nothing else, Goblin Slayer: Goblin’s Crown is worth watching for this character insight alone.
Goblin Slayer: Goblin’s Crown was released in Japanese theaters on February 1, 2020. There is currently no word on an international release.
Top image source: GA文庫チャンネル on YouTube
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