Ep 1. Pilot

In the first episode of the adult animated series "Crossing Swords," we are introduced to the main character, a young peasant named Patrick. He dreams of joining the royal castle guards and becoming a hero, but his father wants him to continue the family business of being a farmer.

Patrick's life changes when he discovers a wanted poster that offers a reward for his capture. He is confused and scared, knowing he has done nothing wrong, but decides to take the poster to the castle guards and clear his name. On his way, he is attacked by a group of bandits and left for dead.

Patrick is rescued by some knights on horseback and taken to the castle, where he finally gets to meet his idols, the castle guards. However, he soon realizes that they are not the honorable and just knights that he thought they were. They are lazy, inept, and engage in activities like gambling and drinking instead of doing their jobs.

Despite this, Patrick remains determined to become a guard and continue his dream of saving the kingdom. He discovers that the wanted poster was actually a ploy by the guards to capture innocent people and sell them into slavery. He teams up with other misfit knights to uncover the truth about the corruption within the castle walls.

As Patrick navigates his new life in the castle, he is also dealing with the disapproval of his family and the class divide between peasants and the elite. He becomes romantically involved with a feisty princess who is also a rebel within her own family. Together, they plan to fight against the corruption and spark a revolution to bring justice to the kingdom.

The first episode of "Crossing Swords" sets up a dark and humorous world where nothing is as it seems. The animation style is reminiscent of claymation and adds to the absurdity of the situations that Patrick and his friends find themselves in. The characters are quirky and memorable, making it easy to become invested in their journey. With themes of corruption, class divide, and standing up for what's right, "Crossing Swords" is a fresh take on medieval fantasy that will leave you wanting more.