Ep 19. The Four Cardinal Heroes

The Rising of the Shield Hero season 1 episode 19, titled The Four Cardinal Heroes, continues the story of Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo as they journey to the site of the next stage of the Waves, where they encounter the other three heroes - Motoyasu, Ren, and Itsuki.

The episode kicks off with the Shield Hero and his companions arriving at a village which is serving as a temporary base for the heroes. As they explore the village, they learn more about the other heroes and their respective weapons - the Spear, Sword and Bow. The mood is somewhat tense as the Shield Hero's distrust of the other heroes is well known among the villagers.

As they approach the site of the next stage of the Waves, the heroes detect a mysterious force that they've never encountered before, and it soon becomes apparent that they'll need to work together to overcome it. Ren, the Sword Hero, proposes a strategy that involves him and Itsuki, the Bow Hero, engaging the enemy at range, while Naofumi and Motoyasu, the Spear Hero, take on the enemy up close.

It's at this point that things start to unravel as Motoyasu and Itsuki begin to bicker, with Motoyasu accusing Itsuki of being weak and cowardly. It's clear that there's a lack of trust and cooperation between the heroes, and Naofumi has to step in to mediate and keep things on track.

As they engage the enemy, it quickly becomes clear that the threat is greater than they anticipated. The heroes are pushed to their limits as they struggle to fend off the enemy attack. Meanwhile, Naofumi's party is faced with a difficult decision when Filo is gravely injured in the battle. They are forced to choose between saving Filo's life and continuing the fight.

Overall, The Four Cardinal Heroes is a pivotal episode in the series that highlights the power dynamics, trust issues, and individual strengths and weaknesses of the four heroes. It sets the stage for a more cooperative and cohesive approach to battling the Waves, but with tensions still high, it remains to be seen whether the heroes can truly work as a team.