Ep 5. Filo

The Rising of the Shield Hero season 1 episode 5, titled "Filo," follows our protagonist, Naofumi, and his co-adventurer, Raphtalia, as they participate in a race to determine the next queen of Melromarc. The race involves monsters and its winner would secure the throne. Naofumi and Raphtalia decide to join the race with their own plan of action, to not let the false accusations against Naofumi ruin their chances of winning the race.

However, things don't go as planned as they get separated from each other in the middle of the race. Naofumi finds himself in a forest where he encounters a strange creature, a Filolial. Naofumi manages to tame the Filolial and names her Filo. Together, Naofumi and Filo continue their journey to win the race and find Raphtalia.

As they progress, Naofumi discovers that Filo isn't just any ordinary Filolial, but a mythical Queen Filolial, an incredibly powerful creature that can transform into a proper human. Naofumi is surprised and at the same time, proud of his new companion. With Filo's help, Naofumi keeps advancing towards the finish line without any obstacle, using her speed and strength to bypass the other competitors.

As the race goes on, Naofumi finds out that someone had cast a spell that causes the participants to attack each other. Seeing the chaos erupting around him, Naofumi immediately rushes to find the source of the spell. With Filo's speed, they manage to reach the person who cast the spell, who turns out to be a member of the royal family. Naofumi quickly puts a stop to their plan, negating the spell and neutralizing the situation.

Finally, Naofumi and Filo reach the finish line first, shocking everyone. Naofumi is declared the winner of the race and a majority of the people are happy about it. Naofumi gets to meet the queen and is awarded the right to choose his own reward. He chooses to revive a dead village in Melromarc. The queen is happy with his choice and grants him the resources to revive the village.

The episode ends with Naofumi thanking Filo for her help and promising that he will always protect her from all harm. Filo responds by showing her utmost loyalty towards Naofumi. The main takeaway from this episode is the bond that has formed between Naofumi and Filo. Naofumi realizes that Filo may be a powerful creature, but she is also his friend and partner.

In conclusion, the episode "Filo" showcases the strength of the bond between Naofumi and his companions, as well as introducing a new and substantial character in the form of the adorable, overpowered Filolial, Filo. The episode is packed with action, humor, and some emotional moments, making it an enjoyable watch for any fan of the anime.