Ever had the urge to smack a smirk off someone’s face? Bluntly hammer an asshole into the ground? Well Scarlet El Vandimion has, and in May I Ask for One Final Thing? does. Come along, and let’s see what drives Scarlet to live her best violent life in her fantasy world of balls and arranged marriages.
Leading Up to Violence
From a young age, Scarlet realized she loved kicking ass. When she saw an injustice, or someone who plain needed punching, Scarlet was happy to oblige. Unfortunately, she was also informed about her engagement to a boy — the second prince of her kingdom — whose face was among the most punchable in all the land: Kyle von Pallistan.
Kyle, along with his smirking face, has a loathsome personality, and it took every bit of Scarlet’s patience to not give him a well-deserved beatdown. Scarlet was patient as Kyle bullied her. She was patient as he used her like a slave. And eventually her patience was rewarded.
Kyle broke off their engagement, shattering the only bond between him and Scarlet.
This is where we meet Scarlet in May I Ask For One Final Thing?. Then she asks that fateful question. Of course, being a jerkass, Kyle doesn’t want to give her anything. Yet to appear magnanimous in front of his new fiancée, Terenezza Hopkins, he accepts. What does Scarlet ask for?
A Dubbing Win In May I Ask for One Final Thing?
Well, via subtitle, Scarlet’s request is straightforward. Maybe even boring. “May I knock that bitch on her ass?” While I’ve been a sub purist at times, I watch a lot of anime dubbed in English these days because it’s better for relaxing after a long day. If I didn’t, I’d never have heard, delivered with gusto, Scarlet ask: “May I kindly knock the teeth out of this craven, two-faced, bitch?”
Dubbing is an art form in itself. Only, it’s hard work. Translating to maintain meaning is hard enough when you don’t have to match up lip movements.
Which is why I love when a dub doesn’t go through the motions, but elevates the anime. The dub in May I Ask for One Final Thing? elevates already fun concepts, like smacking an arrogant shithead, into doing it with style. Scarlet’s lines are the best, delivered and written with care, but the rest of the voice work and scripting also excel. Scarlet’s older brother Leonardo sounds exasperated and resigned to his sister’s actions. Kyle sounds like a spoiled brat who needs punching. If you’re going to watch May I Ask for One Final Thing? I can’t recommend the English dub enough.
Conflict or Combat?
After knocking Terenezza down, Scarlet proceeds to bash up the sycophantic nobles who hate her. They beg and plead for aid, even offering slaves to anyone who can stop her. Of course, that’s a mistake, as Scarlet’s pure fury is only fed by corrupt pigs oinking for mercy while proving their guilt. Scarlet is a one-woman wrecking crew, clad in red and covered in blood. It’s glorious.
Scarlet’s fighting and voice delivery isn’t the end-all of May I Ask For One Final Thing? though. In revealing the illegal slave trade via the cowardly nobles, Scarlet kicks off the main plot. These corrupt nobles support Kyle over his older brother to take the throne because First Prince Julius isn’t a corrupt person, though he is flirty. Julius recruits Scarlet to help him uncover noble corruption, and the overarching plot begins.
Too bad for Julius, he also has a punchable face and a spoiled personality.
Scarlet will, of course, investigate the slavers at Julius’ request. She isn’t only a fighter. Deception and an intimidating reputation help her navigate conflicts in other mundane ways. A connection to the god of time gives her time powers that are a bit overpowered, but exhaust her. Whether it’s accelerating herself in a fight, repairing damage by rewinding time, or pretending to be a slave trader to trick slavers into spilling secrets, Scarlet can pursue justice in more ways than through fighting.
Answering Scarlet’s Question
If you enjoy badass fight scenes where the corrupt get their comeuppance, I recommend May I Ask For One Final Thing? It’s a romance story that puts plot conflicts first, while the romance simmers in the background. And it’s the most intriguing female-led romance I’ve seen in a while. Though the excellent Pass Me The Monster Meat, Milady comes close.
Julius and Scarlet’s dynamic, where he straddles the line between being so confident in her skills that he doesn’t have to work hard and being a lazy noble offloading work onto her, is entertaining. I can’t wait to see if Scarlet punches Julius or kisses him first.
And there’s only one way to find out.
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