The following includes spoilers for episode 1 of Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte, “The Tsundere, the Prince, and the Voices of the Gods”, now available on HIDIVE.
A new villainess joins the likes of Aileen from I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss, and Katrina from My Next Life as a Villainess, as Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte (Endo and Kobayashi Live!) premieres this Winter 2023 anime season. However, rather than having a modern person reincarnating into the body of an otome game villainess, this anime twists the subgenre, as it focuses on the two protagonists playing the otome game and the characters themselves.
With a different take on the trope, the characters of the game come to learn about the ill-fated villainess Lieselotte’s true feelings thanks to the voices of Endo and Kobayashi, but how did this miracle occur in the first place? Endo and Kobayashi Live’s premiere does not disappoint as the new rom-com fantasy anime brings modern Japan and the otome game world of Magikoi together in the most entertaining way yet.
Prince Siegwald and The Voices of the Gods
With Prince Siegwald mistaking Endo and Kobayashi’s voices as those of the Gods in their world, things are much easier for the pair to influence his actions, but the reason for his ability is only briefly mentioned in Endo and Kobayashi Live’s first episode. According to Kobayashi, there is an event where some players can awaken to powers that let them hear the voices of the Gods, however, said event doesn’t happen so early in the game.
Unfortunately, this function existing doesn’t mean that the game would suddenly have a voice recognition system that Kobayashi — who had already completed the game through all the routes — had never experienced either, so it is no surprise that Kobayashi immediately wanted to test the reality of the situation, even if the request itself had ulterior motives.
In the game’s settings, the royal family of Fitzenhagen can receive wisdom and hear the voices of the Gods thanks to a blessing from the Goddess of light, Lirenna, explaining why he was the only person able to hear the two broadcasting students. However, since Kobayashi mentioned that some characters could awaken this ability, this would suggest that it is not just Siegwald that would be able to eventually hear Endo and Kobayashi’s voices.
While still early in the anime, Siegwald may be Endo and Kobayashi’s only point of communication, but the idea that the students might be able to interact with other characters in the game is an exciting concept that would surely bring more intriguing events in the future.
Commentary and Analysis of a Tsundere
Although the mystery behind the reason for Siegwald hearing Endo and Kobayashi’s voices remains a mystery so far, fans cannot deny that this ability certainly makes it easier to understand Lieselotte’s true feelings behind her cold attitude. While Siegwald’s accidental blurting of the question ‘what is a tsundere?’ was comedic, it also allows Siegwald to learn and understand Lieselotte’s kind and caring actions hidden behind her flustered passive aggressiveness.
By Endo and Kobayashi explaining the concept of the term, Siegwald was quickly able to realize the truth in the word they used to describe his fiancé and see things from a different perspective. Since Lieselotte would only fall into despair and succumb to the evil witch’s possession after being rejected by Siegwald over their many misunderstandings, so long as Endo and Kobayashi could help resolve any of those false impressions and prevent Lieselotte from being rejected by Siegwald, then Kobayashi and Endo would be able to save Lieselotte from her destruction with their love for each other.
A Refreshing Spin on the Villainess Subgenre
Endo and Kobayashi Live’s premiere gives the villainess trope a refreshing twist as fans can watch and enjoy the actions of the adorable tsundere villainess Lieselotte, and Endo and Kobayashi’s efforts to save her from her grim future. While the conditions and reason why Endo and Kobayashi were able to communicate with Siegwald are still unclear yet, the love story between the misunderstood villainess and the prince that slowly falls in love with her as he learns how to understand her is one that rom-com fans are sure to enjoy.
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