"A Return To Form": Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 Fixes Season 2’s Disappointment

Warning: Contains spoilers for The Rising of the Shield Hero season 3, episode #1.The Rising of the Shield Hero season 3 is finally out, and it’s already proving to be a return to form for the series after the lackluster season 2. Following the defeat of the Spirit Tortoise in season 2, a new Guardian Beast, the Phoenix, is set to awaken in three months, but Melromarc has been left defenseless due to the mysterious disappearance of the Three Cardinal Heroes. To make matters worse, Naofumi can’t reclaim any more of his village’s original inhabitants turned slaves because they were all sold to the merchant country Zeltoble, so he and his friends are forced to go on a long trip while ultimately uncovering one secret after another.