Wistoria Season 2 Episode 4 finally gives Will his spotlight — but the timing is weird
Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 episode 4 is titled “And So the Story Begins,” but funny enough, the episode plays more like the closing chapter of a season arc than the start of something new.
According to Anime News Network’s review, the episode continues directly from the Academy attack and the big build-up around Will’s powered-up transformation. Last week already spent plenty of time setting up Will’s comeback, and episode 4 doubles down on that same energy before finally letting him swing.
The main payoff is simple: Will confronts the monster threatening the Academy, lands his big heroic moment, and eventually links up with Elfaria for a flashy ice magic and sword combo. On paper, that sounds like the kind of scene Wistoria fans have been waiting for. Will has spent so much of the story being underestimated, so seeing him take centre stage should hit hard.
The issue is that the episode takes a very long route to get there.
Big moment, uneven pacing
Anime News Network’s criticism focuses heavily on the pacing. Before Will’s climactic attack properly happens, the episode spends time repeating the tension from the previous cliffhanger, giving multiple characters reaction lines, and leaning into a city-wide cheer squad moment for Will.
That kind of scene can work when the emotional foundation is strong. For Malaysian and SEA anime fans who love shonen-style hype — the Deku comeback, the Tanjiro last push, the classic “everyone believes in the hero” moment — this is familiar territory. But Wistoria’s episode 4 apparently does not fully earn that level of celebration, especially when some of the cheering comes from civilians who barely have any connection to Will.
There is still satisfaction in watching Will finally get recognised, but the review suggests the execution feels more performative than powerful.
Finn’s lore teasing is starting to feel repetitive
Another sticking point is Finn, who once again appears to drop hints about Will’s background and the larger mystery surrounding him. The review points out that Finn has mostly functioned as a walking lore teaser so far, repeating the same mysterious energy without giving the audience enough concrete development.
For weekly viewers, especially those watching via Crunchyroll in Malaysia or elsewhere in SEA, that can be frustrating. Simulcast anime already asks fans to wait week by week, so when an episode spends precious minutes circling around mysteries without moving them forward, it can feel like padding rather than tension.
Animation still cool, but not at Season 1’s level
The action itself still has style. Will’s swordplay and the combined attack with Elfaria are described as cool once the episode finally reaches them. However, the review also notes that Season 2’s animation has not consistently matched the stronger highs of the first season.
That matters because Wistoria’s appeal is very visual. This is a fantasy action series where magic, sword combat, and character spectacle are a huge part of the hook. If the production starts showing too many shortcuts, fans will notice — especially in a region like SEA where anime discussion on TikTok, X, Discord, and Facebook groups can get brutally honest very fast.
The review also mentions that once the opening and ending credits are counted, the episode does not feel like it delivers a full-length climax, which adds to the sense that this “grand” moment is oddly compressed.
Should Malaysian fans keep watching?
If you are already invested in Will and Elfaria, episode 4 still sounds worth watching for the payoff. It gives Will a major heroic scene and appears to close off the Academy attack in a big, dramatic way.
But if you were hoping Season 2 would immediately push into fresh story territory, this episode may feel like leftover finale material from the previous arc. The hope now is that Wistoria can use the next episodes to reset, tighten the storytelling, and actually begin the “real story” promised by the title.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
Source: Anime News Network