This episode basically exists to remind everyone that Maria is built different.

After several episodes of politics, romance, and nobles being nobles, Maria finally gets the opportunity to do what she does best: punch people.

A lot of people in this show keep making the same mistake. They look at Maria's fancy dresses, noble status, and cheerful personality and immediately assume she's some fragile young lady who needs protection.

Then five minutes later they're picking themselves up off the ground wondering what just happened.

The bandits this week were the latest victims of this phenomenon. Watching them underestimate Maria over and over again never stopped being funny. The guy she literally knocked out and dragged through the forest somehow still thought she would be easy to kidnap later. At that point, I think that's just natural selection.

Honestly, I almost felt bad for them.

Almost.

What I really enjoyed about this episode is that it finally lets Maria show off why everyone keeps talking about her martial arts background. Up until now we've mostly been told that she's strong. This week we actually get to see it. And perhaps more importantly, we get to see how much she enjoys it.

The moment Maria realizes she might actually get to throw hands again, she looks happier than she has during half the romantic scenes in this show.

Renato should be worried.

Speaking of Renato, he's mostly absent this week, but somehow his presence is still felt. Every episode keeps reminding us that these two are separated right now, and I have a feeling Renato is suffering significantly more than Maria is. Maria is out here fighting bandits and climbing around the countryside while Renato is probably staring dramatically out a castle window somewhere.

The action itself isn't anything spectacular. The animation definitely isn't trying to become the next big action anime, and most of the fights are over before they really get going. But honestly, that's not why I'm here. The entertainment comes from watching bandits realize they've made a terrible mistake.

And every single one of them made that mistake.

Next week's episode looks like we'll finally spend more time with Maria's family, which should be interesting. We've heard a lot about them already, especially her father, so I'm curious to see how that situation plays out.

Also, if Renato doesn't reunite with Maria soon, I think he might actually die.

Final Verdict: If you've spent the last few episodes wondering whether Maria's reputation as a martial arts prodigy was exaggerated, Episode 5 answers that question with a very firm "absolutely not."

The bandits never stood a chance.