the guys all taking it upon themselves to tuck in marcille when they accurately noticed she was tired was so cute. plus the bonus of chilchuck then tucking in laios.
This Post Contains Spoliers for Dungeon Meshi! Proceed with Caution!!
That out of the way:
After last night's episode and having read the Manga, the winged lion (the demon) was put into perspective.
The winged lion is a amazing manipulator, this is just a fact. It's an intellegent predator who has learned to cultivate its favorite food. It strung Thistle along for years to make then a better meal.
After watching episode 19 I realized that it was planning to use Marcille and Liaos to escape for a while. Possibly even before Falin gets eaten.
See, we know that the Winged Lion is able to control the monsters. We see that with kensuke, how he uses it to talk to Liaos. We also see him with the Succubi, and his 'introduction'. What's to say he couldn't control the Nightmares.
It would be too easy to have them infect her, and throw her fears to the forefront of her mind. Scared desperate people are easier to guide than someone more rational and focused.
The main reason I belive this was the fact the winged lion was in the dream. We know he is the grimoures, and in Maecillds mind, who didn't see them up close, why would they still have its eye.
No, it planted the idea in Marcilles head that she needed to become the dungeon lord, that she needed to find the grimoires early. That having this power was the answer to her longest held fears. The scene at the cabin only reinforced it, taking away all of Marcilles friends to remind her of what she needs the books for. Why it's worth becoming the dungeon lord. It knows what they desire after all, and we know it makes people greedy, it's influence pushes people to value their personal desires over all.
Bht what about Liaos, why all the focus on him is Marcille was the targer?
I would say Liaos was a back up plan, but he's not. The lion is running two cons simulatiously because either way, it knew that they would help it get out into the real world.
I have always, ALWAYS been obsessed with Ryoko Kui deciding to invoke the Mona Lisa as Marcille's mother in the nightmare sequence. The fact that her expression is left blank, riffing of off the eternal "mystery" of the Mona Lisa's smile. It's such a succinct way of borrowing that enigma, that prestige, of effortlessly portraying a woman who is both unknowable as well as beloved and respected. What an incredible way to frame this memory of her mother, of showing without telling how Marcille feels about her.
So I'm incredibly torn on what the anime did with it. On one hand, Ryoko Kui refusing to draw an expression on any portrait of Marcille's mother in her memory is an exquisitely efficient choice in terms of showing more of Marcille's internal world, her feelings towards her mother, and what image of her mother it is that she hides behind...
But on the other hand?
Adding in the same mysterious smile as the Mona Lisa, then reversing it into an expression that's anything but mysterious? Peeling away the enigma like layers of rotten varnish? That is a sick way of further using the original reference. That's an incredible gut punch. Man.