“From the 4 corners of the universe, when evil wins! Without hesitation, they go to war for a perfect world!” 37 years ago, when the first words of the title of Knights of the Zodiac were heard, the children that we were were not captured!
Bernard Minet enthusiastically sang this iconic theme song, which always heralded extraordinary adventures in the land of knights. For fans, this tune was literally a national anthem!
Broadcast since April 1988 on TF1 in the famous Club Dorothy, Knights of the Zodiac has delighted fans for 114 episodes, spread over 3 main narrative arcs: The Sanctuary, Asgard and Poseidon.
However, the altar arc is one that stands out, often cited as a fan favorite of Masami Kurumada’s work. It starts from episode one and ends in episode 73, giving way to the Asgard arc.
Action and mythology!
To recall, the Knights of the Zodiac told us the following story: Since the dawn of time, while the gods have waged an endless war for control of the Earth, one light has stood tirelessly in the face of darkness: the goddess Athena.
A protector of peace and justice, he chooses to be reborn as a human in every age to protect humanity from the destructive ambitions of warring deities. Refusing to brandish weapons, Athena entrusts her protection to an elite of holy warriors: the Knights of Athena.
With the number 88, they fight not for fame, but for love and peace. Guided by the power of ‘Cosmos’, that burning energy buried within their souls, they face their enemies with their bare hands, each capable of unleashing a power as immense as the universe itself.
At the center of this eternal struggle is the sanctuary in Greece, the sacred place where Athena takes her place in every reincarnation. Knights gather here who are ready to lay down their lives for their goddess.
Guarded by the legendary Golden Knights, this mystical bastion represents Athena’s light on the world… and humanity’s hope in the face of the chaos of the gods. Among them, Seiya, Shiryu, Hyoga and Shun become the Bronze Knights, guardians of Saori Kido, the reincarnation of the goddess Athena.
An enemy to remember
In the 73 episodes of the Sanctuary arc, we can count a lot of bravery on the part of our shock team, especially Seiya, the hero of the saga. However, if we talk about the best episodes of the anime, we will undoubtedly mention Medusa’s Shield (episode 27), but also its direct sequel, Dragon’s Sacrifice (episode 28).
Between the breathtaking action scenes and the exciting mythological references, this double episode is absolutely fantastic. We really do go through all the emotions, from anger to anger to overwhelming sadness. At this point in the story, the Bronze Knights must defeat Argolis of Perseus, a fierce Silver Knight who can turn his opponents to stone using Medusa’s shield.
The latter manages to turn Seiya and Shun into stone statues, but Shiryu manages to fight off the enemy thanks to his dragon shield. Therefore, he will have to face it alone, and he knows that his petrification power is too strong to be easily suppressed.
Shiryu, recalling the legend of Perseus and Medusa, tries to use his shield as a mirror to free his friends. But he cannot maneuver properly without Perseus’ argol.
Trapped, Shiryu sees his own dragon shield turned into stone! Therefore, it lacks the last protection. When all seems lost, the Knights of Steel come out in a heroic rush to save her! But in the face of the terrifying power of Argoli, their intervention is not enough: they fall in turn, instantly swept away.
A victim of extreme bravery
Cornered, Shiryu then makes a heartbreaking decision… In order to win without meeting Medusa’s gaze, he chooses to take away his sight! Then he blinds himself. The image of her bloody tears remains etched in our memories. Freed from all fear, guided by his other senses, his cosmos is restored! In a final attack, he destroys the cursed shield and defeats Argol, freeing Seiya and Shun from petrification.
Spartan, helpless, is forced to flee, with the dreaded Shayna in pursuit. The Steel Knights, their mission accomplished, disappear in a plane specially sent for them. But there is no time to celebrate. While Shiryu is taken to the hospital, Seiya, Saori and the others discover the truth about the mysterious Steel Knights.
The latter was created by Dr. Asamori, a scientist recruited by Mitsumasa Kido to support the Bronze Knights in their fight against evil. But victory comes at a price… At Shiryu’s bedside, his friends learn a terrible reality: the dragon knight, the hero of this battle, survived… but he lost his sight. forever
This result left millions of fans completely stunned, stunned… Nevertheless, Shiryu’s sacrifice was so significant that he became an example of courage and self-sacrifice, an inspiration to a whole generation of fans! And if you want to rewatch this episode, or the entire series, Knights of the Zodiac is available in its entirety on the ADN platform.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
