The fourth season of Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, or fondly shortened to DanMachi has been confirmed, and the excitement among the franchise's fanbase is palpable. Since its first anime adaptation started its broadcast in April 2015, viewers have watched as the series' protagonist, Bell Cranel, grew from a rather hapless adventurer to an aspiring hero unafraid to face even the strongest foes. The anime adaptation of Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? has been pretty faithful to its source material, a series of light novels that so far has 17 volumes. The first season adapted Volumes 1-5 of the light novels. Season 2 was a bit trickier as the anime adapted Volumes 6-8, though much of Volume 8 was skipped due to the light novel's utilization of vignettes centered on the story's side characters. Things normalized in Season 3 when the anime adapted the Xenos arc, which was covered in Volumes 9-11 of the light novel.
Previews of Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 have indicated that the upcoming episodes, which would begin airing in Summer 2022, would cover the events of the Labyrinth Arc. The Labyrinth Arc covers the events of Volumes 12-14 of the Light Novels, and it explores what could very well be the darkest plot of the franchise to date. Fortunately, the producers of the Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? anime adaptation seem to be taking the project seriously, as original light novel author Fujino Ōmori will be supervising Season 4's scripts alongside Hideki Shirane. With that said, here is what viewers could expect from Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4. Anime-only viewers must be warned as the following sections will contain some spoilers.
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A Labyrinth of Horrors
There is a perfect reason why the labyrinth is prominently mentioned in the promos for Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 that have been released so far. Following his painful defeat at the end of the Xenos arc, Bell trained hard for the dungeon and eventually reached Level 4. This was a huge accomplishment for the aspiring hero, but it also meant that Bell could now explore areas of the dungeon that were far more dangerous than before. After a visit from Hermes, who shared a small apology for the events during the Xenos incident, the Hestia Familia found themselves with a new mission — an expedition to the dungeon's deep floors to collect a variety of important items.
For their expedition, the Hestia Familia brought together a team of adventurers from other familias in Orario. These included Aisha Belka, a Level 4 adventurer from the Hermes Familia; Kashima Ouka and Hitachi Chigusa, Level 2 adventurers from the Takemikazuchi Familia; and Daphne Lauros and Cassandra Ilion, both Level 3 adventurers from the Miach Familia. In typical dungeon fashion, the descent into the lower floors proved dangerous, and when they reached Floor 25, the group met a horrifying sight — Level 3 adventurer Luvis Lilix with part of his right arm torn off.
This is but the beginning of the Labyrinth arc, but viewers could already get a hint at what is waiting for the Hestia Familia's expedition team as they explore the dungeon's deeper levels. Monstrous opponents, long fights, a grim subplot, and new powerful techniques are among those that viewers could look forward to as the Labyrinth Arc unfolds in Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4.
A Dark Plot That Will Spill Over to Season 5
While Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? started off as a rather bright story with an optimistic protagonist and an overly-attached goddess, the series eventually took a darker tone over time. The third season with its Xenos arc is a good example of this, as the story explored themes and events that were quite mature. Now here's the catch — the Xenos arc is actually far more tempered than the Labyrinth arc. Avid fans of the franchise have described the events of the light novels' 12th to 14th volumes as PTSD-inducing, and for good reason.
From the scene where the Hestia Familia's expedition team finds Luvis Lilix with part of his arm torn off, things would only get more intense. A fight with a monster known as the Moss Huge will be particularly interesting and nerve-wracking, and a subplot involving the Level 4 adventurer Ryuu Lion being accused of murder would likely engage viewers to a good degree. These events, however, would likely pale in comparison to the fight against the main foe of the Labyrinth arc: the Juggernaut, a horrifying monster that spawns when the dungeon is damaged faster than it could heal itself.
The Juggernaut's name alone will probably give viewers an idea of how strong the monster is, and it definitely does not disappoint. Its introduction into the series is marked with a lot of death. Bell's fight with the monster is arguably the most insane in the light novels to date, and the physical and mental toll the Juggernaut takes on the aspiring hero is substantial. Bell Cranel fans are advised to prepare themselves for some tears in Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4, as the story would not be holding back on the punishment and suffering it would dish out on the aspiring hero.
Just think of it this way. In Volume 15 of the light novels, which would likely be covered in Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 5, Bell would be suffering from nightmares because of the events that transpired in the Labyrinth arc. Considering how resilient Bell already is by default, viewers could only guess what would need to happen to get him to such a state.
More Character Development
Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 would not just be an epic exploration into suffering and pain, however. In true Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? fashion, the story in the fourth season would also reach a lot of highs. While Bell and Ryuu are battling the Juggernaut, for example, the Hestia Familia's expedition team would have their hands full fighting a monster called Amphisbaena, a two headed dragon. The beast itself is extremely dangerous and powerful, and it would take a lot of character growth among the Hestia Familia's expedition team to properly take on the beast.
Viewers of Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 can expect some heroic moments from beloved characters such as Lili, who grows and finds her footing as a field commander; and Welf, the Hestia Familia's resident blacksmith, who creates a magic sword that not even his most talented peers were able to create. Other characters such as Haruhime and Kashima Ouka are also given ample time to shine. Overall, Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 would not just be all about Bell. It is about the growth of the Hestia Familia as well.
Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is at its best when it's developing its characters and exploring its world. This is one of the reasons why the first season of the anime adaptation was quite successful. Orario is an amazing place to explore, and the dungeon's ever-present mystery is just satisfying to watch. Fortunately, Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 4 has character and world development in spades, so those who have been following the story since its first season aired in 2015 would likely not come away disappointed.