Ranking of Kings · Season 1 · Episode 1 · 15 October 2021
S1E1 The New King
THE MOMENT Bojji's first genuine smile - and what the shadow Kage makes of it.
The premiere introduces Bojji through a series of humiliations that would crush a lesser protagonist, then immediately reveals the depth beneath the surface with a single wordless sequence. The episode earned an individual IMDb rating of 8.8, the series' highest for any single hour.
Full episode analysis below. Spoiler-light verdict above.
Updated
Ranking of Kings Season 1 Episode 1 'The New King' aired October 15, 2021 on Fuji TV's Noitamina block as the premiere of Wit Studio's 23-episode series. IMDb users scored the series 8.4 and MyAnimeList users 8.49 from a large base. Slashfilm noted that characters initially appear simplistic but are revealed to be emotionally complex. The premiere introduces Bojji, a deaf prince physically dismissed by his entire court, subjected to a series of humiliations that a lesser series would use as straightforward underdog setup. What distinguishes the episode is the speed with which it complicates that framing: Bojji's genuine warmth and the unexpected appearance of the shadow creature Kage establish a bond that will carry the series. The episode earned an individual IMDb rating of 8.8, the series' highest for any single hour, reflecting viewer consensus that the premiere executed the concept with immediate emotional clarity.