WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Ranking of Kings Episode 7, "The Prince's Apprenticeship," now streaming on Funimation.
After several heartbreaking setbacks, things are finally starting to look up for Bojji in Ranking of Kings Episode 7. That's not to say there aren't moments where the little prince faces doubt or discouragement, but for the first time in a while, he has a genuine path to progress, with a trainer willing to teach him despite his lack of strength. The majority of this episode is Bojji-centric and upbeat -- which makes its bookending scenes revealing Daida's dark fate all the more upsetting in comparison.
Prince Despa might not seem like the ideal teacher for Bojji. He's pompous, greedy and self-involved. He initially dismisses Bojji for his lack of strength, which isn't unreasonable given that Bojji can barely lift even a tiny ax, but Despa's own strength (and/or judgment) comes into question when he comes home completely beaten up after a bar fight. However, for all his flaws, Despa acknowledges Bojji's determination and puts him to work as an apprentice.
Bojji's success so far in this apprenticeship is a mixed bag. He's incredible on cleaning duty, making Despa's whole house shine. In contrast, he's downright terrible at cooking, although even this reveals a hidden strength -- while Despa and Kage find themselves tripping over Bojji's toxic concoction, it turns out that Bojji's giant ancestry makes him immune to all poisons. While this episode is lighter on action than previous Ranking of Kings episodes, a sequence of Bojji masterfully dodging bird attacks reinforces this cursed weakling's greatest physical gift.
Despa promises that, if Bojji succeeds in his training, he'll be able to take a weapon of choice from an extensive armory. Bojji makes up his mind, but viewers don't get to see the weapon Bojji points to. For those who haven't read the manga, there's plenty of room to speculate on what it could be: perhaps a lightweight yet deadly spear, or something based on dynamite or gunpowder that makes physical strength irrelevant?
While Ranking of Kings leaves fans to ponder a new secret in Bojji's storyline, it also answers the biggest question in Daida's. Episode 6 already revealed that the Resurrection Stone potion was not going to give Daida Bosse's strength as initially promised. Episode 7 confirms what the potion actually does: turns Daida's body into a vessel for Bosse's resurrected soul.
As the old king awakens in his child's body, Bosse comments, "I have sacrificed another son" -- a line that raises further questions about how many kids Bosse has abused or even killed in his quest for power. It's been clear for a while that, despite Bojji's positive memories of his father, King Bosse was a complicated figure at best. How bad could this dad be?
New episodes of Ranking of Kings premiere Thursdays on Funimation.
