DanMachi Season 5 Review – When the Dungeon Takes a Back Seat

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?—or DanMachi for short—has always leaned into dungeon-crawling action, powered-up leveling arcs, and a bit of romantic tension. But Season 5 feels like a strange detour. Instead of building up Bell Cranel’s journey through the dungeon or their place in the hierarchy, we spend most of the season watching goddess Freya chase after Bell’s affection. What began as a promising arc took a direction few fans saw coming, and not necessarily in a good way.

A Season About Love, Not Growth

The early episodes suggest this arc would deepen Bell’s character and his relationships, possibly adding tension within Hestia Familia or pushing Bell to choose a side. However, the entire arc becomes centered on Freya’s obsession. Her decision to disguise herself and orchestrate an elaborate plan to “win” Bell feels over-the-top—even for a series that embraces fantasy and divine drama.

Freya has always been seen as a powerful, mysterious, maybe even dangerous goddess. Many fans expected her to eventually become a true antagonist, someone who challenges Bell not just emotionally, but morally or physically. Instead, her arc here reduces her to a love-struck figure, steering the show away from its usual themes of survival, growth, and ambition.

Familiar Mechanics, Reused Ideas

The War Game is reintroduced in this season—originally a fan-favorite part of Season 2. This time, it serves as the climax to Freya’s push to gain Bell. While it’s fitting that disputes between familias are still handled through these formal battles, reusing this format made the season feel like a rerun with higher stakes but less emotional weight. It did little to push the larger world forward.

Then there’s the fighting itself. In previous seasons, battle scenes were tightly choreographed, full of strategy and growth. In Season 5, they’re sped up, almost glossed over. The intensity is replaced with flashy movements and dialogue, but not much substance. For a series known for its fight sequences, this was a letdown.

Ryu’s Moment Shines—But Feels Out of Place

One of the strongest moments comes from Ryuu Lion. Known as the Gale Wind, she reveals her full strength in a powerful callback to her fallen comrades. It’s a scene that shows her growth, loyalty, and the weight of her past. But this emotional highlight doesn’t connect well with the season’s main narrative. It’s a good scene, just not in the right season.

Bell’s Growth: A Technicality

One of the more surprising revelations is how leveling works. Until now, it felt like characters had to earn their upgrades in the dungeon through life-or-death encounters. This season suggests that training and appraisal outside of dungeon crawling also contribute to their growth. It’s a meaningful change in the rules of the world, but it was introduced without much buildup or exploration. Just another thing happening while Freya’s storyline dominated the screen.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

Despite the strange direction, there’s still room for the series to return to form. The lower floors of the dungeon haven’t been fully explored. Bell’s mysterious background remains untouched and Hestia Familia deserves more development as a group. If future seasons shift the focus back to exploration, world-building, and growth, DanMachi still has a lot of ground to cover.

Conclusion

DanMachi has always been for fans who enjoy action, fantasy settings, and a bit of lighthearted romance. However, Season 5 leans so far into the romance that it might lose some of its action-oriented viewers. If you’ve been watching since the beginning, there’s still value here—especially in how it sets up the next arc. But if you’re coming back expecting more dungeon-depth and strategic fights, you might leave disappointed.

Season 5 isn’t the worst of the series, but it’s far from the best. It’s a strange blend of romantic obsession, underdeveloped battles, and moments that feel disconnected from the main journey. Still, if you’re invested in Bell’s story, it’s worth watching for continuity—but manage your expectations.