From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman: First Impressions

Written by Ross Locksley on 13 May 2025

I have to give a shout out to YouTube channel Shadversity, who recommended the show due to its accuracy with how characters handled a medieval sword. For my part I always like an older hero, given that (at time of writing) I’m 46 and clearly not in line with protagonists like those in Gundam Gquuuuuuux… Though I must admit there were areas of the show I was cringing at.

But let’s start at the beginning. We meet Beryl, a sword tutor living in the wilds with his elderly parents who still crave grandchildren. Having missed adventuring at the prime of his life, he’s now satisfied with his lot in life, teaching future generations how to wield a sword and find their own stations in the world.

Akkucia (left) harbours a childhood crush on her former master, Beryl

All this changes when his former student and current Knight Allucia Citrus visits to offer him a position at the Royal castle. Though he feels he has little to teach older students, he reluctantly agrees and begins his journey. 

Now initially I was a bit put off by how fast Allucia starts pining for his attention, her infatuation seemingly coming from nowhere and being almost the entire focus of who she is as a character in this first episode. It felt very shallow given she really doesn't know him outside of her training as a youth and yet she's literally thinking about him as a partner the day she arrives. Thankfully the show manages to hold back just enough to remain watchable, but this felt forced and creepy, especially given the rather revealing outfit Allucia is wearing. It doesn't get much better when the fiery Surena also fawns over him at first glance, though her backstory is at least a bit more involved, though no less disturbing given that to her, Beryl is a parental figure.

Of course Beryl is entirely oblivious to his former students amorous glances, feeling himself too old to be attractive to anyone - again, this could have been played as self-pitying, but the script pitches it just right and so Beryl remains a man comfortable with himself and simply unaware rather than ignorant through lack of wit.

Allucia's rival Surena introduces herself

I was also quite impressed with how the show deals with conflict. Second in command Henbritz is unimpressed by the backwater swordsman and challenges him to a duel in order that his potential master can earn his respect. Beryl manages to outclass the brash young man and, rather than being vengeful, Henbritz is not only graceful in defeat, but also outright grateful at his new master’s willingness to train him. It’s a nice note on which to end the first episode, showing the old guy getting accepted by young and eager students who value him for his knowledge and proven skill.

His talent with a blade is what caused Shadversity to highlight the show in the first place and I can see where they're coming from. The sword combat does seem reasonably explained and in line with how a European sword would have been used (at least from what I've seen demonstrated at the Leeds Armoury Museum - well worth a visit if you're in the area). The technique by which Beryl defeats Henbritz seem logical and suited to the strengths of the weapon, so for this at least the show gets some extra brownie points. I'm no expert of course, but as a laymen I liked the way combat was presented.

So I find myself a little torn - on the one hand it feels like a self-insert fantasy by a lonely old man, but the way in which the combat and (mostly) the characters are handled gives it just enough depth in this initial episode to keep my interest. I really want to like the show, and I hope this fangirling behaviour doesn't overwhelm the actual plot, but I can't judge that until I see more of it. I like Beryl, I'm interested in his journey, so I'll follow this through to the end and report back when we have a season to judge it on.

Just like Henbritz, I’m willing to give the old man a chance.

From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman is streaming weekly on Amazon Prime.