SPOILERS AHEAD
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Black Clover' is undoubtedly one of the most beloved mangas ever created, which has now become a popular anime franchise too. Fans were left disappointed when the series ended in 2021 with no signs of revival but they did get an opportunity to witness their favourite character 'Asta' make a comeback when Netflix announced a movie that would be based on an original script.
While the movie made the fans go through a whirlwind of emotions for two hours, there was one important element that was intriguing. It was how Conrad Leto and Asta were on the opposite ends and yet they shared similar perceptions of how a wizard king should behave and their expectations from the Clover Kingdom. Despite engaging in a cut throat battle until the very end, the stark similarities between the two powerful beings was the most intriguing part of the film.
How similar are Asta and Conrad?
Asta and Conrad are way more similar than a viewer can anticipate. To some extent both of them have witnessed unfairness, betrayal and inequality in the Clover Kingdom. While Conrad was betrayed by royalist and had his wife, and squad slaughtered, Asta received differential treatment from everyone around him because he was born without any magical powers.
During their face off, Conrad asks Asta to join him and tries to convince that he understands what he feels like to be oppressed. While the motive of Conrad clearly lay around wanting to have Asta with him because of his anti-magic power, it cannot be denied that both of them never give up. Conrad says to Asta at one point, "You are me; You can be me". Asta ends up momentarily acknowledging how similar he is to Conrad and share similar aspirations of creating a different world while being a wizard king.
The moment of truth
While the daunting realisation that he might be way too similar to Conrad kept haunting Asta. But, at the same time, the constant battles with him were also a reminder of how the circumstances are different between the two. Asta has the support of the wizard king Julius, the captain of 'Black Bulls Magic Knight Squad', his friend Yuno and countless other citizens who have witness him grow up and fight for his position completely on the basis of merit. Even though Conrad repeatedly tries to convince Asta that there is nothing but discrimination and prejudice in Clover kingdom, but Asta confides in him that the kingdom will become a better place if they work together instead of wreaking havoc.
Conrad was driven by grief of losing his family and friends, that led to him following Lemiel's ideology but never realised how different it can be for an individual who has grown up with nothing but support from his peers. Upon Asta's realisation, he makes it clear to Conrad that both of them are not similar in anyway. Conrad wants to create an egotistical world where the only person is laughing is him, whereas Asta wants to create a world where everyone can laugh together and accept one another.
'Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King' is available on Netflix from June 16, 2023.
