May I Ask for One Final Thing?

May I Ask for One Final Thing? (Japanese: 最後にひとつだけお願いしてもよろしいでしょうか, Hepburn: Saigo ni Hitotsu dake Onegai Shitemo Yoroshī Deshō ka) is a Japanese light novel series written by Nana Ōtori and illustrated by Satsuki. Originally published online since April 2018, AlphaPolis have published six volumes of the series since August 2018 under their Regina Books imprint. A manga adaptation illustrated by Sora Hōnoki began serialization online via AlphaPolis' Regina manga website in June 2019 and has been collected in nine tankōbon volumes. The manga is published digitally in English through Alpha Manga. An anime television series adaptation produced by Liden Films Kyoto Studio premiered in October 2025.

May I Ask for One Final Thing?
First light novel volume cover
最後にひとつだけお願いしてもよろしいでしょうか (Saigo ni Hitotsu dake Onegai Shitemo Yoroshī Deshō ka)
Genre	Action[1] Fantasy[2]
Novel series
Written by	Nana Ōtori
Published by	AlphaPolis
Original run	April 10, 2018 – present
Light novel
Written by	Nana Ōtori
Illustrated by	Satsuki
Published by	AlphaPolis
Imprint	Regina Books
Original run	August 6, 2018 – present
Volumes	6
Manga
Written by	Nana Ōtori
Illustrated by	Sora Hōnoki
Published by	AlphaPolis
English publisher	Alpha Manga
Imprint	Regina Comics
Magazine	Regina
Original run	June 5, 2019 – present
Volumes	10
Anime television series
Directed by	Kazuya Sakamoto
Written by	Deko Akao
Music by	Hinako Tsubakiyama
Studio	Liden Films Kyoto Studio
Licensed by	Crunchyroll SEA: Muse Communication
Original network	Tokyo MX, BS11, GTV, GYT, MBS, Chukyo TV, AT-X
Original run	September 27, 2025 – present
Episodes	5

Premise

After Scarlet's cruel and selfish fiancé suddenly ends their engagement and falsely accuses her of being a bully and villainess, she finally snaps and begins committing violent revenge against him and his allies, exposing him as a corrupt noble himself, and getting him disowned and disinherited. Before long, she finds herself at war against corruptive nobles, some who seek to either use or kill her.

Characters

Scarlet El Vandimion (スカーレット・エル・ヴァンディミオン, Sukāretto Eru Vandimion)

Voiced by: Asami Seto^[3] (Japanese); Morgan Lauré^[4] (English)

The daughter of Duke Vandimion and fiancée to Kyle von Pallistan, the second prince of the Kingdom of Pallistan; she has long been perceived as a person devoid of emotion, her face a perfect mask (doll-like) concealing all true feelings to protect her family honor from harm. Beneath her icy, expressionless exterior and exquisitely beautiful visage lies her true self: an uber-sadistic, ultra-violent, bloodthirsty, and fiercely confrontational individual who brutalizes anyone in her path. She harbors a deep-seated wrathful contempt towards Kyle, whose utterly inhumane mistreatment of her since childhood—enabled by his political influence over her family—has only fanned the flames of such understandable hatred. She also holds considerable discontent for his cabaret of morally bankrupt stooges who squander the nation's wealth and abuse their high station for selfish ends. Her terrifying true nature is poised to emerge publicly for the first time in a decade following the annulment of her engagement to the contemptible second prince, whom she nearly beats to death. Despite being a highly proficient magician, a master swordswoman, martial artist, and archer, she prefers to beatdown her targets bare-handed in an extremely rowdy manner, most notably often flailing around one or more person from their ankles. She also has the ability to manipulate time, having been granted this by Chronoa, but long usage or abuse of this power can weaken her. All of this makes her a highly overpowered person. Over time, she develops feelings for Kyle's older brother, Julius, finding him an interesting, albeit often vexing, individual, especially when he begins risking his life to help her. She becomes part of the Crown Investigatory Office.

Julius von Pallistan (ジュリアス ・フォン・パリスタン, Juriasu fon Parisutan)

Voiced by: Wataru Katoh^[5] (Japanese); Reagan Murdock^[4] (English)

The first prince of the Kingdom of Pallistan. Unlike his brother, Julius stands calm, charming, and interested in strange things. He does not wish to be a mere figurehead for the masses and desires to understand his people of the kingdom he will eventually lead. He's the first to notice Scarlet's hidden personality and would often tease and observe her to witness this core of her being rise to the surface. In fact, he enjoys watching her beat up those who offend her due to an underlying desire to see the petty and obtuse brought to ruin. He is a free-spirited sort who is not fond of empty flattery from the aristocracy. He later reveals that he has harbored feelings for Scarlet since childhood, becoming her partner in her escapades to combat the kingdom's corruption. However, his presence and constant teasing often annoy and enrage her. He is a founding member of the Crown Investigatory Office.

Leonardo El Vandimion (レオナルド・エル・ヴァンディミオン, Reonarudo Eru Vandimion)

Voiced by: Shōya Ishige^[5] (Japanese); Alex Hom,^[4] Nia Celeste^[4] (child) (English)

Scarlet's older brother as well as Julius' attendant and best friend. He worries about his sister's well-being and psychological state, often wishing she would act (and live) like a normal woman at her age, and would often have stomach pains and shriek towards the heavens whenever he hears of his sister's vigilante antics. He's also a founder of the Crown Investigatory Office, albeit reluctantly, since he only wants to keep a close eye on his sister.

Nanaka (ナナカ)

Voiced by: Miyu Tomita^[5] (Japanese); Lexi Nieto^[4] (English)

A young spy and slave for Godwin, who was sent to pose as a maid for House Vandimion. Nanaka is a male beastkin who is often confused as a girl due to his androgynous figure and gender-neutral name. After Scarlet removes his enslavement curse, he sides with her in return.

Sigurd Forgrave (シグルド・フォーグレイブ, Shigurudo Fōgureibu)

Voiced by: Kazuki Ura^[5] (Japanese); Kieran Flitton^[4] (English)

Prince Julius' attendant, often sent by the prince to spy and gather information in the kingdom, most recently posed as one of Kyle's attendants. He's very polite towards Scarlet and would often get her out of trouble from Kyle's other cronies. He is also part of the Crown Investigatory Office.

Kyle von Pallistan (カイル・フォン・パリスタン, Kairu fon Parisutan)

Voiced by: Taito Ban^[5] (Japanese); Kyle Igneczi,^[4] Lara Woodhull^[4] (child) (English)

One of the main antagonists of the story. He is the second prince of the Kingdom of Pallistan and Scarlet's former fiancé. Unlike Julius, he is foolish, arrogant, and condescending; having always hated Scarlet with a burning passion from the moment he first met her, considering her as his slave rather than his betrothed, taking joy in abusing her and even once threatening her very sanctity by cutting off her hair. Although he presents himself as a chivalrous individual, Kyle is - in actuality - a petty, resentful, spoiled, haughty, and selfish noble with the mentality of a bratty six-year-old child. When things do not go his way, he is given to puerile outbursts and temper tantrums. Besides Scarlet, he holds a deep repugnance towards his older brother Julius whom he feels is more loved and talented than he is; yet despite this open resentment, Kyle fears his brother (especially as his older brother is unafraid of him or his threats) and becomes quite cowardly in his presence.

After being approached and charmed by Terenezza, he broke off his engagement to Scarlet to publicly humiliate her in front of an entourage of potent national influencers by falsely accusing her of bullying and harassment; which proves to be his own undoing, as this enables Scarlet to finally let loose all ten years worth of pent-up fury directed at him and his cronies, beating them into submission. After witnessing Scarlet pummel Terenezza and then every one of his supporters present into submission, the foolish prince has a mental breakdown and screams in terror, trying to flee; only to fail and end up beaten senseless for his transgressions. As punishment for all his corrupt activities, Kyle is disowned and disinherited; making him ineligible for the throne as he waits imprisoned. Due to this, along with Terenezza abandoning him after their public beatdown, Kyle is slowly driven insane with his obsession with wanting to kill both Scarlet and Julius however he can and then claiming the throne by force.

Terenezza Hopkins (テレネッツァ・ホプキンス, Terenettsa Hopukinsu)

Voiced by: Ai Kakuma^[5] (Japanese); Emily Neves^[4] (English)

One of the main antagonists of the story. She is a mysterious girl who attended the same academy as Scarlet and Kyle. She presents herself as a sweet and innocent girl at first glance, but in reality, she's a cruel, power-hungry, manipulative and psychopathic young lady who convinced Godwin to push for Kyle's taking her over his fiancé and loudly proclaiming their marriage annulment by publicly breaking off his engagement so that she could become a princess and eventually ruler to the kingdom, a plan that backfires horribly on Terenezza as she became the first recipient of Scarlet's enraged fists. After the beatdown, said golddigger is one of the first to jump ship with other fleeing nobles from the party Scarlet trashed while plotting revenge on her; only to turn up again just around the time Godwin was arrested for his treachery, showcasing her psychotic nature by lethally poisoning him while placing the disgraced politician under hypnosis. It is later revealed that she is a reincarnated person from Earth (in Japan), which Godwin knows of. She considers herself a heroine and Scarlet a villainess that she must defeat.

Rosalia Ley Madeleine (ローザリア, Rōzaria)

Voiced by: Sally Amaki^[6] (Japanese); Krystal LaPorte^[4] (English)

One of Scarlet of House Vandaimion's closest friends in the academy they attend together, she deeply cherishes the former's company and looks up to the noble lady like a big sister figure.

Godwin Bene Carmine (ゴド ウィン, Godōin)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka

The leader of Pallistan's most corrupt nobles, one who either coerced or bribed many amongst the aristocracy into his circle of malcontents. A greedy, amoral political representative who acts as the prime minister of said fief, he stands as Kyle's tutor while serving under the kingdom. Acting as the influencer who exacerbated the second prince's inexcusable behavior, as well as the one who tasked Nanaka to play the undertaker for Scarlet at her estate as petty vengeance for what happened to his equally trashy son, Heine. The beastkin slave goes on to mention how Godwin has scores of hired hands disguised as residential staff workers all across the kingdom, keeping tabs on various high societal and lowly pedestrian circles as a personalized informant network which he uses to scrounge up dirt on all the influentials to bring them under his thrall, or to eliminate potential adversaries in opposition to him and his plans. He also hires Alflame to kill Scarlet, only to be betrayed, resulting in his defeat and murder by Terenezza. He also somehow knows Terenezza's origins.

Junk

An unseen character who has connections to Godwin and the domain's criminal underground. Scarlet and Julius venture to his domain under Nanaka's directive to find a way to undermine the corrupt prime minister through his slave trade auctioneering.

Heine Bene Carmine

Voiced by: Souhei Horikane^[3] (Japanese); Aaron Roberts^[4] (English)

The son of Prime Minister Godwin and an ardent attendant/lackey to the despicable Second Prince Kyle Vol Palistan. As with other nobility, Heine is a haughty young man with an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Oft looking down on all around him while gleefully participating in the underground activities orchestrated by his father in the kingdom. On the night he had hoped to purchase some quality slaves himself, Heine is dismayed to find such merriment disrupted by the very same person who'd pound him into the ground 3 weeks prior at Kyle's inaugural ball. But he's preempted from venting his frustrations when finding himself outmatched by both Scarlet and the 1st Prince's combined powers. Fleeing for dear life, he and his father head to the roof, where an assassin Godwin had contracted to take care of the El Vandimion woman awaits them on a dragon's back, the son demanding that he dismount and prostrate himself before his so-called great personage. Only to be met with a meant-to-be-lethal rebuttal when he's nearly swatted aside by the dragon's tail, only to be crushed underfoot by the very same Mad Dog Princess who impeded the mount of then unknown foreign dignitaries' attack.

Lord Zatharin

Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese); Randy Pearlman (English)

The owner of a slave auction.

Donovan

Voiced by: Kaito Muroi (Japanese); Cris George (English)

Zatharin's slave trainer. He is very hot-tempered. Godwin once used him to attack Scarlet and Julius.

Palmia

The Goddess of Love, who gifted Terenezza with her unique station and a powerful pistol, and Godwin a magical pendent. It was she who reincarnated Terenezza.

Alflame

Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya (Japanese); Ryan Negron (English)

An assassin prince from the Vankish Empire. He was hired by Godwin to kill Scarlet, but Alflame double-crosses him. He develops a crush on Scarlet and is desperate to marry her despite being rejected multiple times.

Rex

Alflame's pet dragon. After Alflame is beaten by Scarlet, she adopted Rex as a pet.

Jinn

Alflame's loyal assistant.

Chronoa

The God of Time, who granted Scarlet her powers.

Diana

A Saint who wields powerful magic that can banish evil.

Rosalia and Envi

Scarlet's friends, who can use magic. They desire to marry in the future.

Media

Light novel

No.	Release date	ISBN
1	August 6, 2018[7]	978-4-434-24925-9
2	December 3, 2018[8]	978-4-434-25375-1
3	April 5, 2023[9]	978-4-434-31786-6
4	February 5, 2024[10]	978-4-434-33147-3
5	October 5, 2024[11]	978-4-434-34529-6
6	July 10, 2025[12]	978-4-434-35969-9

Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Sora Hōnoki began serialization on AlphaPolis' Regina manga website on June 5, 2019.^[2] The manga's chapters have been collected in nine tankōbon volumes as of October 2024.^[13] The series is published in English on AlphaPolis' Alpha Manga app.^[14]

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	North American release date	North American ISBN
1	March 5, 2020[15]	978-4-434-27024-6	March 31, 2023[16]	—
2	November 5, 2020[17]	978-4-434-28015-3	March 31, 2023[18]	—
3	April 5, 2021[19]	978-4-434-28679-7	March 31, 2023[20]	—
4	September 5, 2021[21]	978-4-434-29284-2	August 25, 2023[22]	—
5	April 5, 2022[23]	978-4-434-30104-9	December 22, 2023[24]	—
6	October 5, 2022[25]	978-4-434-30894-9	April 26, 2024[26]	—
7	April 5, 2023[27]	978-4-434-31776-7	August 23, 2024[28]	—
8	December 31, 2023[29]	978-4-434-33140-4	December 20, 2024[30]	—
9	October 5, 2024[13]	978-4-434-34076-5	September 26, 2025[31]	—
10	October 10, 2025[32]	978-4-434-36456-3	—	—

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced during the Aniplex Online Fest event on September 16, 2024. It is produced by Liden Films Kyoto Studio and directed by Kazuya Sakamoto, with Deko Akao writing series scripts, Eriko Haga designing the characters, and Hinako Tsubakiyama composing the music.^[5] The series premiered on September 27, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks.^[a] The opening theme song is "Senjō no Hana" (戦場の華; 'Flower of the Battlefield'), performed by CHICO with HoneyWorks, while the ending theme song is "Inferior" (インフェリア, Inferia), performed by Shiyui.^[33] Crunchyroll will stream the series.^[3] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.^[34]

Episodes

No.	Title [35][36]	Directed by [35]	Written by [35]	Storyboarded by [35]	Original release date [37][a][b]
1	"May I Kindly Beat the Tar Out of Those Evil Nobles (Pigs)?" Transliteration: "Akutoku Kizoku (Buta Yarō-tachi) o Omōzonbun Bokobokoni Shite Sukatuto Shite mo Yoroshīdeshō ka" (Japanese: 悪徳貴族（豚野郎達）を思う存分ボコボコにしてスカッとしてもよろしいでしょうか)	Kazuya Sakamoto	Deko Akao	Kazuya Sakamoto	September 27, 2025 (2025-09-27)
Scarlet is publicly dumped by her fiancé Second Prince Kyle of Pallistan Kingdom so he can marry Terenezza Hopkins, who claimed that Scarlet bullied her for years at the academy, though without any shreds of evidence. Scarlet accepts his wishes and asks for one last favor, which Terenezza (who is actually sinister on the inside) spitefully allows. They are both shocked when Scarlet reveals her repressed, sadistic personality and asks to be allowed to beat Terenezza with her bare hands. In a flashback, Scarlet explains she has always enjoyed using violence against those who deserve it, but was forced to repress her urges after becoming engaged to Kyle, even though he was a petty bully that took joy in torturing others he saw as beneath him. Growing up, Scarlet has been subject to Kyle's verbal, physical and psychological abuse, which only chipped away at her composure and sanity more and more. The only one to stand up to Kyle on Scarlet's behalf was his older brother Julius, who not only sensed that Scarlet was capable of killing Kyle, but also began harmlessly tormenting her himself, hoping to see her true personality in action. After years of this treatment, Scarlet finally loses her temper. After viciously punching Terenezza in the face, she puts the innocent palace guards to sleep with magic and proceeds to beat every worthless corrupt noble present, saving the worst beating for Kyle, whom she almost kills. Her brother Leonardo is stunned by the enormity of her actions, while Julius finds it hilariously funny.
2	"May I Offer You the Taste of My Fist as the Ladylike Thing to Do?" Transliteration: "Shukujorashiku, Watashi no Ken o Ajiwattemimasen ka?" (Japanese: 淑女らしく、私の拳を味わってみませんか？)	Kazunari Araki	Deko Akao	Kazuya Sakamoto	October 4, 2025 (2025-10-04)
Julius is thrilled to see Scarlet's true personality, but she passes out due to overuse of her time manipulation magic. She wakes up three days later just in time to thwart an assassination attempt by her maid Nanaka. Julius and Leonardo then arrive, explaining that they have formed a special group called the Crown Investigatory Office (CIO) dedicated to removing corruption from the government, with Kyle also being part of it. It turns out Scarlet's actions had a positive effect on the townsfolks since the nobles she had beaten up are wicked people. They further explain that Prime Minister Godwin Bene Carmine is the ringleader behind the corrupt nobles who were supporting Kyle, and he is currently being investigated by the CIO on suspicion of running a slavery ring. They bring in an agent named Sigurd Forgave, who is actually a spy ordered to investigate Kyle, to help with the investigation. Scarlet interrogates Nanaka, finding out that she is actually a male beastkin in disguise, who unsuccessfully tries to kill her again. Scarlet discovers that he has been enslaved by Godwin and uses her time magic to remove his enslavement crest, but also forces him to not tell anyone about her magic. It turns out Godwin ordered him to kill Scarlet as revenge for harming his son, who was one of the corrupt nobles at the party. Deciding to help her in graduate, Nanaka divulges information about Godwin, and helps Scarlet and Julius head to the slums. After defeating some thugs and interrogating a man named Junk, Scarlet obtains information on where the next slave auction will be held so they can catch Godwin in the act.
3	"I Considered A Negotiated Resolution, But May I Biff and Pow Those Noblemen Instead?" Transliteration: "Chanto Hanashiai de Kaiketsu Shiyō to Omoimashita ga, Yahari Bonbokobonboko jōi Kizoku o Nagutte mo Yoroshīdeshō ka" (Japanese: ちゃんと話し合いで解決しようと思いましたが、やはりボンボコボンボコ上位貴族を殴ってもよろしいでしょうか)	Daiki Handa	Deko Akao	Hayato Sakoda	October 11, 2025 (2025-10-11)
Scarlet meets with Lord Zatharin in order to secure an invitation to the slave auction. Zatharin is willing to allow Scarlet to attend the auction, but only under the condition she hand over Nanaka. Having already planned for this, Scarlet agrees to Nanaka over to earn Zatharin's trust. Scarlet takes Nanaka back to the inn to rest while they wait for Zatharin to make his preparations, and Julius accompanies Scarlet to the local market where he buys various gifts for her. He then confides in Scarlet that he personally finds much of the world extremely boring, so he has dedicated himself to collecting anything that garners his interest. He continues that when he met Scarlet as a child, he could immediately tell that she was not like any other noble girl, and he has been drawn to her ever since. Even though he doesn't hold traditional romantic feelings, he still considers Scarlet as his most precious person, leaving Scarlet confused and slightly unsettled. Scarlet then meets Zatharin again to formally hand over Nanaka to him, but when she sees Zatharin's slave trainer Donovan mistreating Nanaka, she promptly punches him out of the building. This convinces Zatharin to comply with Scarlet's demands. After learning the time and place of the auction, Scarlet is picked up by Leonardo, who is upset Scarlet got herself involved, but she explains that after leaving her sheltered lifestyle and witnessing how normal people live in the kingdom, she is determined to punish those who would exploit them. Meanwhile, Godwin hires a soldier from Vankish Empire to assassinate Scarlet, while Terenezza, having abandoned the now-disgraced Kyle and shown her true colors, boasts to him that she was gifted a pistol from the Goddess Palmia, which should also have the power to kill Scarlet.
4	"May I Go To See My Fists' Beloved One (Punching Bag)?" Transliteration: "Ken no Omoi Hito (Sando baggu) ni Ai ni Itte mo Yoroshīdeshou ka" (Japanese: 拳の想い人（サンドバッグ）に会いに行ってもよろしいでしょうか)	Misato Takada & Hoshinogo Gohan	Deko Akao	Misato Takada	October 18, 2025 (2025-10-18)
Scarlet attends the auction with Julius. Leonardo and the royal knights wait for the signal to attack. Julius promises to let Scarlet beat up Godwin in exchange for a personal vow, which Scarlet grudgingly gives. In the dungeon, Nanaka comforts the slave children. Scarlet makes her way to Godwin and his son Heine and instigates a brawl, beating up as many corrupt nobles as she can find. Leonardo arrives to apprehend the nobles and uses his Clairvoyance skill to locate Godwin trying to escape with Heine to the roof, where his Vankish assassin Alflame waits to retrieve them. Scarlet races to the roof in time to stop Alflame from killing Godwin and Heine. Coming from a warrior culture, Alflame is amazed by her and proposes marriage, so Scarlet punches him, then beats up his dragon Rex. Scarlet determines that he is the Vankish crown prince, and that his actual assassination target was Godwin to cover up his relationship with the Vankish Kingdom. Scarlet saves Godwin and duels Alflame, whose God blessing Metallization means his body can never be physically harmed. Alflame is even more enamored of her and fails to notice her repeated blows to his head are giving him a concussion until he is unable to stand, after which she throws him off the roof. Desperate to avoid a beating, Godwin admits that aided Terenezza in her plot to marry Kyle and humiliate Scarlet in front of her kingdom. Furthermore, he reveals that Terenezza is actually a reincarnation of a person from another world, which leaves Scarlet puzzled.
5	"May I Clobber this Asshole Prince?" Transliteration: "Kuso Ōji o Buttobashite mo Yoroshīdeshou ka" (Japanese: クソ王子をブッ飛ばしてもよろしいでしょうか)	Moe Ōnishi	Fūka Ishii	Misato Takada	October 25, 2025 (2025-10-25)
As the slaves are rescued, Scarlet decides that Godwin is talking nonsense and beats him mercilessly for his crimes. Having abused her Overclock ability, half of her silver hair turns black while also weakening her. Godwin seizes this opportunity to draw Terenezza's pistol and try to shoot her, but Julius jumps in the way. Leonardo manages to heal him while Scarlet throws Godwin off the roof, but not before taking the pendent that he received from Palmia. Alflame is retrieved by his attendant Jinn, and looks forward to fighting Scarlet again. While recovering, Scarlet adopts Alflame's dragon Rex as a pet. Terenezza, believing herself the heroine, infiltrates the prison and thanks Godwin for suppressing worship of Saint Diana in favor of Palmia, the Goddess of Love. She then poisons him before deciding to defeat Scarlet herself, considering her the villainess. While digging up dirt on Terenezza, Julius is concerned certain nobles have successfully made Palmianism the state religion despite most of the population worshipping Diana, a saint with the power to banish evil. Scarlet is visited by her friends Rosalia and Envi, who are at first wary of Rex and have also begun taking an interest in marriage. Julius visits Scarlet, causing them to misunderstand. Julius reveals that Godwin died and Terenezza has vanished. Scarlet scolds him for risking his life for hers when he is the future king. Julius suddenly presents her with a tiara of roses and asks her to stay with him forever, as his favorite toy. Having half expected him to propose marriage, Scarlet requests Julius' permission to beat him up in an extremely savage manner. Elsewhere, Saint Diana looks forward to meeting Scarlet, whom she calls a "big sister".
6	"May I Send This Pig Flying Into the Sky?"	TBA	TBA	TBA	November 1, 2025 (2025-11-01)

Reception

By October 2024, the series had over 1.4 million copies in circulation.^[13]

Notes

1. Tokyo MX and BS11 listed the series premiere on October 3 at 24:00, which is effectively October 4 at midnight JST.
2. The first two episodes were released simultaneously on Prime Video, Crunchyroll and simulcast platforms by Muse, while subsequent episodes are released a week before their televised airings. As such, the episode table uses the latter dates.