August 22, 2025 – Fans of the popular anime series “The Rising of the Shield Hero” have already experienced the seventh episode of its highly anticipated fourth season, which premiered on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Titled “Arriving in Q’ten Lo,” this episode marks the official commencement of the new Q’ten Lo Arc, seeing Naofumi and Raphtalia navigate a challenging new environment following an unexpected separation from their party.
The fourth season of “The Rising of the Shield Hero” began its broadcast on July 9, 2025, with new episodes releasing weekly. Crunchyroll is streaming the series globally, offering both English-subtitled and same-day English-dubbed versions to a wide audience across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, India, and Southeast Asia.
Episode 7 Release and Streaming Details
Episode 7, “Arriving in Q’ten Lo,” became available on August 20, 2025, at various times depending on the viewer’s region. Enthusiasts in the Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) zone could watch it as early as 5:30 a.m., while those in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) had access at 8:30 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) saw the episode released at 12:30 p.m. In Japan, the episode aired at 11:30 p.m. JST. The series is primarily available on Crunchyroll, with some regions also potentially having access via Netflix Asia.
Plot Developments in “Arriving in Q’ten Lo”
Following the events of the sixth episode, which saw Naofumi and his companions returning to their country before embarking on their voyage to Q’ten Lo, Episode 7 plunged the Shield Hero and Raphtalia into a new predicament. After an unexpected attack, the group became separated, with Naofumi and Raphtalia finding themselves stranded in an unfamiliar land.
“Arriving in Q’ten Lo” focuses on their efforts to navigate this strange new territory and overcome an enigmatic barrier. Raphtalia is poised to play a pivotal role in breaching this barrier and reuniting with the rest of their party. The episode further intensifies the narrative as Naofumi confronts the manipulations of the Heavenly Emperor, setting the stage for a more action-heavy progression as he draws closer to his ultimate objective.
The Q’ten Lo Arc and Season 4 Overview
Season 4 is expected to comprise 12 episodes in total, continuing Naofumi’s journey as the Shield Hero. The Q’ten Lo Arc, initiated by Episode 7, promises to delve deeper into the political unrest and revolutionary movements within Q’ten Lo, where Raphtalia is mistaken for a throne usurper. Naofumi’s arrival in Siltvelt, where he is revered as a demi-human savior, and his subsequent travels to Q’ten Lo are central to the season’s plot, as he prepares for the return of the Phoenix.
The production of “The Rising of the Shield Hero” Season 4 sees Hitoshi Haga reprising his role as series director at Kinema Citrus, with Keigo Koyanagi handling the series composition. Character designs are managed by Franziska van Wulfen, Sana Komatsu, and Masahiro Suwa, while Kevin Penkin, Alfredo Sirica, and Natalie Jeffreys compose the soundtrack. The opening theme song for the season is “Resolution” by Madkid, and the ending theme is “Eien ni Ikkai no” by Chiai Fujikawa.