“Goblin Slayer” in its entirety is a reference to many fantasy tropes, shows, and icons that make up the whole genre. In the latest episode of the anime, the show made one of the most blatant and entertaining references yet, in the form of a question. It is one that many fans of “The Hobbit” trilogy will likely be familiar with since it is one that Bilbo Baggins asked Gollum.
“What is in my pocket?” This is the question that the teacher of Goblin Slayer asked him when he was still a child, training in a dark cave and risking his life to become stronger. It’s safe to say that the show’s protagonist owes everything to this mysterious figure. This makes the question all the more entertaining when it was asked in the previous episode of “Goblin Slayer.”
It’s worth noting that despite its dark and gritty nature, “Goblin Slayer” is basically a fantasy story that draws a lot of inspiration from D&D tabletop games and the like. This is the reason for many of the systems in place, such as the characters not having proper names or the limitations in the magic used. Clearly, however, the show has no problems borrowing from other works of fantasy.
This particular reference pertains to when Bilbo Baggins was confronted by Gollum after escaping from – of all things – goblins. This makes the allusion in “Goblin Slayer” all the more apt and makes the show even more endearing to fans of both properties.
Best of all, the reference was not presented in a way that disturbed the flow of the mechanics already found in “Goblin Slayer.” It doesn’t suddenly become the kind of story that J.R.R. Tolkien would come up with but rather, it stays exactly as it is and without compromising its unique identity.
