Well, I didn't think that it was a waste either. It was a feel good episode with some info on Oreld and the conditions of the citizens again. While the military and nobility has it relatively easy, the commoners are screwed.
You guys must not have cats. When they fight, the only thing that you can do is get out of the way as fast as you can or it's a major injury for you.
And Orland just got out of the hospital too.
I smurked at the "boobs" line. Shows you that he doesn't socialize that much.
It's slow pace could be a hint that it has more episodes planned than the usual 24.