Whoa. Even for Pandora Hearts, this was a surprisingly good episode. Since it already has been two weeks since the plot disappeared (with the previous week a hiatus and the week before that more aimed at comic relief), but damn, I didn’t suspect that the creators were already going to arrive at Break’s background this early.
So this episode basically starts out as Oz manages to get himself an appointment with the person who most likely is to remember something about the tragedy of Sabrie 100 years ago: Rufus Barma, the longest sitting of the four dukes, and a collector of information. Apparently, Oz had heard of him from before he was cast in the Abyss. Makes sense.
Anyway, it then turns out that Barma likes to play with his visitors, and creates a whole illusion to try and hide who he really is. With the threat of the Baskervilles and all, this indeed seems like a wise move. Anyway, it seems that the biggest reason why he accepted Oz’s invitation is because he wants to learn something from Break. On a side-note, the foursome of Break, Oz, Gilbert and Alice look awesome in formal attire. It’s nothing new, but this series sure is good at its costume designs.
Anyway, while this seems nice and all, the second half of this episode completely turns the chessboard upside-down, to come with an Umineko-reference, when it turns out that Break’s background is much darker than I imagined (or should I say, Kevin’s background). In his original time, his family was murdered and he willingly travelled into the abyss to get their murderer back. He already had a contract back then. He then met the White Alice, who turns out to be no-one else but the “Will of the Abyss”. She then pokes Kevin’s eye out, gives it to Cheshire Cat, and kills his chain. wtf. To make things even more inexplicable, a young Vincent (who seems to be an acquaintance of the Will of the Abyss), brings an unconscious Gilbert (who also happens to know her) in and acts like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
This explains quite a bit: it explains how Break knew of the Cheshire Cat, and what he wanted from him (his eye back), it also is probably going to explain why he has such a deep-seated grudge against Vincent. The next episode is probably going to show Vincent doing something really nasty to him. As a result, it’s probably because of this that Break has vowed to find out what happened in the Tragedy of Sabrie: it’s his wish to find Vincent’s weakness, and what Vincent absolutely doesn’t want is the truth about the tragedy to come out. The reason why he refused to sacrifice Sharon has probably to do with his little sister.
Also… about Alice being the Will of the Abyss, this is just a theory but was the Abyss actually created along with the Tragedy of Sabrie? I mean, the people who returned from the Abyss all were special cases: Gilbert and Vincent were there when it was created if this is true, and this would also explain why Vincent knew the Will of the Abyss so well. Break meanwhile was probably the only human who willingly entered the abyss, which seems to be confirmed with how the Will of the Abyss said that he was the only one who maintained his conscience. Oz was special because he found Alice’s locket, which somehow did something with one of the Alices to make some connection.
Also, was I the only one who noticed the weird Rozen Maiden cameos in the Will of the Abyss’s dolls?
Rating: ** (Excellent)]]>
Pandora Hearts – 21
Rufus Barma :wub: He’s so cool~ His little avatar is just too much fun to look at. But yes Break’s revelation is interesting, looks like the manga will end with the end of Break’s explanation after all like others predicted.
While I wouldn’t consider those episodes hiatuses, so far we’ll had zero filler episodes, everything that has been broadcast has followed up nicely with the manga so far. We might get a anime original ending, or a cliffhanger depending on whether or not Pandora Hearts is going to get a second season.
The mangaka must be a CLAMP fan LOL. Far too close male best friend? Check. Awesome costume designs? Check. Twins with a twist? Check. Love-killing? Check ( – and I half expect that Jack’s friend wanted to be offed by Jack). Turning what we thought of the plot background upside down every few episodes? Yup, there.
No eye is safe? Check!
That said, I adore Break. I expected him to have a dark past; he’s the typical Akira Ishida voiced boku-using always smiling creepy character (and that’s my favorite type).
And the art this episode – absolutely stunning.
Is it just me, or does Vincent look far too much like Jack and Oz?
Actually, it’s been confirmed that the last three episodes, starting from episode 23, will be anime original. You can read the episode summaries on Xebec’s website for everything except the last episode. (and of course, there will be spoilers.)
What this means for the rest of the story, I have no clue… personally hoping for an open ending, but, Xebec.
Anyways, really nice episode~ Wasn’t expecting the animators to be able to squeeze two bulky chapters into one episode, but they somehow managed to do it. And the next two chapters they’re squeezing into episode 22 are even longer and bulkier…
White Alice is gorgeous. I approve of spending this episode’s budget on her.
No actually Kevin was a knight who served his master. And one day when he was away his master and his master’s family were killed except for that girl.. It wasn’t Kevin’s family but his master’s and Kevin wants to change the past so his master and all those other people can be alive and all. :
I wish this anime would have a second season, but guess not…
Oh well, there’s the manga, which is awesome!
The Episode was great with new mysteries like who was that girl crying for break?why was Gil unconscious ?
and what surprised me that ALICE is the Will of ABYSS
Alice-Abyss…familiar right ?
But what i don’t really get is what does Will mean ?! does it mean desire or something else ?
And it’s terribly sad it’s going to be original anime :S
About Vincent i first thought he was Jack or Oz
Well,Cya in the next episode
The Anime-original ending doesn’t seem that bad. From the descriptions, it seems like they follow the manga in Episode 22, Episode 23 is something about Gil and Vincent, and apparently the series ending will be that a bunch of chains are released from the Abyss (from the work of the Will of Abyss) and Oz and co. have to stop them. It also says that Break tries to use Mad Hatter to stop them all, but it implies that it doesn’t work.
Seems open-ended to me. They can have them all travel to Sabrie in the end of the final episode, and then release an OVA of the current manga chapters. Then we’re all happy!