Okay, so this series isn’t exactly the best of the season at the moment, but then again that’s only logical since it’s clearly only building up, and yet I’m already enjoying it a lot. when this series started, I admit that I was really doubtful whether or not Chiaki Kon would be able to pull off this series, considering the other shows she has worked on after Higurashi, but this again shows that even directors with flawed records can be able to produce good series if the source material and guidance is good enough.
Anywaay, while the first arc focused on the younger generation, this arc puts the focus at the servants, as they’re labelled as the prime suspects. This episode shows that someone killed Kanon and Jessica, dragged Kanon out of the room and locked the room afterwards. There are only six keys in existence that are able to open the lock, since Beatrice ruled out window-climbing and lock-picking with the red texts. There were two keys inside the room as it was locked: Jessica’s and Kanon’s. That means that there are four keys left, and all of them are in the possession of the four servants left alive.
In this way, the most suspicious one is Gouda. He could have faked his own death in the first arc and he had no alibi for the death of Jessica and Kanon. Furthermore, Battler’s argument of how such a guy with a nice face couldn’t possibly be the murderer is weak. Try saying that to Higurashi.
However, that doesn’t really mean that one of the servants is the culprit. Have we actually seen it confirmed that all four keys are present at their owner? I think that we’ve established by now that the killer is a good pick-pocket. He could have just taken one of the servants’ keys to make it seem like they did it, which also would make more sense because it would be stupid of a servant to put the blame on himself like this. In this way, Rosa fits as the main suspect: she too could have faked her own death in the first arc, and taking charge of the situation as a leader figure does kind-of take suspicions away.
That just leaves the question as to who committed the murders here. The illusions in this series become weirder and weirder, and harder to logically explain. Previously, you could just assume that the murders on Kanon were flashy set-ups by Beatrice, but Gouda actually felt the zombie-Kanon as some sort of solid matter. Do you suppose that the killer actually used some sort of magic mushrooms in order to accomplish that?
One thing that rather annoys me about this series is how they keep censoring the gory parts. I mean, come on. Take a look at Himitsu ~The Revelation~ for example: in that series the corpses were even more disturbing, and not even an iota was censored, which really contributed to its dark and creepy mood. This show airs like, how late? 2:00 in the morning? What kid is going to be awake at that hour?
And as usual: when discussing this episode, please refrain from mentioning events that happen after this point in the visual novel.
Rating: ** (Excellent)]]>
Umineko no Naku Koro ni – 09
Meh, episode was so-so, didn’t quite live up to the original but w/e, not like I’m expecting that at this point. About what you said:
“In this way, the most suspicious one is Gouda. He could have faked his own death in the first arc and he had no alibi for the death of Jessica and Kanon.”
Well, while you can think that way, it’s severely doubtful that it’s the same culprit on both episodes. No actual proof on this, but it gets weirder as you go on.
“Previously, you could just assume that the murders on Kanon were flashy set-ups by Beatrice, but Gouda actually felt the zombie-Kanon as some sort of solid matter. Do you suppose that the killer actually used some sort of magic mushrooms in order to accomplish that?”
You gotta remember that you’re seeing what the witch shows you. The events, the conversations that people have, etc, there’s no way to prove that they really occurred. The only thing that you should take for certain is what is written in red text; there’s also the theory that what happens when Battler (the non-meta one) is there is real as well, but heh, it’s just another theory. Who knows for certain!
My main problem with this series is that I don’t like the characters… I don’t care if they die or not.
Also this whole magic vs no magic is kinda annoying when there’s obvious magic (like those hand-blades) shown to the viewers, which apparently might not be true.
I also would not like a murder mystery where there are constant scenes of somebody killing the victims who is not the murderer.
(There are exceptions probably like dream sequences or something, but I just don’t really like it in this series, though I also don’t know how this series should work without it… well maybe it’s just not my kind of series anyway)
“My main problem with this series is that I don’t like the characters… I don’t care if they die or not.”
They cut a lot of backstory and character interaction in the anime. Expected, but quite a shame :3
“I also would not like a murder mystery where there are constant scenes of somebody killing the victims who is not the murderer.”
The purpose of the game is to make Battler accept that the murders were done with magic (or, in a lesser degree, that magic exists); by showing him what really happened, Beatrice would be going against herself, no?
I think this show is the best of the season. Spice and Wolf second and Bake third.
Well theoretically Eva might have attacked Jessica and Kanon, thrown Kanon out of the window thinking he was dead – so she could frame him for Jessicas death. To lock the door she uses the Key burrowed from Kuwabasa.
Kanon though recovers and wents into the kitchen to report on Rosas attack and attacks Kuwarabasa and Nanjo because he realises that they are Rosas accomplices. Gouda confused by the events attacks Kanon who doesn´t vanish but merely flee.
That is the least magical theory I can come up with. If we assume the no magic theory “Kanon” vanishing due to Spiderwebs HAS to be a lie/extraggation.
Kanon is dead. The red text that Beatrice showed to Meta Battler confirms it to be so. Hence the “Kanon” that appeared to the servants most likely isn’t the real Kanon.
However, I have a feeling that some of the events that take place in the anime might be misleading. Take last episode’s scenes with the stakes. Meta Battler didn’t comment on it, yet we witnessed it happen. Is it possible that Beatrice doesn’t show Meta Battler certain things?
That said, it really is getting harder and harder to explain the events using logic.
Best episode so far, glad the series is picking up a bit.
But I do agree about not caring about the characters dying, finding the censoring annoying and the drama generally badly acted. Really, all this series has going for it is its mystery and hopefully interesting solution to all the problems introduced.
That being said, another closed circle problem? Another key puzzle? What else have they been throwing at us for the past 9 episodes? Almost nothing. Why not debate about the murder weapons and motives and such for a change?
“That said, it really is getting harder and harder to explain the events using logic. ”
I agree. I know the writer is famous for digging its own hole and then beautifully getting out of it again, but I really wonder how much he’s going to ask of me to believe, especially when it comes to character motives.
The term ‘furniture’ (家具, kagu?) in Umineko is used to refer to those who serve others, similar to that of a servant, except those termed furniture are summoned or created by a magician or witch. The number and type of furniture summoned at one time depends on the summoner’s skill. The term is also used as a form of dehumanization. In addition to special powers, such as transformation and barriers, most furniture have the ability to conjure a magical ornate blade of light from one of their hands for offensive purposes.
“That said, it really is getting harder and harder to explain the events using logic.”
Then they are doing it right, it´s basically the point. I just demonstrated myself how hard it can be to distinguish between provable aspects and obvious fabrications (thanks to the red truth).
In the no-magic aproach the events in the kitchen can´t have occured like shown – and up to now we don´t know what is “true”. Without the red truth or Battler as withness we can´t tell now if Kanon or an imposter ever was in the room or if Kuwabasa and Nanjo really died.
How many episodes does this series actually have? I mean, will it be like in Higurashi that we see one season of unsolved mystery and one more season later with the answers to it? Or does Umineko solve the whole thing in one season? Does anyone know?
My guess for the mystery is that it isn’t as much about proofing the impossibility of magic but more about Battler denying magic and convincing the others to do so as well (in the form of being able to explain it). I think Beatrice uses magic to create illogical murders but those happen because the victims think that Beatrice exists. While there is some real human murderer, there’s also Beatrice but I guess Battler wins when he can out rule her intervention by getting all people to deny her existence because she needs the proof of her existence to work magic. I think like in Higurashi the supernatural does exist and it influences the story with those illogical magical murders but ultimately it’s about Battler finding the weakness in Beatrices magic and with that being able to explain it how the things happened, he would be then able to discern between her magic and the real murderer. That’s what I think for now ^^ .
Interesting ep indeed… I haven’t played the game at this point (though I think I shall have to before long..) but have read what’s been scanlated of the manga (which gives far more detailed treatment, esp regarding thoughts) though after 2 volumes it’s only up to where the gun is grabbed in ep 3.
Another thing that strikes me odd is that the anime hasn’t given the first part of the epitaph yet, which gives the actual clues to the gold’s whereabouts and was read out very early on.
And regarding Kanon’s odd weapon, my guess is that he was one of those rumored experiments that gramps purchased the orphanage for…as I recall Shannon and Kanon came from it. Kanon isn’t proud of the weapon either, as he tells jess that he didn’t want her to know, but i suppose we’ll have to see…
i watched up to ep 8 before going off and playing the VN to see what i missed out on. even after going back to the anime, i can easily say that i’m still enjoying it – the characters definately feel much better after knowing more about them from the VN, but my overall impressions of them haven’t changed that much (except that in this story arc, i really started to like Rosa a lot).
…the ending to this episode creeped me out, when Gouda put that…uhh, magic cloth with spider web on Kanon (possessed)’s chest and he let out blood-curdling screams. That creeped me out to no end!
Sad to say, this episode, and really everything after the end of the first arc, did nothing for me. There’s about a 50% chance of me dropping the show right here.
Plenty of other shows to move on to.