While there were definitely some residual issues this week, on balance that was certainly the best episode of BEM so far. The focus turned to Bero this time, and it seemed as if the series was freed of its self-perceived obligation to recycle every flavor-of-the-week anime trope and cliche where Bela and her introduction were concerned. And Bero, as the youkai with the conflicted feelings about turning human in the first place, brings the more interesting perspective to the narrative anyway.
The focus this time turns to the cabal that’s running things inside Upper, and the convoluted politics at work in the “legitimate” corridors of power. There are apparently politicians who want to change things in Outside, and they’re apparently targets of the cabal – though I have to question the motives of politicians who say they want to “purify” the slums. But above and beyond that these politicians are scheming against each other, not least of whom is Bryson, the corrupt bodyguard of a “reformist” councillor who was a mentor to Sonia. His son Daryl is a gamer extraordinaire, which is how he crosses paths with Bero (who beats him in a first-person shooter duel with territorial arcade rights on the line).
I have some issues with the way all this plays out, don’t get me wrong. They start with the fact that the ninja the cabal hires to take out the reformers actually says “Nin”, which is pretty silly and – like the “Bowler” last week – really takes you out of the moment. Also, there’s way too much happening here in too short a time – all this factionalism is interesting but it felt like something that should have been allowed to play out over a few episodes. As is was we barely have a chance to register anything about any of them before they’re dead.
Still, the larger whole this week was at least moderately interesting – more so than in the first two episodes anyway. There are two main stories playing out here, the broad conspiracy tale and the quest of the youkai trio to become human, and I’m still not sure whether there’s room for both in this series. Next week will presumably give us our first extended look inside Bem’s frame of mind, and that should prove pretty important as to whether this show has the narrative legs to go the distance or not – he is the leader (and presumably the main protagonist), after all.
