That was one serious whipsaw tonal change right there. I kind of knew it was coming what with the kitchen sink arc coming to an end but the sheer disparity was still a bit of a jolt. In effect, Vanitas no Carte went back to what it was for most of the first season, and hasn’t been at all for almost all of the second.
While the humor in this show typically hasn’t done much for me, this was one of the most effective comedy-driven episodes. Primarily it concerns Vanitas dealing with the aftereffects of Jeanne’s assault last week, and because we haven’t really seen Vanitas like this it was a rather fun turn of events. The reason for his malaise couldn’t be more obvious, but if anything Noe is just as clueless about affairs of the heart as Vanitas is, so he isn’t much help. I don’t think there’s a shred of doubt that Vanitas has fallen for Jeanne now – the only question is how much that was underpinning his teasing of her before Gevaudan happened.
Eventually Vanitas seeks out the advice of Roland and Olivier (who he randomly bumps into at a cafe). Roland is trying to pull the wool over Olivier’s eyes about Vanitas (and Noe’s) true identity, but he needn’t have bothered trying. They aren’t much help beyond confirming Vanitas’ worst fears, but it’s interesting to hear him express how horrified he is that anyone could love him.
Meanwhile it seems Jeanne has fallen for Vanitas just as surely as he for her. This of course is a horrifying development for Luca, whose own Quixotic quest to win Jeanne’s heart continues unabated. The series returning to the identity of the first season means a return for some characters who’ve been largely absent, and it’s nice to see Luca and Dominique get some screen time again. If the main shipping rival for Vanitas and Jeanne is Vanitas and Noe, Dominique is the main contender for Noe’s affections – so you’d think if anything she’d be thrilled to see her rival paired off with someone else. But she’s pretty much incapable of seeing Vanitas as part of any relationship so I suppose doesn’t see him as much of a threat.
As light-hearted as this was for the most part, it does seem to be setting up the next and presumably season-concluding arc. That seems Dominique falling under the sway of this lad, Mikhail (Komatsu Mikako) Given that he turned up briefly in the first season’s Dr. Moreau episode, I assume that means he’ll be a part of this arc as well.
Marty
March 6, 2022 at 3:04 amJeanne, “OH, how the turn tables.”
I think what makes the comedy work in this episode, beyond the fact that it was 90% comedy and wasn’t trying to balance action, suspense, and comedy (am incredible talent if none fall flat in the process), was that it was true to the characters. Jeanne and Vanitas aren’t the same characters they were when they first met, and such changes over time are gradual and organic, meaning that neither were truly aware of it until they stopped to think about it.
I think something else I noticed was the less-than-comedic undertones surrounding some of the comedy, Vanitas’ self-loathing is so extreme it borderlines on mania, and Jeanne claiming surprise that someone like her (I think the term was Bourreau or something along those lines) could feel such strong emotions.
On a more lighthearted tone, I doubt Jeanne couldn’t make good on her promise to pounce of Vanitas, specially considering his wits were the only countermeasure to her strength, which are kind of nullified in the face of such a simple, straightforward goal.
Rasu
March 7, 2022 at 3:34 amSo, according to Roland, the drinking contest is canon? Scary, that means Jeane indeed tried to kidnapp and to take advantage of the drunk Vanitas without being aware of her feelings for him? like in the manga special
It’s both funny and terryfying how she now considers assaulting him as if it’s normal. Poor guy, he’s so naive despite how sly he acts; it’d be too much for him. I mean, Vanitas stole a kiss but, she’s plotting to take something way more deared (?) meaningful (?)