Whatever my uncertainties about carrying on with Requiem of the Rose King, the calendar works in its favor.  It’s become increasingly common these days for anime schedules to be concentrated on the weekend, and this season is one of the most extreme examples I can remember.  There’s basically nothing in the middle of the week at all, which gives me the luxury of sticking with this series if the content merits it.  On that question, I’m still not totally settled.

Setting aside the abysmal “animation” (which was actually a hair better this week) I like a lot of what Baraou no Souretsu does.  But I have to say, the whole lurid focus on Richard’s physiognomy can get pretty over the top at times.  I’m not sure why the mangaka felt it was necessary to graft that element onto what was already a larger-than-life story, but it could have been handled with more elegance than it has been.  This business of every able-bodied male (and a lot of the females) in the cast falling in love with Richard is unintentionally comic more than anything else.

That was taken to its preposterous and distasteful extreme this week, as Buckingham effectively blackmails Richard into becoming his sex slave in exchange for his kingmaking skills.  I could do without all of that to be honest, but it’s not really inconsistent with the Baraou no Souretsu we’ve known for 14 episodes.  The politics continues to be more interesting, with Elizabeth thinking she’s finally manoeuvred her way into control of the York dynasty through her brother, the Earl Rivers, becoming the new king’s (great, more Edwards) Lord Protector.  Buckingham, naturally, has other ideas.

Buckingham is a good sneak, true enough.  He suckers Rivers into getting himself arrested for treason by pretending to betray Richard, only to turn the tables once he’s verified what he’s heard about Richard’s body.  The key here is the newest Edward (age 12), next in line to the throne, and his brother (also Richard, by the way).  Someone is going to wield the true authority in that protector role, and with Rivers out of the way Richard is easily levered into the role by Buckingham.  But as long as the boys live, they stand between Richard and the crown – which he’s finally admitted he wants for himself.  That definitely places them in “no green bananas” territory.

Certain things we know with reasonable certainty.  Elizabeth and the Woodvilles intended to have Edward V crowned and dispense with the protectorate, seizing power themselves.  Richard – aided by Lord Hastings, who saw him as an ally against Elizabeth and her greed for power – outmanoeuvred them and effectively took control of Edward and Richard.  What happened after that is much less certain – history is based on speculation as to what happened to the boys. not fact.  But it seems pretty clear what version of events Baraou no Souretsu is going to ascribe to, and it’s going to be very interesting to see how the series portrays those imminent events.