A fan of a particular manga doesn’t go into an adaptation hoping the anime will skip material and rush the pacing, at least under normal circumstances.  For me, though, Shinigami Bocchan to Kuro Maid is a real puzzler.  Nothing of consequence has been omitted thus far – some chapters have been re-ordered but there’s no indication that the narrative is moving any faster than it does in the manga.  A manga that’s pushing 200 chapters, with the anime on-pace to cover maybe 40 of them – 40 of the least plot-driven ones, at that.

We got a few more of those chapters this week.  Charming they are, but I can’t help but wonder if the anime is even going to attempt to expound the actual story.  It’s not like there’s no connection at least – this is about Alice doing her best to try and cure Bocchan’s curse on her own after Daleth’s disappointing update.  The first attempt is a magical pot, complete with a book of recipes and a tsuntsun personality.  Alice succeeds in hiding the nature of the potion she’s making from the Duke, but the potion itself is no match for his curse.  Afterwards he decides to give the plot to Rob, and the two of them seem to rather hit it off.

Next up in a musical score which is said to have the ability to drive the performer mad – or, if they can play it flawlessly, lift their curse.  It’s the work of a man named McFarlane – played quite amusingly by Sugita Tomokazu – who promptly appears before Bocchan as soon as he starts playing.  He does his best to distract the lad and proves himself quite the lecher, but Bocchan manages to play the score (a quite lovely tune, actually) perfectly.  Unfortunately the “curse” that’s lifted is McFarlane itself, but it is sort of interesting that Alice is able to see him too (McFarlane is certainly surprised).

After a rather silly bit where Bocchan tries to activate Stockholm Syndrome in Alice by startling her (totally unnecessary, truth be told) the best part of the episode actually comes in the epilogue.  Naturally enough Alice would get to go to Wonderland, and Bocchan is with her.  The good news?  It’s a dream so they can touch all they want.  The bad?  Bocchan has no sense of touch.  But the two of them have so much fun they forget the rabbit-catching errand the other Alice despatched them to do – though I very much doubt she could have tackled his curse either…