I was expecting – or at least fervently hoping – to feel strongly about Rurouni Kenshin 2023. And I did, thankfully. But apart from that there have been two premieres that totally outclassed the field this summer, Undead Girl Murder Farce and Zom 100. Very different shows to be sure, but both superbly directed and completely absorbing. Nothing else has come close as far as I’m concerned, though of course we do still have Link Click Season 2 to look forward to as a contender.
Of those two, I feel more confident – by a pretty good margin – that Undead Girl Murder Farce has the legs to go the distance. In the first place it has a truly great director with a longer track record behind it. And in the second, I feel like the first episode gave a truer indication of what the body of the series will be like. Zom 100 is certainly going to be a very different sort of show, and while the premiere was wonderful I see some potential banana skins in its path. The foundation for UGMF just seems rock solid, and this second effort did nothing to suggest otherwise.
From that premiere we skip ahead about a year. To the next year (1898) anyway, and it would have taken the power trio a while to get from Japan to France back then. Plus, they’ve already earned themselves a reputation as “monster” detectives. And it appears that’s going to be the format of the series for now at least – Aya, Tsugaru, and Shizuku solving cases while they continue to search for the man with the “M” on his cane. And their first case is a vampire murder – a vampire murdered by humans (or was it?).
In this Europe, vampires have agreed a deal with humans and are trying to peacefully co-exist, though there are many on both sides who disapprove. We meet Lord Godard (Kinoshita Hiroyuki) while he’s deer hunting with his son Raoul (Chiba Shouya). He tri
es to use the rifle the mayor gave him as a goodwill gift but winds up relying on his vampiric powers in the end. There’s been an incident recently where a hunter tries to attack Godard with an iron stake, which he keeps under lock and key under the idea that’s it’s safer to do so than to have it outside the house where anyone might get hold of it.
After Godard’s wife is murdered with said stake, he becomes increasingly frustrated and angry (by appearances at least) with the efforts of human law enforcement to find the killer. Thus he calls in the “cage user”, which is what Tsugaru has come to be called. And into the picture arrive the detective trio, and a rather put-upon carriage driver Tsugaru seems to enjoy torturing. The banter amongst these three (especially Aya and Tsugaru) remains totally locked-in – I could listen to their dialogue all day. That bit about Aya being road-sick and unable to puke (where would it come from?) is a good example. as was the respect she gives him for the line about it being hard to tell she’s a lady because she has no chest. There’s no question she wants to feel like the boss, but Tsugaru is merely enjoying the act of playing along.
As to the murder case, that will carry over into next week. The “20 years ago” number was dropped often enough – the marriage, butler Alfred’s arrival, “the last time I had a drop of human blood” – to where it’s either significant or we’re supposed to think it is. Alfred is made to look so suspicious that it’s hard to believe he’s the actual culprit, but it does have the appearance (and Aya agrees) of an inside job. Anyone who wished to poison the well between the races (which seemingly includes Raoul, though it’s hard to imagine he’d murder his own mother) has a motive, so there’s no shortage of suspects.
Needless to say Omata/Hatakeyama’s direction is again superb, but the writing is really high-level here too – how much of the credit goes to the original novels and how much to Takagi Noboru I don’t know. That whole bit with Tsuguru holding up fingers for Aya’s classic detective speech was perfectly brought off – really smart, really funny, and cleverly staged. Sometimes you just know in watching an anime that you’re dealing with serious talents, and Undead Girl Murder Farce is one of those instances – that it has substance and style to burn could hardly be more obvious.
sweejen
July 13, 2023 at 11:33 pmThis episode seemed like it was 10 minutes long! To me that’s a sign I’m totally drawn in. Even with her boss vibe, the impression of Aya’s vulnerability is palpable–although it would take me some thinking to figure out exactly how this is being accomplished. It’s more than just her physical state and her dependence on her caregivers.
SeijiSensei
July 14, 2023 at 1:19 amI would be much happier if Tsuguru wasn’t such a goofy character. The comparisons in my mind are In/Spectre and Mouryou no Hako where the men are quite serious. This show doesn’t need a comic relief character.
Guardian Enzo
July 14, 2023 at 6:28 amCouldn’t disagree more, I think his irreverence (which is pretty clearly a front) is a welcome element, and one of the things that lift this series above those other two you mention.
Snowball
July 14, 2023 at 3:10 amReally liking this! The banter felt so natural, smart and hilarious.
Nicc
July 14, 2023 at 7:08 amI was hoping that along with youkai, we would also get to see Western supernatural creatures and we’ve got vampires in this episode! It’s been a year since they started traveling and they’ve made their way to Western Europe. In that time, they’ve become well-known as monster detectives, as you said. First, it makes sense that they have to find a way to make a living and to pay for food, lodging and transportation expenses. Being in the press helps to pull in business and it’s what gets them hired for this case. Speaking of the old man with the “M” cane, it’s also possible that they want him to know that they’re headed his direction, but that’s just a guess.
So, vampires co-exist with humans, but it’s an uneasy peace and the local law enforcement doesn’t give a damn. This sets up the background in the murder case as the assailant could be human, vampire or even something else. The victim is the mother and the wife of the estate. It seems that she died peacefully and didn’t put up a struggle. The murder weapon is a stake made of silver. It was supposed to be locked away in the store room, but somebody broke in, committed the murder with it and then put it back. The trio will have to fit the puzzle pieces together.
As everybody else mentioned, the banter was terrific and the episode felt like it was over in ten minutes. We’re also introduced to Annie Kerber, a young journalist who was able to get some words from Lord Godard. No doubt we’ll be seeing more of her later. I was hoping to an early automobile instead of a carriage, but it’s made apparent that the driver couldn’t have afforded one. Maybe in a future episode… France is a great backdrop here, which was home to the “Beast of Gévaudan”, a wolf-like beast who killed about 100 people in the region of Gévaudan, France. Perhaps in this setting, it was a real creature. It looks like the murder mystery should be solved in the next episode. I have my guesses *has already ruled out Colonel Mustard and Mrs. Peacock* and the reveal should be fascinating.
Guardian Enzo
July 14, 2023 at 7:52 amOf course that beast was the MacGuffin of a major arc in Vanitas no Karte already. Maybe it will get a mention here, though circumstantial evidence suggests the bulk of this season will be spent in London Town.
Nicc
July 15, 2023 at 7:34 amRight, it does seem the bulk of the series will be in London or thereabouts. Still, it’ll be a great setting. It’s the tail-end of the Victorian Era and peak British Empire. I’m looking forward to seeing how many public domain characters may show up and considering that Count Dracula has already been name-dropped.
Monymous
July 14, 2023 at 3:55 pmThe screwball-style back and forth between Tsuguru and Aya really works. I like how she seems to be enjoying herself despite her predicament, and even genuinely laughs at some of his jokes. This series has started out way stronger than I would have expected.
But there should be a rule against naming a fictional butler Alfred, even in Japan.
Guardian Enzo
July 14, 2023 at 6:17 pmI did groan a bit at that, yes.
Nicc
July 15, 2023 at 7:20 amI’m guessing it was either that or Sebastian and a coin was flipped. Alfred, it is!
Simone
July 15, 2023 at 3:37 pmA fictional butler to a bat-adjacent gentleman at that!