Hmmm.

Well, I think I’ve read just about all the half-assed theories and wacky ideas about what’s happening this season, and in the end – I really have no clue what’s going on here.

There was one clue in episode three that leads me to believe the “lost memory” theory, rather than the dream theory or dreaded “reset button” theory. When Ciel mentioned keeping Madame Red in the dark about his trip to London, Sebastian’s “I don’t think that will be a problem” seems designed to carry a lot of weight. Either that, or it was an outstanding feint.

The larger question – do I like what’s happening in season two? Well, I must confess that it falls short of S1 for me – so far. The humor seems slightly off and the storylines a little more forced, no doubt a reflection of the manga-ka’s limited involvement in the day-to-day- writing process. It’s almost like an imitation of the show – like a really good cover band. It looks and sounds almost the same, but it isn’t quite right.

On the other hand, Sebastian and Ciel are such great characters that it’s always good to have them around. Ciel’s “I will dig up the truth and tear it from their rotting flesh” was a classic line, and typical of his character. And it will certainly be interesting to see how they interact with the new pair, Alois and Claude. I suppose it’s all going to hinge on just how good a job they do with the actual explanation of the premise and how we got here. For now, the jury is still out.