Biggest shock of the episode: Ciel loses to a bunch of stray cats.
Summary
An unknown woman was trembling in fear, as she was going to be the next Jack the Ripper victim. Jack the Ripper was not caught yet. During a chess game, Ciel told Madam Red that he would do anything to take revenge against those who caused the death of his parents despite Red’s insistence for Ciel to rest his grievances. Later that night, Ciel wondered at his bed who the suspect could be. It turned out that Sebastian deliberately followed Ciel’s instructions strictly, and did not mention that there could be other suspects that were “not human.”
They finally established a link between all victims and rushed over to the remaining possible victim. As expected, the victim’s screams were heard and a man appeared from the door. It was Grell, the butler for Madam Red. Grell was in fact a shinigami in cohort with Madam Red and Grell’s personality completely changed. From a “docile man”, Grell turned to a narcissistic love female shinigami fiend. That transformation disgusted Sebastian as she continuously tried to flirt with Sebastian. Being an outsider, Sebastian was surprised that Grell actually worked with a human.
Actually, Ciel had considered Madam Red to be a suspect but her alibi was perfect. However, since Grell was a shinigami, it was possible to kill the victims beyond human capabilities. The victims were all patients who had undergo an abortion in her clinic. Ciel said he was going to capture them, but Madam Red was ready to silence our heroes before that happened. Grell, with his death scythe modified into a chainsaw of doom, was clearly having the upper hand in the battle against Sebastian. On the other hand, Ciel was struggling against Madam Red as he was cornered. Ciel asked why Madam Red would do such a thing despite being a doctor who was supposed to save lives. Madam Red said that he would not understand, and should not be in this world.
When Madam Red was about to stab Ciel, Sebastian ignored the strike by Grell to charge to Ciel. Only a scream from Ciel prevented Sebastian from killing Madam Red. It was clear that Red was unable to kill her nephew, and her reluctance was deadly as Grell stabbed her chainsaw into Red’s body. Grell cruelly said that she did not want to work with a normal woman like Red anymore. The finishing blow resulted in a dramatic flashback of Red’s life to surface.
We see the flashback of Madam Red with her sister. It was clear that she hated her red hair, but she was praised by Ciel’s father for that. She loved her sister and fell in love with Ciel’s father. However, Ciel’s father fell in love with her sister. She was jealous but she never hated her sister for taking her love. She eventually found someone to love and marry, but was robbed of her happiness when her husband died in a tragic accident. In order to save her own life in the accident, she was unable to give birth anymore. In addition, the image of the crimson flames burning Phantomhive’s house etched in her mind. Hence, she hated those prostitutes who were willing to kill their little lives when she could not reproduce anymore.
She then killed one of them, only to be spotted by a crimson red shinigami (Grell). A few months later, she met up with Ciel but she personally lamented that Ciel’s father could not come back like Ciel did. With that, she fell and died. Ciel then ordered Sebastian to eliminate “Jack the Ripper.” Grell asked if a devil can beat the gods, but Sebastian simply said that he was ordered to beat him.
Thoughts
Warned by the readers to get a shock in my previous entry, I still did not expect the plot twist to go into total chaos with everything thrown out of the window, ceiling and stratosphere. I will never be able to imagine Madam Red and Grell being the perpetrators of the crime since they seemed to be clear cut allies. In addition, nothing has prepared me for the sudden serious and rather “emo” scenes in this episode. That said, I applaud the anime for making such an amazing plot twist.
The transformation of Grell from a totally incompetent butler to batshit crazy disgusting psychopath is another top draw from the Kuroshitsuji staff. Grell’s disgusting digs at Sebastian just feels totally hideous and her attempts to seduce (albeit in a malicious manner) is done in such a detesting manner that you hope that Sebastian will really disfigure that transvestite’s face. The character portrayal of a totally sadistic personality is done in an extreme manner that leaves nothing to chance, and it is good to surprise the audience after a rather mellow four episodes.
Madam Red’s fate is sad to be honest, and I can understand why the many tragedies in her life might have pushed her to the state of oblivion. You can always ride the high horse by saying that she is just making excuses to kill people (and murdering people is always a sin), but there is only so much that a woman can take in her life. Madam Red’s life is so tragic that her deviant behavior is just a total blob of hatred to those prostitutes who treat abortion like nothing happened.
I must really add that this is an episode where we did see the limitations of Sebastian. He is powerful as a demon, but he seems rather over matched by the prowess of Grell. He was literally struggling against the sheer strength of Grell’s attacks and I actually like the fact that Sebastian’s powers have a limit compared to other similar series (Neuro being one) where they just deus ex machina out of battles. I know that I am not supposed to take Kuroshitsuji too seriously, but it is the limits of the characters that make Sebastian’s nonchalant and confident attitude in stark contrast.
Episode 5 also showed that Ciel is still a child in terms of emotional strength. For all his bravado, he is still a dependent because it is clear that he is unable to attack a woman that is his relative. Even though Madam Red never truly had the resolution to kill Ciel, Ciel looks like he is in total shock from the revelation that his enemy is his aunt. Ciel really fits on the “All bark and no bite” type of character. However, without Ciel’s strong exterior and weak interior personality, Sebastian’s charm in the show will be much lessened.
Lastly, anyone found the scene in the motivational poster to be hilarious? I know I did because it is so out-of-character for Sebastian to be so engrossed over a bunch of cats. As a parting question, do you feel any sympathy for Madam Red?
31 Comments
Boy, they really cut a lot out of Madame Red’s flashback and I don’t see why. At the pace A-1 is going there isn’t going to be any manga left to adapt by the end of November…
@Escaru: After watching the anime, I could not resist reading the manga to see what is missing. I must say that there is a lot cut off from the manga but it does not detract from the viewing experience. I actually enjoy how they manage to squeeze this into 1 single episode without dragging too long. As much as the “flashback” in the manga is more poignant, I think a faithful adaptation to the manga might drag the series way too much for anyone’s enjoyment.
I do wonder if they will have enough original content because the last thing I want are deliberate and poorly made fillers.
This episode is win for me! Although I agree that they cut many scenes of Madam Red’s flashback, but they delivered this episode very smoothly. I already know everything from the manga, but was drown and emo a bit too. This shows that they did a really good job
For this ep good sake, I begin to like Grell /Greil (Not sure which one but not Grull~ Impz >.<) His totally opposite personalities are charming <3 I kind of understand why many people fell for him, haha
I always love when it’s Sebastian and cat, too adorable and cuteeeeee!! Did you see how Sebastian acts when he’s with his ‘girlfriend’ in manga? XD
For Madam Red, I like it in the way that how love can changes your world around, from the thing you hate the most to like it.
I can’t wait till the next ep cos we get Grell get smashed and thrown and stepped on and pummelled and humliated and so on. I think they will the ep next week with the funeral scene. I wonder if they are going to finish with the indian arc?
In Sebastion’s defence…he is fighting hand-to hand against a CHAINSAW.
Oh god Sebastion and his love of pussy, how it vexes Ciel greatly.
god, this episode looks amazing. after the last episode (which btw ended with a clever cliffhanger), i immediately looked for any scanlations of the manga, which luckily covered most of this arc, so i basically knew what’s gonna happen, i’ve only been worrying about the execution. But your review made it sound like a good episode, so i can’t wait to see this. I love btw your view of madam’s red tragic life. IT’s not overly dramatic IMHO, i even think it’s quite rational only twisted.
Grell!!! I must say. Grell is more preferable to me than Sebastian is atm. He’s like crazy
okamashinigami Zangetsu!!! And you, happy roachyween to you, your evilness.@Blist: If there is something I suck at, it’s names. I can never remember the right names for the characters. Anyway, I have corrected it after my girlfriend spammed me about it.
I actually dislike Grell because s/he is just way too much of a freak for me to accept her existence. I do not mind someone who is strange, but she is just way too psychopathic for me to LIKE her as a character. I do like to hate her though, which sounds how excellent a character she is.
In addition, Madam Red, I think that the standard love to hate change is done nicely in this series.
@Cherubium: SPOILERS! EVIL CHERUBIE-CHAN! Anyway, we will see how it goes.
@Dana: True, but he never uses a weapon anyway while the death god requires his weapon in order to be strong. That’s how they fight, so I don’t think it should be a factor at all.
…your last sentence is so wrong at so many counts that I do not know how to start.
@Eipu: Ya, it’s a good episode because it does not try to be overly melodramatic that might make it pretenticious. One thing that turns me off immediately is how shows try to make a certain protagonist such a poor thing that we are forced to sympathize with him/her.
My logic is to screw that and hate on that retard for being an emo prick. I think one of the biggest examples for an emo prick is one of our popular shounen series which I will omit for ethical reasons.
One thing that I was slightly disappointed in this episode is the poor animation at some points. I hope that it is not an indication of the limited budget.
@13sugars: You are a piglet. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.
I was hoping that they would span the Madam Red arc to two episodes and maybe add some new content. It’s been bothering me how closely they’re following the manga. Either way, I sympathize with Madam Red and her child complex because I know there are many women in real life who shares a similar fate.
Madam Red’s arc was actually my favourite in the manga ( as far as I’ve read, which hosestly isn’t very far). I think Madam red, as a character is meant to be pitied, rather than reviled. She would have given anything to have a child, and seeing those prostitutes treat killing their own children like it was nothing…..anyone can see why that would have driven her over the edge.
Man, I’m so jealous of you!!! They’ve only subbed episodes 1 and 2. It’s times like these where I wish my Jap didn’t suck so badly.
@Impz that is the first time someone called me Cherubie………kinda creepy. btw I’m a guy -_-”
@Yubikiri: episode 3 subbed is already out too~ now I’m waiting for the episode 4
Hope it comes out soon.
@Cherubium: eh~ but Cherubie just sounds so cute XD but maybe only girls like it
heh. Grell grell grell. He’s in total shit now. Sebastian loves his cats though.
@Jayers: I actually think that it will feel way too draggy if they span the Madam Red flashback to two episodes. As much as it feels all right in the manga, I can see it being a bit too melodramatic and boring when it transfers into the moving images of anime.
The part about the child complex is a bit extreme but it is hardly from thin air. It’s painful to see people who do not even care about the life in their stomach when you can no longer conceive.
@Yubi: LOL, that is why I write an extensive summary so that you can still try to watch it while remembering what is happening in general.
@Cheru: Meant to creep you out.
@Elva: HAHAHA. I cannot wait for Sebastian to rearrange his face.
someone was kind enough to sub this herself, so for those who are interested in the softsubs of episode 4, it’s available at the kuroshitsuji lj community ^^
One thing that turns me off immediately is how shows try to make a certain protagonist such a poor thing that we are forced to sympathize with him/her.
I agree. I’ve never felt anything akin to pity for Ciel, which is really a surprise for me, because normally, characters who’ve met great tragedy in their lives elicit such emotion from viewers, particularly me. In fact, i admire his character, his bravado, if i must say, his awkward cockiness combined with subtle innocence, which i also find really interesting.
I noticed the decline in quality since episode 2, but somehow, it got better in 3rd and 4th (or was it my imagination?). The animation is bound to get flawed along the way, so i guess, it’s better not to get our hopes high ^^ Only BONES (i guess) which can be consistent with the quality of their projects afterall.
SOFTSUBS FOR EPISODE 5 IS ALREADY AVAILABLE HERE: http://community.livejournal.com/kuroshitsuji/133580.html
YOu have to be a member of the community first before you can view that post.
I personally can’t wait to see this episode. Lotsa action to see.
@Rei: Yep I saw it around in the community. I should post up my entry later in the community livejournal too for people who wished to discuss about it.
@Eipu: I think that the mangaka never intended for people to feel pity for Ciel. That will be an extremely cheap trick to divert attention about how this boy is punching above his belt to sustain the nobleness of the phantomhive family. It’s the mix of him trying so hard yet still retaining a resemblance of the naivete that children possess in their hearts. He is trying to harden his heart, but it is clear that he still has a child’s mind deep within his heart. That is how Ciel becomes charming as a main character.
Ya, I actually notice the decline in animation quality but it was not that painful to watch. In fact, I will say that it is still tolerable but I feel that any more degradation might be overly visible then. A-1 pictures did do a pretty good job at this series for now though. I think PROD I.G manages to be consistent as well.
@Rainne: hahah, cool! ^_^ I joined the community too to whore my entry.
Grell’s not a woman, just really girly.
The next episode should have more on this (with some of William Shakespeare’s work as well).
Grell’s a guy, there’s a bit of rather conclusive evidence in the manga. They might choose to reveal it next episode, or they might not, judging from the break-neck speed they’re going.
I mean, there MUST be a reason why they’re using Fukuyama-san instead of say, Saiga-san to do Grell.
Grell’s a guy??! Ive always thought grell is a woman, atleast that’s how he/she refers to himself/herself in the anime. Damn, it would be more interesting if grell’s a woman.
nope, Grell is a guy, but he wishes to be a woman. So all those womanly words Grell used is poart of his attempt to feel like one (since he’s already can’t physically). In the manga, it said too that the reasons Grell joined with Madam Red because 1. he also hates those prostitute coz he can’t have a child so he hates what they did too 2. he loves red (which can be imply to color of blood) The second one I’m not sure, but it’s what I felt from reading manga ;P
And~~~ a big hug for those who subbed the episodes!! Love you TwT
@Sarumanu: Girly is an understatement, Saru-san. He or she or it or whatever is just creeping me out so badly. Shakey’s work too? That feels so queer now to see such a thing in Kuroshitsuji. It’s a pleasant surprise.
@Reika: He’s a guy? oh my god, I really don’t know whether he’s a very poor attempt at a trap or just a bloody freak. In any case, I think that it is no longer shocking whether he’s male or female. It’s already shocking that he is around in the first place.
@Rei: I actually thought he was a guy, but then I thought he was a girl when he addressed himself in the shinigami mode. Now, I don’t know what to believe anymore.
@Blist: Oh I see. However, being a shinigami ,it feels queer that he wants to have a child in the first place. That is so strange for a shinigami to actually want a baby. He can just attach himself to a female shinigami. Okay, my brain is blown away @_@
hahaha, to make it’s easy, Impz, he’s a crazy tussie! (but I like him, lol)
I watched this episode with less expectations quality wise and man, i really was pleasantly surprised ^^ It actually turned out a lot better that i imagined. I loved the action scenes, they were very exciting and totally kept me glued on the screen. I am extremely pleased with this episode. I must say that i found Grell creepy, funny, disturbing, interesting and even adorable. I’m hoping sebas-chan won’t have to kill him, he’s way too interesting to die. THough since he’s a shinigami, i guess that won’t be a problem.
…He is trying to harden his heart, but it is clear that he still has a child’s mind deep within his heart. That is how Ciel becomes charming as a main character.
Wow, I couldn’t agree more with what u said. You’ve pretty much nailed it, the way i perceive Ciel’s character.
Yeah, Grell dreams of the love that can never be.
Also, the thing about Sebastian and cats…
It sure is a shame that we never got to see his precious girlfriend yet.
Though they might cover that in a future episode (just like they didn’t introduce Lizzy until after the Italian affair).
@ sarumanu
whatthe?? girlfriend? Did u just say GIRLFRIEND?! Oh f***!
Grell is male, he wants to have babies, but can’t. He wants to “mate” with Sebastian and in truth he was always a transvestite in order to compensate for the fact that he is a man.
Sebastian’s girlfriend? is she the one who always stay in the garden?
@rei and Cherubium: yap, the girlfriend that he always meets her secretly in the garden, lol. Don’t be so shock, rei. You’ll see if they add her in the anime, if not, I’ll tell you which manga chapter she is.
You ARE aware that Grell is a MAN right?
Seeing all these “she’s” is making me nauseated.
Especially seeing all these Grell bashers too.
In my opinion,as a VERY long time fan, out of all Kuroshitsuji’s characters, Grell has to be the most interesting, next to Ciel and Sebastian.
Yana Toboso did a great job on the series, and every character is amazingly created.
All of her works are amazing, but Kuroshitsuji is the best so far.
Sorry for all the rambling.
And your review is interesting to read.
I especially liked how you talked about Ciel being ” a child in terms of emotional strength”
Nice review, although honestly, what ever made you think that Grell was a woman? You shouldn’t bash Grell just because he (or “she,” as you thought) hits on Sebastian. (Besides, who could blame him? ^^) I want Sebastian to kick Grell’s butt only because he killed people. (And “transvestite” is considered a slur. I just thought you should be aware of that.) That little critique aside, I’m totally looking forward to some awesome demon/shinigami fighting action in the next episode!! XD
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