I wonder why Sebastian brings dog food… Maybe he’s a closet dog fan?
I still wonder why Sebastian hates dogs so much. Maybe he hates licking?
Anyway, a quick recap of last episode. Ciel and company were tasked by the Queen to solve the mystery of a devil dog haunting a small isolated town. The townspeople believed that if anyone sinned, they would be killed by the devil dog. This turned out to be a ploy by the governor of the town, Henry, in order to maintain power. However, when Henry was killed by the “devil dog”, it was clear that the case was not over yet.
Summary
The corpse of Henry was on public display as the townspeople proclaimed it a work of the devil dog. Ciel was dismayed that the case was not over. Meirin speculated that the devil dog probably killed Henry since he sinned against it. In a private talk with Ciel, Sebastian said that Henry was not killed by a human. Ciel was worried that it might be another shinigami. Sebastian said that Meirin’s speculation might not be that far off the mark, and Henry should be the only victim. Ciel said he was interested to see how the dog-hater Sebastian would deal with this, and Sebastian praised Ciel for his perverse delight. Sebastian was cynically glad that Ciel was learning the traits of a scheming lord.
At night, Finny was walking to check on Angela’s condition when he heard strange sounds. It turned out to be some sex calls made by Angela when she was teased by another “guy.” Finny was depressed because of his broken heart, and ran off to the woods late at night. The next day, Finny was avoiding Angela due to the Angela event yesterday. When Angela asked why Finny looked a little unwell, Finny started to panic and ran off immediately into the woods again. Sebastian was preparing Cabinet pudding for Ciel, only for Meilin and Finny to interrupt them. Angela was missing, and she was going to the wastelands where the devil dog was said to roam. Angela actually went to hunt for some herbs for the seemingly unwell Finny. Finny felt guilty and the servant group mobilized to search for Angela.
The servants urged Ciel to go, but Ciel seemed nonchalant. After the servants left, Ciel told Sebastian to give him a wonderful show later. Finny and company reached the wastelands to look for Angela, but they only found rotting limbs strewn around the floor. That included the hand of Henry, and the howling of the devil dog was heard. The group hid behind a boulder, and a silver-haired man appeared. Just then, the villagers came over to wait for the “water cleansing festival.” They heard the screams of the devil dog shouting “Ang”, which was actually Finny’s screams yesterday. They then ran ahead to find Angela, only to see the devil dog. The devil dog was holding a piece of Angela’s shredded clothing.
Finny ran ahead to confront the dog, but was clearly over matched by the strength of the devil dog. The gun that Tanaka brought was a dud, and Finny was going to be stomped by the dog. Sebastian immediately appeared in a flash to save Finny. He then displayed his “Carrot and Stick” strategy by showing the devil dog Inukko, a dog’s favorite food before bashing the dog. He then did it alternatively until the dog collapsed from his attacks. With the last blow, Sebastian crashed the dog into the floor, creating a crater in the ground. All was silent for a moment.
As they wondered what happened to Sebastian, a geyser burst through the ground. At the top of the geyser, Sebastian appeared carrying the silver haired man. Sebastian mumbled something about the refreshing spring water, and said that a member of the Phantomhive was clearly great enough to find a hidden hot spring at the very least. Angela then appeared, calling the dog Pluto. Angela explained that Pluto was a dog she found last month. She said that he was a little strange because he was able to turn into human when he was excited, but still found it cute.
Angela told the others that Henry was probably the person most fearful of the devil dog and feared what would happen if Henry knew of Pluto’s existence. However, Angela did not expect Pluto to kill Henry. Angela begged the group not to expose him, but instead train Pluto up. Angela believes that Sebastian would be able to train Pluto to become an useful servant of Phantomhive. Sebastian was resistant toward the idea, but Ciel found it rather interesting. The villagers also reached gleefully. Angela explained that the appeasement of the dog would be accompanied by the appearance of a fresh spring. Later that day, Ciel was enjoying the hot spring and everyone was working to construct the hot spring. Ciel mentioned that the Queen’s worries were over.
When the group was about to leave, Finny was kissed by Angela. Angela said that she hoped to visit Pluto one day. Sebastian said that he would wish to decline her wish, since a normal person would not be able to train a devil dog. Sebastian said that Angela seemed to have great talent in training such creatures. Angela’s face clearly changed to a more malicious look as the carriage left the town.
Thoughts
Ok, for all the ominous signs at the last episode, the final battle turned out to be one of the most “WTF” scenes in my anime viewing history. I am not even sure whether this is a good or bad WTF because it was just so ludicrously ridiculous that I cannot even express it properly. One thing for sure is that it definitely was not as good as the previous arc. Even that was an understatement, but I guess it is understandable since it is an anime original. However, it is probably hard for all arcs to meet the heights of the previous arc. The previous arc had the advantage in the death of Madam Red, a character that we have time to empathize with.
Nonetheless, I must say that the set up for the episode is still top notch, and it is perhaps a good way to lead to the conclusion. However, the conclusion, as I mention earlier, felt like a quick patch up that did not make much sense. I guess it is mainly for comedic effect, which is rather funny in an awkward way. The running joke about Sebastian hating dogs is a huge irony considering the knowledge he has of dogs in general. I am seriously wondering if Sebastian is a closet dog lover or something. Maybe he is a tsundere?
Of course, Finny’s antics continued to border on the annoyance/whatever line. I don’t know if the servant’s antics are meant to induce laughter, but I cannot find myself laughing at incompetency. This is probably an episode trying to develop Finny, but it became Finny the useless to Finny the useless whining boy. I was rather unhappy that they did not try to make the series darker because it would have been more of an impact. People watch a series to feel something, but this conclusion felt empty because there was emptiness after the conclusion. There was little emotion to feel about anyone.
Now, let me rant a little about the other servants. They either verge on stupidity (that cook), silliness (Meirin) or downright retard (Finny) behavior. It is perhaps my personal judgment toward characters that are implicitly useless. I know their uselessness is meant to amplify the omnipotent strength of Sebastian, but Sebastian would still be awesome if they are not that stupid. Actually, hash that. Sebastian’s greatness would probably be weakened by the lack of such hated but “useful” characters in the plot train. I guess it is a necessary evil.
Something that genuinely disturbs me particularly in this arc is the lack of detail in the animation. I already mentioned that the animation has been getting lazier, but there were some scenes in Episode 8 where it was rather glaring. Some of the face proportions were way off but I guess they do not have the budget to keep the animation consistent. If there is any consolation, most of the close up/medium shots are still well animated. It’s just a worry that such glaring errors might be more common as the season bores on.
One of the most funniest scenes in this episode must be the crazy battle scene using Inukko as bait. I found myself laughing very dumbly in that scene. It is just very queer, queer enough to make you go “HA HA HA” even though a second re-watch (I do that to do the summary) was not exactly making me laugh more. Another potent scene must be how Ciel gleefully wanted to keep Pluto just to annoy the shit out of Sebastian. That was serious mischief there by Ciel. I bet Sebastian was surprised to be backstabbed by Ciel, of all people.
I also wonder a lot about Angela. I really cannot tell whether she will be a nemesis for Ciel or not. What do you think?
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18 Comments
*from LJ* The reason it’s not good like previous arc is because this is FILLER. >.>;
That’s why probably I won’t even watch it, and after reading the summary, I am certain that I won’t.
Also. Did the animators forget that the story is based in Victorian London and there’s no way in hell that England would have dog food imported from Japan?
Fillers = Dumb. *headdesk*
Thank you for the summary though.
This series kinda reminds me of Buffy in it’s tone, so I see it as going from dark to silly and back again in a similar fashion.
This episode turned me on a bit…
A reason the animation errors were obvious could be ’cause the animators are saving up for the non-filler material.
Why would Sebastian use dog food to fight? Why????????
I guess this is my fault for keeping up my hope too high. This two episodes ending being totally skippable fillers (although it isn’t on the level with Bleach and Naruto’s fillers… If it is, there is no hope…) However, the building up in the 7th episode isn’t too bad, I probably would watch it, but I am deciding about the 8th one. The dumb humor is too much, and it is surely putting me off too.
The thing that pissed me off the most is the fact that there is MORE of it. ANOTHER EPISODE??? If they somehow manage to make it VERY interesting, or SOMEHOW wrap it up half way through the episode and gives us something good, I will highly appreciate that.
At least the dog-man is hot and he is naked a lot. If I get a butler like Sebastian, and a pet like this dude, this life is my heaven and I don’t mind spending the rest of eternity in hell afterward.
Hopefully next episode would be the last of the filler, and we would get the rest of the good with a better animation (the studio better saves the money for the better episodes…..)
I’ve not seen this chapter (i think i’ve got enought with seventh one xD).
But i doubt so much studio will animate the indian arc. This arc is too long, fillers will be… 3 chapters!! And i read on AnimeNewsNetwork that series will be 13 chapters. So… i hope for sake of all fans, there will be a second season (it’s impossible developing this series in just 13 chapters, even so 3 fillers episodes =_=).
It’s right this fillers doesn’t the same as Naruto’s or Bleach’s , but… anyway, they’re FILLERS and… Sebastian with a dog?!?! c’mon ¬¬
Aghh… maybe studio should have waited more time for mangaka’s work =_=
Meh, thanks for your resuming ^^
You never did like the servants did you?
I kinda like the doggy person, seems really fun.
After hearing all the negative opinions about this episode (include the previous one as well) I’m actually finding myself “afraid” to watch this..I even skipped the summary (sorry impz!) and just read the thoughts-part. I guess this disappointment has really something to do with my expectations for this series being really high. And there are even more fillers next week ^^; Ughh…Why can’t they just consult the mangaka for the filler-material???
I’ll probably add more when I find the, ermm, “courage” to see this episode.
We need more such episodes: the less predictable, the better.
Well I watched the episode and actually I don’t find myself being dissapointed, I had some fricken fun time while watching it. Since they made this filler thing, I think it gives some hope that this serier won’t be short as everyone scares.
I think Kuroshitsuji has gained so much popularity that they won’t leave it at 13 episodes… But I might be wrong.
Ok, I read the post here before, then I watched and back here now.
This episode doesn’t disappoint me either. It’s true that the animation is the poorest in this series so far, and the plot is shallow, but I still had fun watching it. Maybe it’s because I didn’t put my hope high since I knew it’s filler at the beginning. Anyway, there won’t be a complain from me as long as it’s not like Bleach’s or Naruto’s filler.
Sebastian’s fighting scene, all the people who were watching, their faces were like “WTF!!” hahahaha, It’s not only you, Impz (maybe mine too). I think what Sebastian really hates is not dogs themselves, but their relationship with owners. It is a pure relationship filled with love and royalty, to the extent of being able to die for owner’s sake, like we saw in 7th episode. It’s like a (+,0) – hmm, this is kind of biology’s stuff, the type of relationship between beings, which means that only one side gives benefits while another doesn’t give anything back in return at all. Of course, it’s not always like that. Good owners always take good care of their pets too
Anyway, I think Sebastian doesn’t like that – to give all you got and doesn’t care whether you’ll receive something back or not. He prefers a relationship that .. ok, you give me something, and I’ll give you something back in return -yes, like the contract! So it’s (+,+) – the relationship of “you win, I win”.
The creepiest in these fillers is the townsfolk! Gosh, they’re all freaks! =_=
I don’t like Angela.. and I don’t like it that she’s gonna show up again in the future for sure. I have a feeling that the reason she asks Ciel to take care of Pluto is because she can uses him as an excuse to go see them again. I guess that Angela isn’t a human (again! what’s wrong with all the butlers/maids in Victorian days?) and maybe.. mm… a succubus?
Meirin, you pervert!! hahahaha. Actually in the manga, the author gave hints that all the servants have dark secret hidden in their past… but we don’t know for sure what they used to be yet. At the very least, it should be better if the Queen sand Ciel and his troop(?) to the battle front.
Come to think of it, it maybe hard for the studio to make a filler. One thing that fans love about Kuroshitsuji is its mysterious feeling, and also that all the characters have their own mystery (which up until now… none of them is reveal yet.. even in the manga = =) So.. how are you going to do it? Making a filler that won’t ruin their mystery and won’t be spoilers (actually it’s hard bcoz don’t even know what their secret are.. so don’t know what should be avoided)?
Sebastian might had chances to get used to dogs before. If the place he lived before is hell, then there should be ‘THAT’ right? the Cerberus, lol.
Anyway, you made it again, Ciel! The Queen’s Chihuahua oops.. Guard dog!
@Kaiko: I try to keep away from the extremely obvious criticism of series. I never think that an anime original will always be bad because episode 7 is actually pretty good at building up suspense. The conclusion for ep 8 is admittedly bad, but everything before that has been Kuroshitsuji style humor and mystery. I cannot complain about that. I will not be that quick to say filler = dumb, as much as it’s so easy to do so.
However, the dog food part is both annoying and hilarious at the same time. It’s hard to describe that feeling.
@Elena: @_@ ermm ok?
@Ice: I think it’s merely for humor sake, but god even I have issues whether it’s funny or not.
@Kaitune: Well, as I said earlier in Kaiko’s comments, it is actually not too shabby. The dumb humor of Finny is the thing that turns me off quite a bit. I admit that I never like the servants a single bit since the first episode, since people who are obviously incompetent never get sympathy from me. Humor derived from their stupidity just pisses me off.
Ya, next week seems to be another filler since I do not remember seeing the dog in the manga. I hope the animation does not go down lower. That said, I am quite sure most fangirls who adore Pluto and Sebastian would probably go to hell for them. Yes, just like Ciel.
Ermm, let’s not go into Naruto and Bleach fillers. They are merely insulting just by mentioning it.
@Nalya: heh. Well, I think it’s still ok to be honest. The indian arc is actually quite fun, since I just read it recently. I do hope they animate it since it is actually funny.
@Cheru: yep, never did.
@Eipu: BOO! I spent a long time on the summary, you know
. Ya, my expectations were sky high after the Madam Red arc. It was emotionally powerful and was a testament to the good writing of Kuroshitsuji.
I just hope the fillers will not nail a coffin that should not be there in the first place.
@Kitsune: why? I don’t get your statement.
@SS: Yes, there are some good times during the arc. However, when it all ends, you feel that you have been cheated of your time because the conclusion feels so shallow and hallow. I hope not as well, because it can probably get another 13 before stopping.
@Blist: HAHAHA, I got it. The relationship of dogs is one of blind loyalty without asking for anything at all. I guess that is why Sebastian believes such stuff of pure heart is just crap because everyone is selfish and devilish in their hearts. They simply want to take some benefits from anything in order to do it. Hence, the behavior of dogs is an anomaly that Sebastian just cannot stand at all. You are right.
Ya, I was thinking Angela might be a beastmaster of ancient lore or something. Is she ever in the manga? I doubt so but she creeps me out at the very end. I must say that the sexual calls was a bit over the top at night for Angela, but she feels strangely generic until the very end. Good job for a filler.
No, actually Sebastian is the one who solved it. He declared it instead of Ciel!
Filler never been good.
@Impz: nope~ Angela isn’t in the manga, so she’s an anime original character. Actually if they’re going to add new characters anyway, why don’t they just go on to Indian arc? = = I used to think that the reason they might won’t go for it is maybe because they don’t want to spend time and material for new characters…
“No, actually Sebastian is the one who solved it. He declared it instead of Ciel!”
ahahaha, if you said it like that, then it can be said that ‘actually all the cases up until now is Sebastian’s work!’ XD. oh.. no, Ciel did cintribute something, at least dressing up and became delicious trap
this anime has been really good, I watched on a wimp and now i am trying to be quite consistant in keeping up. even if it is a filler episode i will still watch just due to the fact that the anticks are “bad” slam-stick and really random humor.
[with the dog food, i wounder if they did that for their original viewing audience]
i will watch this then chasdize myself for the time spent, oh-well, thats life
i am hoping though that the quality increases and they spent their time well on the other episodes and i like the idea of a season2 and maybe a season3 depending on the continued flow of the story
{just found this and, wanted to add my two cents}
Most anime is predictable. It does not need to be random, but I like some fun twists such as Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. I was pleasantly surprised by the Sebastian vs puppy sequence
P.S. Does anyone know what music Sebastian played on a violin in episode three?
so when Finny ran into the woods and all the trees were haphazardly cut off, was that humour or character development? because when I watched it I thought “OMG Finny too, like Grell?” which made me think that maybe Meyrin, who refuses to take off her glasses, there must be something to it too^^;
@Spicedcitrus: Welcome~ I also hope there’ll be season 2 or even 3. I still want to see more of Sebastian’s awesomeness and Ciel’s cuteness.
@Kitsune: I just know that it’s one of its ost, but don’t know the name :S
@danie: I think it’s basically for humor, but also to amplify Finny’s superhuman strength. Yes, I wanna know Meirin’s secret too ><” but maybe we can’t know it from anime (if there’s no sequel) and probably from manga (some day…)
I laughed at the idea of the hot springs, but my mum who was watching this episode was like, “Idiot, they are hot springs in the UK, In Bath.”
Garh, duh i felt kinda stupid (blah well i wasn’t the one who went on a date there 2 decades ago XD – that’s kinda my only excuse of ‘forgetting’ about the existence of Bath)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermae_Bath_Spa
So meh, maybe this epsiode wasn’t too random XD
Actually the cook got all confident in saving the gardener- i guess he is probably more of a gunman >_< I hope that the development of these useless characters wil make us like them more :p They must have some use..
I mean the gardener has ridiculous super human strength- i wonder if thats something to do with that ‘flashback’ he had in the anime…