Here we go again at the stupid stuff.
As the title says it, there’s filler… and there’s filler. The previous two episodes, despite the rather letdown conclusion, was decent filler that would not hurt any series at all. This week’s filler was something rather unexpected. Oh, if it helps, next week seems to be YET another filler.
Summary
Ciel got an ancient camera through an auction, with the reputation of capturing the image of a dead person you cared the most in it. It was the camera of Henry Fox, a famous scientist. In order to test it, he took a picture of Finny, and a bird appeared. It turned out that the bird was Finny’s precious pet until he accidentally killed it with his strength. One flaw in the camera is that it required the target to stand still for ten seconds before the shot was effective. Ciel asked the three useless servants to help in a plot to capture Sebastian in the camera.
After that, the three ineffectual servants tried various ways to make Sebastian keep still with zero success. Even Ciel got into the act of luring Sebastian to his room, but Sebastian was able to evade it. Just when the servants were complaining, Sebastian told the three of them to take care of Pluto as a visitor was coming over. Sebastian mumbled that he could finally watch in peace, clearly showing that he knew what was going on.
Finny was playing with Pluto, and it’s clear that they were unable to take care of Pluto. Sebastian finally finished his work, and was playing with a cat. However, Sebastian was interrupted by Pluto as Pluto was jealous that Sebastian was giving too much attention to the cat. The three reported their failure, and they were thinking of a plan. Just then, Liu came in saying that he has a plan, and he would definitely succeed. Then, he asked, “So, what are we dealing with.” The guest, a financial reporter, came. Liu tried to use one of his girls for a lust effect, but Sebastian was completely unshaken. Ciel felt stupid to trust Liu on this.
In the meeting room, Tanaka was simply trying to keep his adult form while Sebastian explained Phantomhive’s vision in the future. They were intending to expand their influence in Europe and America, as well as improving the quality and customer service to propel Phantomhive to the top. Sebastian reported that the interview was well, and it was clear Ciel was keen to avoid any pictures (for security). At night, their final plan was at place. Finny was told to throw a marble statue at Ciel. Finny was worried about it, but Ciel told him to do it.
Just when the statue was about to fall, Sebastian came to save him. With the sparkles, it was conducive for the photo to be taken. However, Sebastian simply said that Ciel could ask for a photograph if he wanted his photo that much. Ciel tried to deny the allegations. Later that day, the three were developing the negatives when Pluto interrupted with a burst of flames. It turned out that Sebastian was the one ordering the destruction, and awarded Pluto with a bone.
As Sebastian entered the study room, he found Ciel sleeping soundly. He took a picture of Ciel, and the image showed Sebastian, Pluto and Ciel. The three started wondering about how the three actually related to each other. Sebastian was teasing Ciel about the picture. He said that the image was merely an illusion, but humans were dumb enough to accept this. Finny started wondering that the image should show a picture of the dead, and found it strange that Sebastian was in the picture. However, due to his carefree behavior, he did not bother about it too much.
Thoughts
What in the holy crap! You know, I am generally lenient to fillers, as long as they advance the plot or develop the characters in a meaningful manner. However, when fillers became as blatant, it makes it almost impossible for me to review anything with an objective manner. How should I start? It feels like a totally stupid episode right from the start because Ciel suddenly wanted to test a spirit-capturing camera. The fact that the three have proven themselves to be humans who are unable to do anything to save their life makes it silly for Ciel to request any work from them. In fact, they should never exist in this anime, but we need them to make them awesome. Sigh.
Oh yes, tell me about it. I am actually slight because they wasted more than 18 minutes of the series for absolutely fluff that no one except those who likes fanservice of idiots (those three), shotas (Ciel’s sleeping), yaoi innuendo (one scene at the end) and naked dog men (Pluto) will actually have something positive to say of this episode. If you are wondering, I am not interested in silly things. It was downright bad, even if the animation did not go into Naruto-level fillers or Bleach-level fillers. Now, that one was just a blatant attempt to milk the franchise. This is intolerable too, but it obviously will never reach the epic levels of those crap stuff.
Now, if you allow me to say something, I find the entrance of Pluto to be pretty much annoying in general. The gag of Pluto hating the three and loving Sebastian was not even half funny when it came the first time. By the second time it came, it was boring and dry. Maybe my lack of humor glands was the problem, but I think that I do laugh easily when it’s funny. I actually found myself cutting my nails from boredom, and hence had to watch the episode again when I did the summary.
So, since I have almost nothing good to say about this, what do you think of this episode. Just as a warning, next week seems to be yet another filler.
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17 Comments
oh god… I had hoped this anime would be around 26 episodes but considering there is only 5 manga volumes, we’ll probably be facing an anime of 13 episodes…
MANGA SPOILER
but i’m sure that the indian arc should be able to fill up a couple of episodes, but it Japan is only up to the 5th volume andconsidering the anime already covered 3 volumes, I guess there really isn’t enough content… oh god, this annoys me
I mean the jack the ripper arc went on for first 3 volumes… and then there was a mini chapter in which ELizabeth and her mother visits ciel and Elizabeths mother has a hunting fight against ciel…so at the very least they could have made one episode about that *grr*
the 4th volume was about some indian prince and his servent. I’ve only read up to volume 4 because that was all i can find in chinese
—
Well I hope you’ll continue blogging this! I mean the first 6 episodes was great, i’m sure a couple of fillers won’t hurt as long as they get back to a decent story plot at some point…
The only servent other than Sebastian that me and my mother like is Tanaka XD
hahahahaha, I feel sorry for you Impz, with your attitude towards this episode yet has to re-watch it for summary. Thanks a lot for that!
But I have to say that I totally love this episode. Damn hilarious! Ok, the Pluto gags aren’t good (almost the worst, no.1 goes to Ciel’s plan of throwing a statue… so silly = =’). Other jokes all over the episode are mixed with so-so and nice ones. My favorite is about Tanaka who can adapts himself into any kind of situations, and Sebastian with that reporter, lol. Anyway, with all these mixed up, it allows me to have a strangely-funny smile and laugh through out episode.
Just to clear myself, I’m not any fan of these fanservice: shotas (No! Bishounen only! *Edgar’s face suddenly shows up*), yaoi innuendo (never in this life =_=, and I have to admit I had an irritated feeling during that scene…) and naked dog men (Please just give him some clothes! or don’t show his appearance that often -*-). The idiots… hmmm, maybe
The only one I like is Finny’s accidentally murdered his bird, lol.
For next ep: glad to see Elizabeth again, but what’s with that figure skate post…. Sebastian? Please…
Relax, Impz. Next one is episode 10 and we only have 3 more left. If it’s not getting better, you can just keep this on for a little bit!
Haha..I gathered from the comments of those who’ve watched this episode (over at kuroshitsuji lj comm) that this is slightly better than the last two episodes. Guess i better condition myself before I actually watch this that it isn’t the case ^^; Don’t worry impz, your rage/disappointment/annoyance is utterly justified..Oops, i really shouldn’t have said that.
*reads the first paragraph of the summary* Hmm, the premise isn’t bad..In fact, I find the camera that captures one’s most significant “dead” person to be amusing and somewhat intriguing. Or maybe I’m just biased ^^; I’d love to see who/what’s going to turn up when they take Sebastian’s pic. Too bad Ciel and his servants didn’t succeed though I’m also relieved since they didn’t have to insert a possibly lame spoiler for sebastian’s background.
Liu came in saying that he has a plan, and he would definitely succeed. Then, he asked, “So, what are we dealing with.
Haha! Liu never fails to put a smile on my face whenever he appears. He’s always pretending that he knows everything when in fact he doesn’t. It’s well executed and the timing is always (nearly) perfect ^^
I think this episode started as interesting (atleast for me) but ended as a failure. And why is Pluto still there?? I really can’t bring myself to care about him. In fact, whenever I see him on screen, i feel incredibly annoyed.
And the staff are running out of filler ideas that they just had to resort to blatant fanservice ^^; It’s incredulous, really, but I can’t bring myself to hate Kuroshitsuji. The manga is great and I love everyone, yes, even the useless servants, but these fillers just ruin my experience with this show..
Moral lesson here for producers or whoever works with anime: It is a bad bad idea to make an anime from a manga that has less than 20 chapters.
Someone shoot me. but i guess it’s better than episode 8…slightly…
I liked the fanservice, and your summary made me like it more, lol!
But seriously, sure it might have been sub par in overall quality compared to the rest, but I didn’t think it was so bad that I wasted my time watching it. Hopefully at least half of the next episode is from the manga, they are dressed like they would in winter at least.
The only thing that really amused me was Lau going on and on about how his plan was guaranteed to succeed and then was all like “… So what’s going on again?
” But that running gag never fails to make me giggle.
And of course there was Tanaka. Tanaka makes everything better. He’s like Kuroshitsuji’s Alfred, if Alfred was DEFLATABLE.
Yet I digress.
I’ll admit the fanservice was nice, but it just makes me think that the Kuroshitsuji staff have run out of ideas entirely at this point. And it looks like Sebastian and Ciel are ICE SKATING~~~ in the next ep. Oh golly gee I wonder what fanservicey goodness they have in mind for NEXT week. @_@
At least Soma and Agni should be showing up soon. I hope. I pray.
Am I the only one who doesn’t like Soma?
I can’t help but to roll my eyes every week now as a new Kuroshitsuji ep. airs. It’s not the anime that is making me facepalm, but rather the fandom reaction to it. It seems like everyone is getting their panties in a knot, because the anime is not following the beats of the manga. Being a part of the Kuro LJ community, I see all the bashing comments about the current ep.
It’s like ONE person did not like the fact when the anime started to steer away from the manga, so the rest of the community had to jump on the hating band wangon. The only reason for this is seriously because “it’s not like the manga”, and “these episodes are just pointless and stupid.”
I am not a diehard anime fan. So, if an anime catches my attention, it’s because it appeals to me story wise or art wise. It’s not because it’s OMG SO KAWAII ANIME STYLE WITH BIG KAWAII EYES DESU!
Therefore, I am able to look at this whole Kuroshitsuji non-manga following from a non-tainted perspective. I am rather enjoying the anime, even though it’s having different plots than the manga. I mean, so what. I am rather HAPPY to see this, actualy.
This is giving the fans/viewers more content and scenes than what it originally had in the manga. We get to see the characters do additional acts and partake in new events than just what the manga holds. Even if the manga plots and scenes are not being animated, we are being treated to extra subject matter.
Can’t we appreciate that?
I’m sure when the manga ends, the weeaboo are going to cry and complain for more content anyway…so these episodes should be loved.
thank you for taking the time to make this summary, I’m not good at japanese and didn’t understand some things.
anyway, this filler was…. boring…and so were the others. the only thing that made me laugh was Lau and his plan; seeing Ranmao posing in the stairs and sebastian looking annoyed at it made me laugh like there was no tomorrow XD
oh and the fanservice was so forced and obvious it pissed me off; they don’t even know how to make decent fanservice D:
I also was like… “ANOTHER ONE?!” when I saw that next week they will give us another filler, I still don’t know how many chapters will the anime have, but I hope they animate the indian arc -cross fingers-
I just hope next filler I mean, episode, is better.
At least, from the screenshots, it seems like this episode is animated quite well.
While I am hardly against anime original episodes and I have commented that long back since the end of episode 6, my main problem with the episode 7(not so bad even if not up to the par of the past arc) 8 (I can’t stop shaking my head at the end of the battle scene. At least the dog-hunk is eye candy) 9 (Have to check it out first, but I did hope for more story or at least something more relate to Ciel’s past or Sebastian himself since it is getting to the end of the series) is that it isn’t really up to the par (in my opinion) and a drop from such a quality of Jack the Ripper arc does upset me. For the first half of Kuroshitsuji (1-6), I really like it and keep looking forward to it every week. Even if the 7th one gave me some doubt, I still look forward to see something pretty cool. However, after the 8th, I only hope that the rest of the episodes won’t be worse, and that isn’t the kind of expectation I want to have watching this series.
AND this isn’t because this is anime original stuff. I see that you enjoy these episodes and I have no problem with that. To be very fair, these episodes do have their good share of enjoyable things, which is much more than what I can say for a manga-based episode of some animes (not naming any series here, but all of us should be able to think of quite a few names) But I have my reasons (except their originality) to be disappointed. A good original episode is good. A bad manga-based episode is still bad, as well as the other way around. However, I may have a higher expectation for Kuroshitsuji than other series since it is my favorite, but from the first half, I also have a firm reason to develop such an expectation.
But this still looks good enough to entertain myself thought. Thank goodness, I don’t really hate the three servants.
“Oh yes, tell me about it. I am actually slight because they wasted more than 18 minutes of the series for absolutely fluff that no one except those who likes fanservice of idiots (those three), shotas (Ciel’s sleeping), yaoi innuendo (one scene at the end) and naked dog men (Pluto) will actually have something positive to say of this episode.”
Oh god, the kittens! Why didn’t you think of the kittens?!
There are other qualities of visual nature that are quite enjoyable in Kuroshitsuji regardless of the plot. I liked this episode
I completely understand why the fillers suck with the force of a thousand black holes. Without some kind of definite arc to lead you along, it’s hard to get yourself to watch random episodes that result to nothing.
However, maybe I’m a bit more tolerant of the retardalicious fillers. I somewhat enjoy seeing them on a day-to-day routine, as long as it’s not overly done or anything. It’s rare that anime with serious undertones like Kuroshitsuji has moments where you see the characters doing normal, every day things (…if this can even be remotely considered normal).
I do think Pluto is a kind of sad addition to the cast, though, mostly for the fact that he’s forever naked… but I think that his child-like doggishness is slightly cute at times…? I don’t know… I’m debating on whether or not we need anymore bucket-brained characters to up the intelligent factor and awesomeness of Ciel and Sebastian. We’ve got three servants already.
Speaking of, in this episode, Ciel seems kind of out of character (a little), but I kept trying to counter that by saying Ciel is still a child regardless of how much he’s had to grow up mentally. I guess when you have a demonic butler who always remains enigmatic, you get accustom to trying to enjoy having fun toying with him.
ANYWAY, all in all: even if it is fillers, I demand more Kuroshitsuji until it starts to perhaps suck out the wazoo. I’ve got the manga to keep me tied over, at least.
@Bamboo: I will say that the first 8 episodes were great, but this was just terrible. As usual, I will hope that this is merely a blip in the quality compartment for Kuroshitsuji. I ain’t gonna give up on it as yet because the characters are still fun (despite my hatred for the 3 incompetent servants). They just irk me every single time they appear on the screen.
I am not too sure if they could cover anything of that, so we should expect fillers for the rest of the episodes sadly. Let’s hope that the fillers have at least the quality of ep 7.
@Blist: Really? I found it hardly funny except for the part that Lau came into the picture. I have a soft spot for Lau because he is the typical confusing character that makes it all cool before going “So what are you talking about?” That always kills the mood and rings in the laughter.
I really don’t care about fanservice of guys. I am a guy, and I ain’t gay to look at male fanservice at all. Hence, any male fanservice is just a total turn off for me, and I become more sensitive to it compared to gals. Hah!
Tanaka is just so queer when he transformed himself into the old and respectable man before going HO HO HO. I think that the three servants should learn from him. Learn what? LEARN TO SHUT UP AND STOP ANNOYING ME.
@Eipu: Lol, I am just sick and tired of bad quality. Not fillers by the way because there are shows where non-fillers are crappier than this episode. It’s just that my expectations of the show was brought to a giddy height due to the magnificence of Madam Red’s arc but it was hit down just as fast.
I might be generalizing here, but most of the people who are watching this are gals. I do wonder how much you gals will enjoy the fanservice. I know I don’t.
@Aga: because of fanservice? NOOOOOOOOOO! NO MORE FOR IMPZIE.
@Elana: You are trying to kill me right? I don’t like fanservice and it resulted in me squirming in total agony when the male fanservice went raging on. Who’s soma too.
@Hyatt: Hmmm, I do not think that there’s any more time for the Indian Arc. It will at least take 4-5 episodes, and the threshold of the coverage has been breached sadly. I don’t think that we will have SOMA or Agni appearing anytime soon unless we have a second season.
@anoy: The argument of trying to attack the opinion “these episodes are just pointless and stupid” is one of a flawed argument. No matter whether you are a casual or hardcore anime fan (I can pretty assure you that I am the former rather than the latter), you do want to see some resemblance of plot development, character development or some meaning in what the characters do. If the episode is just totally pointless to any of these points, there is absolutely no reason for us to even enjoy it.
I do not think that there is anything wrong with doing more content and scenes compared to the manga. I never have anything against fillers, and I actually enjoy it when fillers are done well. If you are thinking, Kurenai had so many good filler episodes that it is perhaps the standard of how fillers are done: where they develop the characters, are funny and advance the plot without hurting the original plot of the story.
However, the truth is that fillers have often more than not gone into the stairway of shit, and it’s depressing because you know that it is a blatant attempt to extend the franchise. I do not need to go on to tell you the problems of doing that.
This seems like the case here. Your argument itself supports the very reason to dislike this episode since you watch it for the “story” or “design”. This is the exact episode that depicts your “OMG SO KAWAII ANIME STYLE WITH BIG KAWAII EYES DESU!” preference for anime fans. That is why some of them can enjoy this because it is clearly a blatant attempt for fanservice.
If you are merely criticizing people for hating this episode because it is not in the manga, you have a valid reason. In fact, you have argued competently in this aspect. I am also somewhat agreeable that manga fans tend to be overly critical. However, if you are saying that we should just be grateful for anything new (which seems to be what you implied), then I think you are really someone who can enjoy everything. ^^ I can’t. I have some quality control with the amount of limited time I have for anime.
@Katya: Well, I just hope that we don’t have any more silly male fanservice no more. I am tired of it.
@Kaitsune: Hah. you should be glad because their appearance are grating on me. Also: Read my comment on Anoy.
@Kitsune: COS I hate kittens AND dogs! I hate pets. WAHAHAHAHAHAHA xD
@Bay: I don’t think Ciel is out of character. It just shows the rather playful side of him when there is nothing to be done. There’s no need to be overly serious over everything, and that is one thing that has been somewhat emphasized. In addition, Sebastian and Ciel has a history of having mind games with each other, so it feels like one of them.
Huh, Pluto is just the 4th most annoying character other than the three retards. Sorry. He’s not cute. He’s stupid. He’s like a …..never mind.
@Impz
Well, I don’t like idiotic characters that much, but there are types of characters that I hate more, for examples clueless-average-dude-who-nice-to-everyone-and-every-hot-gals-like-him type of characters in harem eroge adaptation and actually most of the eroge stereotypes.Those are the ones that are just enough to make me not watch an anime, or hate that anime with a burning passion of thousand sun. These three idiots are still bearable to me even though I won’t miss any of them if the mangaka or the studio decides to suddenly kill them off.
For the issues about manga purists, this reminds me of Harry Potter purists (or The Lord of The Rings purists) who scream to you every time the new movie comes out “OMBFG! This movie sucks!!! This scene isn’t in the book. They don’t have this scene from the book. This scene is changed. YadaYadaYada…….. It makes my eyes bleed! I am going to go back reading the book and cry” That’s very annoying……
However, it would have been better if they adapt some left manga’s chapters if they can’t think of anything new and good… Unfortunately, it won’t be enough time to do the India arc. That’s quite sad as the India arc does reveal (a little bit of) Ciel’s missing past (but still enough to end a 13-episodes anime in a not-so-erupt manner) I am still interested in how the anime would end thought since it would likely have to create its original ending (which hopefully would be better than the past episodes). I can’t think of any short manga’s material that would be good to end the show with.
I am quite of the opinion of our dear anonymous pal.
I would much rather an anime that doesn’t cling to the path of the manga. Do I really want to watch what I read? No! I’d like to watch to different versions of the same story.
Though, in this episode, a few things made me want to smack my head in the wall, so did that wonderful part in the manga where Sebastian wore a deer head (LOLWUT?)
In anycase, I look at the reviews when Raws come out so that I can understand what’s going on when I watch them (because I’m not quite there at understanding japanese) but.. lately all it’s been is episode bashing.
Doi.
ANN says it’s going to be 26 eps (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10160), which is probably why they’re trying to fill episodes with naked albino dog-men before they run out of manga stories.
I don’t really mind original stuff in a manga based anime but I mind bad quality of writing in anime just as much as in manga. I think some of the shorter stories in the Kuroshitsuji manga are quite pointless and clumsy in execution but eps. 7-9 have been pure stupid. Some individual ideas I liked, like the shot with Sebastian’s “angelic wings” crumbling (http://www.animay.net/gallery2/displayimage.php?pid=64428&fullsize=1 and http://www.animay.net/gallery2/displayimage.php?pid=64429&fullsize=1), but the overall writing in these eps is nearing the intolerable because everything is forcibly made so cuddly and funny and dumb and the writers seem to continuously be on their toes so that they wouldn’t in any circumstances make anyone think or feel sad/creeped out/fascinated/etc. This doesn’t work for me because what originally attracted me in the series was the odd balance between dark drama and comedy.
If this series is going to continue being so painful to watch I’m going to have to drop it since I’ve never been able to stand the overdone silly fluffy stupid humor that’s beginning to be a trend here.
I would like it better if the anime followed the manga. The manga is really good. But it is interesting when the anime doesn’t follow the manga, too. But if they’re going to make fillers/not follow the manga at least don’t make it stupid. Thats why the anime sucks. >_>
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