It’s worth noting just how good Black Butler can be when it’s really on its game. And how consistently this adaptation delivers the series in the best possible light. We know CloverWorks isn’t an automatic like Bones or I.G./Wit in terms of slam-dunk production – it depends on budget, and scheduling is often a problem. But when their ducks are in a row, CW takes a back seat to nobody. Kuroshitsuji is a long-standing commercial titan, so this adaptation is the studio at its best. Likewise, the source material here isn’t an automatic – it has its missteps. But when it’s good, it’s pretty great.
This was all that. For sure, this would be in my top five Kuroshitsuji episodes from any season. I always love it when we get to see Ciel being really human, and even Sebastian to an extent. And Black Butler can be incredibly funny when it wants to be. It balances humor and tragedy about as well as any series out there (a trait it shares with its stablemate, Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun). Sieglinde Sullivan was the key driver of events this week, and she brought plenty of both to the table.
The subject of foot-binding is an incredibly dark side of human history. It was quite a revelation that it was practiced on Sieglinde – as Ciel notes, it’s not something associated with Europe or Germany. The reason will become clear soon enough – and it’s directly connected to the origin of the village. Ciel agonizing over communication with Sieglinde is adorable. He’s like any awkward 13 year-old boy here, and it’s compounded by the fact that his German is minimal. This is compounded when Sebastian goes to help Wolfram with the dinner preparations, leaving no one to translate.
Language barrier or no, it’s been clear from the start that Sieglinde was extremely interested in Ciel. Meanwhile Sebby is troubled to see that Wolfram is one of those cooks who can’t multitask, a spectacularly inefficient way of preparing a meal. It’s a fair bet that Sieglinde has never seen food like the two butlers (mostly Sebastian) prepare that night. It’s hardly surprising that the girl has no table manners, considering her circumstances. But her eating style proves fortuitous when the meal is interrupted before Ciel gets a chance to really tuck in. A villager has been attacked by a werewolf (apparently). And that’s enough to send the village into a tither.
A clear divide emerges here. Sieglinde – who treats the injured woman’s wounds – says it’s simply a matter of her not wearing her protective talisman. The old crone (what witches village would be complete without one) blames the intruders for enraging “Werewolf-sama”. Back home, the Emerald With pays a visit to Ciel’s room (after eavesdropping and getting caught by Sebastian). She’s not spying, merely curious – these are the first men she’s ever seen besides Wolfram, and to her he’s basically a “guard dog”. And Sieglinde has a very clear idea of what males are interested in…
Simply put, this is possibly the funniest scene in Kuroshitsuji. And it’s allowed to flower here in all its glorious form, with no nods to prudishness or decorum. Sieglinde makes it clear what she came for. And if that means a threesome, so be it – this is not a chance she’s letting slip by, even at 11 years old. Every element of this is perfect – Ciel’s astonished horror, Seb’s barely-contained mirth. and the vocal performances. Sakamoto Maaya is always great and always great in this role, but she and Kugimiya Rie really nail this scene. It’s also an incredibly interesting character moment for Ciel, who we’ve never seen in this situation before.
The language barrier complicates all this gloriously, and Sebby takes full advantage. Ciel makes it absolutely clear – this is a child, and as such her demands are strictly verboten. Whatever else you say about him, Ciel has a code of ethics, undeniably. A little gentleman always, he strives to be. What are his feelings on this subject more generally? A fascinating question, to be sure. Hilariously, Sebastian distracts the children with a plate of sweets. And Ciel rescues the moment by exhausting Sieglinde’s energy with games different from the ones she envisioned (even when he mentioned toys) until she falls asleep and Wolfram arrives to carry her off to bed.
As adorably funny as all this is, Sieglinde’s origin story of the village – and herself – is profoundly dark. It seems clear that in context the witches are the victims of the story, not the villains. When Sieglinde is tucked away in bed Ciel and Sebastian get down to the real business of the trip, to get to the bottom of the werewolf killings. But the forest is as deep and dark as any Grimm fairy tale would paint it, and more. A miasma so terrible that it could bring a hard boy like Ciel to tears is one thing. But Sebastian? This must be a true darkness indeed…
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