Kuroshitsuji has been mostly great in anime for a long time now (since the Okada debacle ended) so the current run of form is nothing new. But “Midori no Majo-hen” has a different feel to it. It’s like we’re cutting closer to the bone now, in a sense. There’s a stand-alone premise as always, but these events seem more directly connected to Ciel’s origin story than the last few arcs (and seasons) have. It’s hard to beat “Book of Circus” as a premise for sheer pathos and emotional heft, but this one carries a sense of real import to it.
Part of the magic of Black Butler is the juxtaposition of silliness and extreme darkness, and this episode turned that ep to eleven. Sieglinde is very into Sebastian being her butler, Wolfie is increasingly on the boil about it, and Sebby is really throwing himself into it. To the point where the Phantomhive staff seem perturbed that he’s not more visibly worried about the young master. Tanaka is surely right that Sebastian has his own reasons – he always does. But the real question is, what are they? He’s really making a show of it.
This involves stuff like dressmaking and teaching Sieglinde table manners (I never knew that “outside in” rule about the silverware). It also involves teaching the little girl English (she insists). This later leads to the truly hilarious spectacle of a German girl speaking Japanese and being praised for her English, but one makes allowances. The only English tome at Sebastian’s disposal is a book of home remedies (the Japanese for “tincture” has a prominent “chin” in it – which means “penis” – which Sieglinde somehow senses).
Meanwhile, Finnian is doing his best to try and nurse the seemingly broken Ciel back to health (and sanity). Finny is a truly tragic figure in a cast full of them, and every allusion to his past is a reminder of that. In that sense he’s something of a kindred spirit for Ciel I suppose – boys abused by twisted adults and only in the unlikeliest of fashion still amongst the living – and that may be another reason why in his current state Ciel is drawn to Finn. He’s not a natural as a nurse, given his absurd strength (like his namesake from the Fenian Cycle), and his inability to control it. But his commitment to his master is certainly never in doubt.
Unavoidably, Sieglinde notes the sigil on Ciel’s right eye when she’s changing his bandages. She’s also noted the markings on Sebastian, and comes as close to the truth as anyone in her position might reasonably to expected to get. He avoids going into too much detail, though she stops him for ill-placed compassionate reasons anyway. As she says, witches aren’t judgmental about such things, and she even offers to keep the secret from the rest of Ciel’s servants. But if she knew the full truth, Sieglinde would certainly be shocked.
This last scene with Sebastian and Snake is extremely ominous, and I was actually worried for Snake (I kind of still am). Sebby contrives a reason to go to the cellar (more wine), but it’s not riesling or gewurztraminer he’s interested in. A secret passage under a castle is not rare of course, but this one – steps leading downward into the darkness – is extremely foreboding given Sebastian’s nature. He knew it was there, clearly – and why does he want Snake with him as he descends that staircase? He’s a demon and as such Sebastian’s intentions can never, ever be trusted no matter how reassuring his demeanor is.
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