It’s probably a measure of Kuroshitsuji’s commercial heft that it gets more episodes than it needs, and perhaps even wants. Most anime adaptations have to trim and rush to fit the essential material into their episode count. We’ve had long recaps all season, and the past two have been well over five minutes. That’s a pretty clear reflection that 13 episodes (which used to be the standard anime cour but is now very much the exception) really aren’t needed to adapt the Midori no Majo-hen arc. I suppose they’ll make something of that added time in the end, perhaps with a stand-alone episode (which has been a trend for the anime to finish seasons) but the upshot is, the past two eps have felt like they were about five minutes long.
This week was very much in the full-on action vein, which is not my absolute favorite mode of Black Butler, but in the hands of this flush adaptation one that always comes across very well. We’re strictly in the realms of fantasy with a Panzer of that sophistication in 1889. But then after seeing that bunker this is no surprise, and after all the core premise is a boy making a contract with a demon butler. In truth the Germans were actually behind the English and French in tank development, and even so battle tanks of any nationality never saw action until World War I.
Diedrich is, by all appearances, not a supernatural or even superhuman being in any sense. Just a plump German with extraordinary smarts and dexterity. In Sebastian’s absence Diedrich takes the lead in keeping Ciel (who he calls “Junior”) alive. And that’s no mean challenge with a Panzer and infantry division in hot pursuit. Diedrich gives the orders and takes the young master in his arms, advocating fleeing over making any effort to fight back against a Panzer (which Baldroy would be keen to do). Diedrich is also the one with the most inside knowledge of what the German military is up to, which will prove essential in any attempt to actually escape.
Wolfram, for his part, is horrified to see that the military seems unhesitant in firing into a group they presume contains Sieglinde – indeed, are even actively trying to eliminate her. This looks very much like an “enemy of my enemy” situation developing here. If the military is intent on killing the Emerald Witch, then the only alternative is to escape. If that means to do so with Team Ciel, Wolf will likely end up helping facilitate that in the end (since it’s clear he’ll choose loyalty to his mistress over his military duties).
Sebastian arrives in the nick of time, just as Ciel’s legs are giving out from his earlier damage and Diedrich’s ability to protect him seems to have reaches its limits. Sebastian urges his compact master to continue playing the role of mistress, and sets about doing Sebby things. In this situation Ciel’s full coldness shows through, as it usually does when he’s fighting for his life. Turning the Panzer into an oven is a bit of a challenge even for Sebastian. In fact it’s Ciel who suggests the course which leads to victory, target the likely soft spot (the top).
Two new players enter the arena here, Ludger (Yashiro Taku) and Adidas-wearing Sascha (Han Megumi). They appear to be the local grim reapers, on-hand to deal with the aftermath of Sebastian and Ciel’s counterattack. There presence seems almost incongruous here, with most of this arc playing out in a relatively non-fantastical way. Sascha opines that Sebastian is a problem they don’t immediately need to solve, since his master is present, though he does express a particular interest in said master and his family. When Toboso introduces supernatural characters it’s a safe bet they’ll have a sizable role to play in the story.
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