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「その執事、勧奨」 (Sono Shitsuji, Kanshō)
“His Butler, Encouraging”
The tragic element of this series hits hard, like a head on collision with a rampaging werewolf. In a way, I think this could be a pessimist’s metaphor for growing up. From a doom and gloom perspective, part of becoming an adult is having one’s illusions shattered. Kids look forward to growing up because they can have more freedom and control their life, though once they get there, they realize growing up means more responsibility. Furthermore, once you participate in adult society, you realize it’s a lot darker than it appeared in one’s childhood daydreams.
Sullivan thirsts for more knowledge of the outside world, wants to grow into new ideas (and live out her fantasies on feasting on naked male bodies)- but that comes with a price. The illusions of her fairy tale village, werewolves, and emerald witch heritage are smashed to a million pieces once she takes Ciel and Sebastian’s hands and discovers the true nature of the outside. The whole time Sebastian was coaxing Sullivan to join them in tasting the freedom of the outside, I couldn’t help but think of the creation myth in the Hebrew Scriptures where Eve is enticed by a serpent into tasting forbidden knowledge.
With the smoke and mirrors dispelled, what the trio finds is far, far more disturbing than mythical werewolves and witches’ spells. If only it were that. The whole thing about the emerald witch’s wand- that was just a cover for a secret handle that summons a elevator to an underground bunker. The “amulets”- those were not charms, but rather, tracking devices monitored in a control room downstairs. But, that was all just an appetizer to what comes next.
It becomes painfully obvious just how insulated this child was- a secret meeting with the crone and werewolves is a situation that practically screams “HIDE!!”, Sullivan rushes out to confront them like calling out trusted friends in the school yard- she senses no danger at all. Indeed, there is no danger to her from the werewolves, but they seem awful panicked about a danger from something else- mentioning suits and green levels. What is that something else? From the crone’s own lips- the world’s most toxic gas. There is no miasma, no witchcraft. Just plain old human chemistry and the ugliness of the human heart. The ultimate “spell” was just a chemical formula to improve the gas’s deadliness. In a reverse of wolf in sheep’s clothing (though no less dangerous), the werewolves are revealed to be gas masks disguised as costumes. Inside the costumes are- gasp- men!!! This is essentially a prison camp- the child is physically mutilated to prevent her escape and forced to research and improve a killing device. In a cruel twist of irony, this contrivance turns out to be far more fantastical than if it were a flesh and blood manifestation of a Grimm’s faery tale. Sebastian is clearly savoring every moment, as the darkness of the human heart comes gushing out faster by the second. The crone’s crazed gloating as she devises a name for the new creation, totally numb to the evil in her hands adds to the situation’s monstrosity.
Sullivan’s horror and disbelief as the very foundations of her world are crumbling was truly heartrending to see. The pain, the heart screaming as the people and the environment you were taught to trust as a small child turn out to be all one big, sweet lie. None of this is Sullivan’s heart- raised the way she was, there is no way she could have known what she was doing. However, possessing a feeling, functioning human heart the way she does, Sullivan feels the weight of what she was tricked into doing, a total contrast to the people who did the tricking. Similar to Ciel’s childhood breaking point, what this shows is that corrupt systems are operated by selfish, blind sighted bastards who’ve lost their humanity, manipulating those who are vulnerable, those with still beating human hearts.
From here on out, I do wonder about the pacing. I knew from reading the manga that we were nearing the big reveal of the werewolf village, but with 13 eps, we’re a little over halfway there. That means nearing the conclusion with 6 episodes to go- I wasn’t sure if they were going to stretch out the conclusion or just go for it. Went for it they did (the right decision), but I’m not sure how they’re going to stretch another 6 episodes out of this material. Unless there’s something I’ve forgotten from the manga, we have about 1, maybe 2 episodes left in this arc. Whatever the case, I have no reason to doubt the capabilities of the anime team now.
End Card
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