It looks like lights out for Kiri as Nakajima’s noose tightens. Of course, no one said that he was the final judge in these matters.
What They Say:
Episode 9: “Lyrical Night Flight”
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
So, it looks bad for Kiri as Nakajima is on the cusp of winning. It does seem like someone is about to intervene however, as the cowardly killer’s attention is drawn out to the audience and he tries to use his coward’s weapon again, but suddenly the curtain falls and the audience (remember, there is still the party going on) is left confused.
The distraction appears to have saved Kiri and on top of it, Nakajima is wounded. As he tries to escape, he is stopped by a mysterious woman, one whom we briefly glimpsed last episode. She seems to be some kind of leader of Gossip, and she reminds Nakajima that he was under strict orders not to pull a stunt like this at the party. The Lady, as the leader of Gossip is called, Lady Violet Witchy, is seriously displeased. For his transgression, Nakajima is killed. Kiri manages to see him right before he breathes his last, and just before Violet reappears. Nakajima’s last words are a warning about Violet and her pet Authors. Violet’s first words are that the play has not ended. She then tells us about the Witchy clan and their role as rulers of Gossip. It seems that they get off on continuing the murders of the Queens of Hair by Authors. Kiri is not too impressed and displeases Violet, but Iwai, released from the cage, stops her from harming him, though Violet violently brushes Iwai aside. Her distaste is visible, and it would seem that the Witchy clan might have some connection to the evil “queen” of the story.
Afterward, the police come to wrap things up. Kozakura is there to interview Kiri and Iwai, but there isn’t really much to tell. No one actually witnessed the murder of Nakajima, so even if he deserved to die, there will be no justice for his murderer(s) either. Kozakura puts on a brave front, but she’s kind of sad about Nakajima’s death. Kiri and Iwai then have a personal scene where they both express their fears. And we get some hair licking.
Whaaaaat?
And that’s just the start of the wrongness, since Kiri next starts licking the rest of Iwai. Considering she looks about 10, this is wrong on so many levels. Of course, he’s doing this to express his love for her and she basically accepts his love. Thankfully, things move into a less disturbing direction as he ends by kissing her on the forehead and admits that’s the best he can do for now. Iwai then rather precociously states that she has lips too, so he can’t die just yet.
On balance we have a rather mixed episode here. We are finally rid of the annoying Nakajima, but the method of his removal, basically being murdered by the leader of Gossip, who appears to have a group of Authors who are at her beck and call, is less than satisfying on some levels. For now we know who the true Big Bad of the series is, Lady Violet Witchy, who appears to have an inherited hatred for Iwai and all her kind. And we know that Kiri could likely be killed by her at any time if he does something that displeases her too much, as Nakajima did. Nakajima was a cowardly clown and could never have been the true villain of this piece. Violet, however, fits the bill quite well, as she is powerful and protected, someone that Kiri and Iwai will likely never be able to take down. The best they will be able to do is live long enough to have a child or two, at which point Violet will be all too happy to have them killed, so that the next generation of those born under the hair curse can be raised for her family’s continuing sport.
Wow, what a horrid little world they live in. And I suspect it’s only going to get worse, since now I feel certain that Violet is going to send Authors after the pair, though she might just spare Iwai until she’s provided the next generation for her family’s future entertainment. Repugnant.
In Summary:
I said at the end of the last episode that a course correction was necessary. We have that somewhat, with the removal of the annoying Nakajima, but the price of that course correction is likely more misery for Kiri and Iwai. The leader of Gossip has come forth: Lady Violet Witchy, whose family may have been torturing Iwai’s family for generations at this point, just for their own sport. Sick. What a screwed up little world.
Episode Grade: B-
Streamed by: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
Apple iMac with 4GB RAM, Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard