What they say:
Akari survived being flung into Pandemonium, and on top of her Pure Concept, Menou’s potential budding feelings make her difficult to kill, and the Church is noticing. In order to secure more travel funds without providing a method of killing Akari, Menou is ordered to investigate the dealing of a new drug called Monstrine in Libelle. But Menou and Momo aren’t the only ones. Princess Ashuna is also there with some lackeys. How does it all connect to Manon, the current figurehead of The Fourth that Flare messed with years ago, and what is her plan?
Content (Please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Expanding on the previous episode, we begin with Menou and Akari traveling away from Pandemonium, and we also learn that many years ago when Menou was here with Flare as her apprentice, it was when Menou discovered Flare was an executioner who killed Lost Ones.
I love the use of visuals here. There’s no exchange of words here, only an understanding. All it takes is for Menou to see Flare’s bloody hand near the knife and that grazing look to know. Flare just killed someone, and the most likely suspect is a Lost One. Flare doesn’t need to say she killed someone, and Menou doesn’t need to ask. Their faces say everything that needs to be said. My only nitpick for this moment is that it’s too brief. Expanding on this memory a bit more would have been a treat. Although that’s probably just me being selfish. What needs to be communicated in this moment is all there. Still, a bit more on this topic would be nice. Some of my favorite scenes in this show have been the flashbacks involving Flare and Menou, and seeing the growing contrast between Menou today with Akari and how she used to be under Flare’s tutelage.
After the two arrive back in town, they are attacked by members of The Fourth, although Menou does away with them with ease. Shortly after, though, they turn into monsters, and Manon, the current figurehead in the terrorist group, is grinning close by and implies the drug Monstrine is what caused it. Monstrine is created by sacrificing other humans and harvesting their blood. This is what was happening with that girl in the iron maiden. I’m still a bit skeptical about whether she will come back into the fray at some point since there was a lingering shot of her blood leaking out the bottom and forming into caplets of Monstrine.
Normally Menou wouldn’t need to investigate this since her mission at the moment is to execute Akari but insists on taking her to The Sanctuary, a supposed residential area for Lost Ones. But she needs travel funds to reach The Sanctuary and to get them, she needs to reveal the cost it will take to kill Akari. However, we now know that Menou’s reluctance is stemming from potential budding feelings, and she can’t come up with a cost because she does not know how to kill her target. The local priestess, Sicilia, agrees to provide funds if instead it is repurposed as compensation for labor, and that labor is stopping the trade of Monstrine in Libelle. Momo investigates potential sources and runs into Ashuna, which is great. Their chemistry together has also been another strong point in the show.
The two of them may not like each other on the surface, but you can tell from their tone of voice and body language that they at least don’t mind each other, even if it’s just subconsciously. They’re a fun couple and I’d like to see them grow to appreciate each other more overtly, but I’m content seeing them banter. Momo also drops some knowledge about Pandemonium. It’s the result of a Lost One’s power, and the magic used to create Monstrine is a watered-down replica of that power. I’m wondering here, then, if Pandemonium will become more relevant in the future if not at the end of this arc.
Manon is also planning something huge to go down at the ball happening that evening. As it turns out the way she poisoned the food of the other members previously was lacing it with Monstrine and has become ruthless in subjugating the other members with this, out of their fear that they could also become monsters, and one does so and dies when she expresses concern. Manon also says that someone gave her orders to distribute Monstrine in exchange for enacting revenge on Menou (nicknamed Flarette by The Fourth) as it was Flare who killed Manon’s mother. Someone else is involved and it could be pointing to a conspiracy. Sicilia manages to procure tickets to the ball for Menou and Akari (much to Momo’s chagrin).
I’m excited to see how this ball turns out. What I’m hoping for is some great dancing with Menou and Akari. It would be a great way to visually illustrate their relationship and would provide some nice animation as well.
The directing has also been consistently strong. The use of lingering pans of background shots while the characters are speaking in close proximity prevents boring cuts between the characters’ faces. This is evidenced most in the bar when Momo and Ashuna are speaking to each other. It shows off some of the background work the artists are doing as well. Even in this shot above, the audience is more like casual observers listening in on their conversation. We’re sitting at the bar getting our drink while the important stuff is what’s going on across the bar. The bartender remaining silent and animated without a face adds to that atmosphere.
If this is what the team is capable of then I’m ready to see what an extravagant party holds. The rest of the elements here are a bit weak to compensate for the strong direction and information bits, though. There isn’t much action to speak of in the episode outside of a brief scene where Menou subdues members of The Fourth who try to attack her, and the music hasn’t stood out in a notable way. However, these are minor qualms in an otherwise strong series and another solid entry in the bunch overall.
In summary: The Executioner and Her Way of Life maintains strong directing and character writing in its seventh episode, if at the minor cost of some action and animation pizzazz. However, we’re sure to get some of that next time and in the coming moments of this arc as Manon reveals her big plan at the stage of the ball. I continue to look forward to every episode I watch, and they continue to go by quickly. I’m interested in the expansion of the character relationships and particularly what this ball can do both for the series’ animation and its action. When there’s a big stage like that, it creates a good opportunity for all manner of stories and production to shine through. I may be setting my hopes fairly high, but the series has delivered so far. At least I know the series is capable.
Grade: A-
Streamed by: HIDIVE
