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<\/a>Kuroshitsuji<\/em> 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 \u201cMidori no Majo-hen\u201d has a different feel to it. It\u2019s like we\u2019re cutting closer to the bone now, in a sense. There\u2019s a stand-alone premise as always, but these events seem more directly connected to Ciel\u2019s origin story than the last few arcs (and seasons) have. It\u2019s hard to beat \u201cBook of Circus\u201d as a premise for sheer pathos and emotional heft, but this one carries a sense of real import to it.<\/p>\n<\/a>Part of the magic of Black Butler<\/em> 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\u2019s not more visibly worried about the young master. Tanaka is surely right that Sebastian has his own reasons \u2013 he always does. But the real question is, what are they? He\u2019s really making a show of it.<\/p>\n<\/a>This involves stuff like dressmaking<\/a> and teaching Sieglinde table manners (I never knew that \u201coutside in\u201d rule<\/a> 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\u2019s disposal is a book of home remedies (the Japanese for \u201ctincture\u201d has a prominent \u201cchin\u201d in it \u2013 which means \u201cpenis\u201d \u2013 which Sieglinde somehow senses).<\/p>\n<\/a>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\u2019s something of a kindred spirit for Ciel I suppose \u2013 boys abused by twisted adults and only in the unlikeliest of fashion still amongst the living \u2013 and that may be another reason why in his current state Ciel is drawn to Finn. He\u2019s not a natural as a nurse<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<\/a>Unavoidably, Sieglinde notes the sigil on Ciel\u2019s right eye<\/a> when she\u2019s changing his bandages. She\u2019s 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\u2019t judgmental about such things, and she even offers to keep the secret from the rest of Ciel\u2019s servants. But if she knew the full truth, Sieglinde would certainly be shocked.<\/p>\n<\/a>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\u2019s not riesling or gewurztraminer he\u2019s interested in. A secret passage under a castle is not rare of course, but this one \u2013 steps leading downward into the darkness \u2013 is extremely foreboding given Sebastian\u2019s nature. He knew it was there, clearly \u2013 and why does he want Snake with him<\/a> as he descends that staircase? He\u2019s a demon and as such Sebastian\u2019s intentions can never, ever be trusted no matter how reassuring his demeanor is.<\/p>\n