Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) - A Series Review

I have decided to constrict myself to one ultra long post every week instead of tiny ones every day. Whether anyone cares about what I just said is an entirely different matter. In this case, I'm going to attempt to sound smart while reviewing both seasons of 'Kuroshitsuji', otherwise known as Black Butler.

WARNING: For any viewers who are halfway through the series or haven't watched it, expect spoilers.

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Let's start this review with a little summary of the series. Kuroshitsuji was originally produced in 2006 as a Manga by Yana Toboso, and is still continuing now. The Anime series stopped in late 2010 with the conclusion of the second season. The Manga and the Anime differ in plot after the first few episodes, with the Manga having separate arcs. These include the 'Noah's Ark Circus', the 'Murder Case' and currently the 'Weston College' arcs.

The plot is based around Ciel Phantomhive, who lost his parents in a fire that destroyed his home and summoned a demon named Sebastian, who now serves as his butler until he exacts his revenge upon those who killed his parents and tortured him. The plot may sound bad, but this is actually a really good story, especially with the characters and how they help build up the plot. Let me start with the main characters, Ciel and Sebastian.

Ciel is the narcissistic and egotistical thirteen year-old owner of the Funtom Company. After the fire that ultimately killed his parents, he was captured and turned into a slave and almost made to participate in a human sacrifice. It was during the time he was basically killed (it hasn't been mentioned but it's been hinted at) that he made a contract with a demon and ordered him to massacre everyone in the room. However, these people were not the only ones involved in this and he decided from that day on he would hunt down everyone that was involved in that incident and would exact his revenge on them. All of this was decided when he was just ten years old. Wow, I know they tell you to think big at that age, but that's going a bit overboard.

My personal opinion of this character is that he is a dark twist on your average main character, his sole goal in life being revenge. He is a perfect example of 'break the cutie' and 'Adorably Precocious Child'. 

Sebastian is, quite literally, a demon. He was summoned by Ciel to help him exact his revenge. He transformed himself into a butler. He doesn't like his name, as he was named after Ciel's dog (he hates dogs). He usually acts in a polite and basically butler-like manner, but don't go thinking he's a softie. Look at the picture above this text. That was a car he blew up, and the only thing he is actually concerned about is returning home to prepare dinner. Not only is he such a Mary-Sue that we actually like him, but he can use silverware as weapons. A perfect example of this is when he kills a section of the Mafia with plates, forks, spoons and knives while collecting Ciel, who happens to have been kidnapped.

Personally, I think the anime kills off most of Sebastian's more demonic quirks which appear in the original manga (like tearing apart an entire band of zombies while laughing like a nut job) and turn him into nothing more than a fighting bishonen (literally translated as 'pretty boy'). This applies even more when we see parts of Sebastian's demon form when we see stiletto heels... I'm saying nothing other than that he might say: "I'm just a sweet transvestite." This has actually been implied at numerous times by readers and the writer herself (although I'm sure she's just doing it to annoy as many curious readers as possible).

As an overall review of this character, he is so disgustingly fake and unrealistic that we cheer every time he appears. (Well, the girls do, anyway.) Which brings us to the main villain...

This is either Angela or Ash. Truth be told, we're not sure whether this character is officially a male or a female. Angela and Ash are two different personalities, but the one thing that they both have in common is that they both want to 'purify' the world. How do they intend to do this? Simple: By burning it to the ground.

It's really hard to believe that they are actually an angel, but Sebastian hinted at the fact that they are a fallen angel. This little nut job was the main reason for all of Ciel's suffering. It caused him to go through many traumatic events, all for the sake of 'purifying' him. Of course, Sebastian won't let this happen, as Ciel is his next meal. Angela/Ash are heartless and are a perfect example of 'white hair is evil'. If anything sinister or tragic happens in this Anime, it's this angel's fault.

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Now for the actual story itself. For me, it started off as rather exciting. In the first part of the first episode, Ciel summons Sebastian. From that episode up until episode five, the plot wanders a bit, with Ciel going off on different cases without actually finding out much. However, the appearance of the Undertaker really starts to get the darker plot going. And hey, what better way to start someone's demise than with the help of an Undertaker?

From the very beginning of the first series, you just know what is going to happen to Ciel, which makes it a typical tragedy story. But it's more than that. This Anime has well-developed characters who can appear goofy and useless, but are more than capable of defending themselves. And it isn't only doom and gloom either. There is a lot of dark humour here, especially when the Undertaker or the Reapers are around. This series can make you both laugh and cry at the same time.

At the end of the first season, you can't help but feel hollow. The one thing you knew was going to happen, but prayed at night wasn't going to happen eventually happened (that's three times in a row) with Ciel's soul being taken and the story ending... Until Season Two happened.

Season Two starts off with two new characters called Alois and Claude, which I won't really bother going into detail about. The characters are certainly interesting, but are nothing compared to the classic Ciel and Sebastian... who return by the time the second episode is out. In this season, Ciel has forgotten all about the revenge he exacted and all about what happened within the last year, so Sebastian has to start from the ground up.

I don't really have much to say about the second season. Sure, I like the characters, but I can't help but feel as though the whole plot was based on a 'What If?' fanfiction. However, it satisfied a lot of fans who couldn't bare seeing the end of Ciel and there is an alternative plot that is subtly added in.

One thing I thought of while watching the entire second season was; is this all just a dream? It appears to have that self-satisfactory feel to it. Maybe the entire of the second season was all Ciel's dying dream as his soul was devoured. If that was the case, then it was a pretty good dream. It fulfills Ciel's dream of needing someone to care about him.

However, another thing that is good about the second series is how most of the psychological aspects set within the plot are proved to actually happen when someone is put in that scenario. A perfect case is the case of Alois Trancy who was sexually abused as a child and flirts with any adult man he can. Sadly, this is how most people would turn out since they would not know how to properly interact with adults. There is also the traumatic case of what happens to Ciel in a particular episode where he is tortured into believing he is Alois Trancy.

However, again, I shall mention that the second season of Kuroshitsuji is a real let down to the original season mainly because of its optimistic ending which really doesn't suit the darker side of Kuroshitsuji and the inevitable fate that should have happened to Ciel. Again, you can just look at all of this as part of Ciel's dying dream instead of something that is actually happening in the world of Kuroshitsuji and he really did have his soul eaten.

You can look at it either way, but I personally find that Kuroshitsuji's ability to mix the supernatural with the realistic and psychological remarkably good to watch and you are certain to want to watch it over and over again. I give this show an 8/10. Well done, Kuroshitsuji, well done.

Sebastian, pouring tea like a boss.

                                                 

This is Rinrei signing off!