Episode I-III Dubious Move
The episode begins where the previous one ends. Everyone is in the Rose Garden Storage Shed where George begins to ask his father about if the corpse of Shannon has a ring on it and what hand. Eva snaps when she realises that George proposed to her however Hideyoshi stops her saying that regardless, whoever gave her that ring was lucky to have her (Or something like that). In the end, they lock up the shed to preserve the scene and then head back to the mansion.
The family enter the dining room and notice the bloodshed that can be seen as Kumasama runs to collect them from the parlor. Back in the parlor, the adults discuss the events and what the mysterious sign on the shed door was. Since they are aware that Maria is into the occult, they ask her what the sign is which her creepy Higurashi style attitude turns on and she explains what the sign is. They then decide to look around the mansion as a group. When they get to the servants room, Battler notices that all the keys are in the cabinet and suspicion is drawn to the servants as the killer. However, despite Eva’s accusations, Battler breaks it using Kyrie’s chessboard thinking saying this is what the killer wants them to think, which causes Eva to quickly defend herself. The parents also notice that Kinzo is missing from his study (I think it was here, dont have video on me).
In the kitchen, Kanon and Genji are discussing how Natsuhi should have died instead out of Shannon when Battler comes out from behind the door and asks them to tell him all about their discussion, where they, alongside Kumasawa tries to convince him that Beatrice exists. During this time, Maria also comes into the kitchen with the creepy look, whilst Battler denies her existance at all, annoying Maria. Later on, Maria is watching her Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, 20 years before its actual release but still…. whilst everyone discusses the murders still. George proposes that the murders are the witches collections and Eva drops a bombshell of her own. Basically, that between the time Natsuhi visited Kinzo in the last episode and now, Kinzo’s door hadn’t opened before. It even comes with a Cluedo scene Natsuhi killed Kinzo in the Study with the Candlestick.
Natsuhi gets annoyed and puts the barrel of Kinzo’s gun up to Eva, who orders her to shoot her. However, Battler interrupts with a theory of his own, with Kinzo hiding under the bed when the two of them entered just before, and then left after they arrived back in the parlor. They all leave for the night soon after. Eva and Hideyoshi enter their room and lock the door with the chain lock. Later on, Genji doesnt hear a word from them so he tries to get them to open the door. With no word, Genji sends Kanon to see Kumasawa from chain cutters after noticing Beatrice’s letter under the door. When Kanon and Kumasawa return, there is another black magic marking on the door and inside, lies Eva on her bed and Hideyoshi in the ensuite bath, both dead with stakes impaled into their heads. The episode ends here.
Graphics
Graphics were the same, pretty good overall… I think Maria’s creepy looks were overdone a bit but they were still pretty decent and did set the mood. The murder of Eva and Hideyoshi didnt have the same visual impact as the previous episodes murder but then again, it was pretty interesting to see a basic murder scene from a massacre scene. Really liking the character designs.
Music
The music was still a mix between visual novel music and original music. Tis all good!
Storyline/Characters
Storyline stayed pretty much respective to the visual novel storyline but with added extra scenes such as Kinzo hiding under the bed (Pretty creepy when you think about it). The character development of Eva and Natsuhi was really good and the scenes with Battler really did set him up for his anti-witch belief thanks to Kyrie. I guess Kyrie does have some decent development even after she is killed…. From this episode, it is just like the game, hard to make any sort of assumptions at this point about who or what the killer is.
Personal Opinion
To be honest, I wouldn’t call this the best episode but I would put it in the middle of the two… making the order of best to worst episodes 2 – 3 – 1. Overall I guess it didnt have the impact the previous episode had but did work the watcher into the mystery very well. Still, cant say much negative about it.
Total
Graphics – 8.5/10
Music - 9/10
Storyline/Characters - 15/20
Personal Opinion - 8/10
Review
Pros Cons Interesting storyline that keeps the storyline of Umineko progressing well. Doesn't seem like we will have the Tea Party/??? sections in the anime at the current pace.
Rating
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