Content Warning: Karakuri Circus episode 6 includes graphic depictions of drug abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
Meeting Date: 11/17/2018
Disclaimer: The Herald Anime Club discusses shows as they’re airing. Naturally, there will be spoilers for a given episode. You have been warned!
Samantha Ferreira: Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Herald Anime Club! I’m Samantha, and I”m here with L.B. Bryant this week.
L.B. Bryant: Hello!
Samantha Ferreira: Tonight, we’re talking up more murder puppets with Karakuri Circus episode 6: “This episode sponsored by D.A.R.E.”
L.B. Bryant: … I can’t even with this episode.
This episode was a mess.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed
It didn’t know WHAT it wanted to be.
Strike that
It knew what it wanted, but it was SO over the top and ham-fisted that it was just… what the hell.
L.B. Bryant: I’m going to have the scene of the doctors falling into a drug crazed stupor burned into my brain for months.
I’m honestly shocked they didn’t throw in an orgy just for shits and giggles.
Samantha Ferreira: Yeah…
Like..
How
Just..
We have this episode where Narumi’s dealing with the kids, things seem to be getting better
Then we get shots of the doctors double-fisting pills and shooting up with pharmacy morphene
All while Narumi says “Vitamins?! :O” – he clues in soon, but
Good god
Then they have the gall to JUSTIFY IT
L.B. Bryant: Yeah absolutely. It’s hard to justify much of anything in this episode but they tried. Good gods, did they try.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed… like..
“Oh, the disease is so tragic :O”
And it’s just… “Dude… You’re in ILLINOIS – presumably not far from Chicago where doctors are trying to keep some shooting victim’s insides INSIDE”
Also WHY ARE THEY IN ILLINOIS ALL OF A SUDDEN
L.B. Bryant: PLUS let’s not forget…
They had a magic elixir that cures the disease only they can’t recreate it so they’ll just give it to some guy in Japan who can fight a magical disease spreading midnight circus.
Samantha Ferreira: Yes! Exactly!
They have “aqua vitae :O”
It’s 2018
You can reverse engineer that shit
Instead you supposedly use all of it on rando dude with the magic stank arm
Which is now a PUPPET ARM complete with costuming now
L.B. Bryant: Yeah… there were so many things in this episode that were explained so easily and casually as though they were no big deal and I’m sitting in my living room yelling at my television, “Wait… you did what now?!?”
Samantha Ferreira: Yes! Likewise!
Like how apparently, Zonapha is now a terminal disease SPREAD BY EVIL FREAKING PUPPETS
L.B. Bryant: Exactly!
Samantha Ferreira: Jesus Christ.
L.B. Bryant: Plus you brought up Narumi’s arm which makes me wonder, when they rescued him from the fire, why couldn’t they take his arm too? Was there not enough room in the car’s trunk or something?
Samantha Ferreira: I wish I could tell you… that was just… ugh. It’s beyond dumb now
Like..
“I can’t even try to rationalize it” dumb
Then there’s the EVIL FUCKING GOO ROBOTS
And the scary-ass lady that’s supposedly trying to help despite being the woman who straight-up abused, traumatized, and dehumanized Shirogane.
L.B. Bryant: What the blue hell was up with them sticking those mechanical face-huggers on the guard’s heads?!?
Samantha Ferreira: I’ll admit it. I laughed at that
At that point, I think I just said “Hey, why not? Nightmare fuel needle heads!”
L.B. Bryant: lol
Samantha Ferreira: God… this whole episode was a wreck
That said, the few bits of puppetry were freaking cool
(Hint, hint, VOLN)
Though the explanation that Narumi’s “Raw spiritual energy” causes the goo robots to explode ruined even that
L.B. Bryant: Yeah, not even the 30 seconds of puppet fighting could really make up for the 24 minutes that led up to it.
Samantha Ferreira: Exactly!
Like…
We know the story’s dumb
Just do what Bleach does, shove it aside quickly, and get to the murder puppets
I mean… I can do without the goo robots – just give us more murder puppet duels. That was cool.
L.B. Bryant: So, with Guy asking Narumi to become a Shirogane, does that mean that he has to learn how to use a puppet or can he just use his fists or am I missing the point entirely and next week we’re going to see Narumi in a yellow with red dots leotard?
Samantha Ferreira: …I hate you for making me imagine that
L.B. Bryant: lol
Samantha Ferreira: I think he’ll be the special “punch-man” Shirogane, introduced JUST NOW who’s too clumsy to use a puppet, but can still kill goo robots
Side note: I do have to appreciate now how the grandfather knew which circus Shirogane would be at
Given that there’s apparently hundreds of Shiroganes
L.B. Bryant: That has to get confusing since it seems that using actual names is something they don’t do.
Samantha Ferreira: Indeed.
I can only imagine the reunions. “Who threw that?” “Shirogane! :O” “Well that’s Shirogane, and THAT’S Shirogane and I’M Shirogane, so which one?”
L.B. Bryant: lol
Samantha Ferreira: But god… this whole thing was a trainwreck.
Like..
We had some genuinely good moments – Narumi being a sookie and playing with the kids, the tiny puppet battle, that’s all I can think of…. all wrapped in this sad, incoherent mess of an episode
Like
Why
Why
Why is he in Illinois?
And now that he is in Illinois getting medical treatment, why is he not bankrupt?
L.B. Bryant: The bankrupt part I assume is because he was kidnapped… err, um rescued from the fire and transferred forcibly to IL.
Samantha Ferreira: Gotcha.
Still, why friggin’ Illinois, of all places? It’s like… the most random location ever
It’d be like saying “OH YES WE HAVE VAST KNOWLEDGE SO WE BROUGHT YOU TO WAKEFIELD, RI FOR MEDICAL CARE :O”
L.B. Bryant: lol
Samantha Ferreira: It’s like… who would know where the heck Wakefield is? (Present company excepted)
L.B. Bryant: hehe fair point
Samantha Ferreira: Agh… I really want to love this show again
The first few episodes were SO GOOD!
Now it’s like the writers were popping the same pills those doctors were on
L.B. Bryant: heh it could be worse. At least they aren’t sending out distress calls via their end credits like another show this season
Samantha Ferreira: Oh, my god.
L.B. Bryant: lol so while Karakuri Circus is bad, I’m thanking my stars that we don’t have it worse.
Samantha Ferreira: Yeeeah.
Honestly, I’m griping
But this is so much better than some of the shows we’ve covered
Like Classroom of the Elite
Or Seiren
Or Akiba’s Trip
Or Seiren
Or Happy Sugar Life
Or Seiren
L.B. Bryant: hehe very true
Samantha Ferreira: So yeah… it could be worse, but it could be so much better, too.
L.B. Bryant: Indeed. I’m not sure where this series went so wrong when we’re only six episodes in but it’s hard to imagine them finding a way to get this thing back on track.
Samantha Ferreira: They’re gonna need a lot more of those pills.
L.B. Bryant: More than likely :smile:
Samantha Ferreira: Hehe.
Any final comments this week?
L.B. Bryant: Nopes, I think we’ve pretty much killed this episode lol
Samantha Ferreira: lol, that’s saying it lightly.
Til next time, remember: Drugs are bad, mmkay?
L.B. Bryant: hehe night!
After the meeting…
Samantha Ferreira: God, I wonder how many times I’ll say “goo robots” over the course of this show now
L.B. Bryant: hehe hopefully not too many
Samantha Ferreira: I hope not.
lol
It’s just…
That’s what they are
Is frickin goo robots
Who spread autoimmune disorders
…
…
…
This show is weird
