The Detective Is Already Dead Episode 3 Review – Best In Show

Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts

The Detective Is Already Dead Episode 3 Review – Quick Summary

In The Detective is Already Dead episode 3, “That’s Yui-nya Quality,” Yui Saikawa launched into an overly excited and breathless story about wanting to protect a family heirloom sapphire. Kimihiko Kimizuka had to physically stop her so he and Nagisa Natsunagi could have some chance of understanding what she was talking about. It turned out that she was a real idol, and she had a real mansion, and she had a real expensive family heirloom sapphire. The problem? Some thief had sent her an anonymous letter stating they were going to steal the gem on the date of her next live performance! That should be something easy to stop, right? Then Kimihiko discovered something that seriously complicated the issue.

Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.

Favorite Quotes from The Detective Is Already Dead Episode 3

At least the potential thief was polite! Capture from the Funimation stream.

Kimihiko and Nagisa decided they’d try to help Yui, so they stopped by her mansion to talk about the specifics. After a humorous moment where they sat at opposite ends of a table that looked like it had to be at least a hundred meters long, Yui decided she’d sit across from them at the middle of the table.

They questioned her about the situation. Yui asked one of her maids (there were several stationed at various spots in the room) to show the threatening letter to the two of them. Kimihiko carefully read the note, which had been made by cutting out the letter from various newspapers and magazines. It clearly stated the thief’s objective and timing.

“So in this day and age, there are thieves conscientious enough to send a notification like this,” he said (09:26).

This being a mystery series and all, I wonder if this was more than just a funny throw-away line.

Best in Show Moment for The Detective Is Already Dead Episode 3

Kimihiko’s whole perspective differed greatly from Nagisa’s. Also, I have to respect how far he was willing to go to understand Yui and her situation — down to the headband. Capture from the Funimation stream.

Setup: Playing a Dangerous Game

If you’ve read my site for any time at all, you probably realize that I look for reasons to like a show. Sometimes, that means I go so far as to ignore material that might turn other people off — or even turn me away under other circumstances! The reason’s simple: I really want to celebrate anime. I’ve grown weary of the cruelty and negativity I see all around me, and I want to carve our a place we can all relax and enjoy ourselves.

That said, I want to be honest with you. The Detective is Already Dead has started skating on thing ice. Some hints were there in the second episode, but they seemed to become more clear in this episode. I say this for two reasons. First, there’s an increasing gulf between what the first episode seemed to promise and what the next two delivered. I don’t need to see fights all the time. But we got a solid action scene in the first half of the double-length first episode and some super comfortable moments of romantic comedy in the second half. We’ve gotten none of that since.

It’s dangerous to introduce us to a goddess-class character, then do a “LOL j/k” and replace her with lesser personalities. Capture from the Funimation stream.

The second reason is the more difficult to accept. I know the title clearly states the detective is no longer with us. But damn it, I liked Siesta. She exhibited all of the traits I liked in a character. Her banter with Kimihiko felt fresh and unforced. I could easily have watched a whole series of just that, like I did with In/Spectre.

Do you know what’s most annoying of all? We’ll probably find out for sure in the next episode, but it looks like the new women Kimihito meets are going to have various Siesta body parts installed. It’s like the show is rubbing her death in my face. I can’t say I’m a fan of that. That won’t prevent me from enjoying the series. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel a little resentful.

Delivery: Kimihiko Acts Like He’s Seasoned

In keeping with the spirit of trying to celebrate anime, I’m happy to report that episode did have a moment that I want so share with you. It’s not a moment of banter between Kimihiko and Nagisa, though I did enjoy that. It’s not the back and forth between Kimihiko and Yui. Honestly, I have no idea why she calls him “Hentai-san.” The dude hasn’t behaved inappropriately with her as far as I could see.

But the episode did include a moment that showed Kimihiko has grown since we first met him. Back in the beginning of the first episode, Kimihiko had already been world-weary because of his status as trouble-magnet. But his powers of observation and deduction were obviously still in their infancy. We got an indication that had changed.

Kimihiko and Nagisa had been watching Yui practice. An unsavory guy ran out from backstage, knocked her down, and ran off. Kimihiko impassively watched, too far away to help, and tried to absorb something that he’d seen. But Nagisa got all upset and wanted immediately to see if Yui was okay. She ran off towards the stage and Yui.

Nagisa couldn’t do anything to help Yui. The incident had already wrapped up. But she was all fired up to do something. Capture from the Funimation stream.

Kimihiko, watching her run, thought (21:00), “As a person, she’s lovely to behold; for a detective, though, those extreme emotions are of no use. Kindness, compassion — even those can sometimes come back to bite you. Natsunagi doesn’t realize that yet.”

When we first met Kimihiko, he’d been the student and Siesta the teacher. Now, he’s the teacher and mentor. I like that dynamic, and I’m interested to see how it plays out.

What did you think of Yui’s bodyguards actually being some of her biggest fans? What did you enjoy about this episode? Let me know in the comments!

The Detective Is Already Dead Episode 3: Other Posts

Other Anime Sites

• Reddit: Tantei wa Mou, Shindeiru. – Episode 3 discussion
• RABUJOI: The Detective Is Already Dead – 03 – Sapphire in the Rough
• AH Brandon Reviews: IS THE IDOL HIDING SOMETHING? | THE DETECTIVE IS ALREADY DEAD Episode 3 Review (YouTube)

This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)

• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 1: Attention Passengers: Is there a Detective on Board?
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 2: I Still Remember, After all this Time
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 3: That’s Yui-nya Quality
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 4: What I See in That Eye
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 5: That Was Directed at One Year in the Future
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 6: Crimson Devil, Ice Queen
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 7: In Time, You Will Recall This Day
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 8: With That, We Set out on a Journey Once Again
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 9: SPES
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 10: So I Can’t Become a Detective
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 11: A Light in the Midst of Hope
• The Detective is Already Dead Episode 12: Those dizzying Three Years I Spent with You