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Undead Murder Farce Episode 1 – Quick Summary
In Undead Murder Farce episode 1, “Oni Slayer,” Tsugaru Shinuchi made a living in an alternate universe Meiji period by killing oni. They had become somewhat rare after a great purge, so his future was uncertain. But his future was uncertain anyway. Then he met a maid carrying a birdcage – and a bayoneted rifle. What did she want with Tsugaru? What was in the bird cage? And what’s up with the blue line on Tsugaru’s face?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Undead Murder Farce Episode 1
Poor guy seemed resigned to his fate! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
My sense of humor is very happy with this show. There were a lot of little shots or quotes or moments that made me smile. A few even made me literally laugh out loud, which is a good sign because those moments were (I think!) supposed to be humorous.
Case in point: my favorite quote.
Tsugaru came upon a group of people who were trying to kill a cat. One of the men was convinced the cat was an evil spirit. He wanted to rid the area of supernatural critters (oni). It seems like the man recognized Tsugaru from his performances, so he demanded the “Oni Slayer” slay the oni.
Tsugaru pointed out that he wasn’t going to kill a normal cat. When he tried to make nice with the cat, it scratched him and ran off. Can’t blame the cat – poor creature had to be terrified, though it put on a brave face.
That night, in the arena, Tsugaru faced off against a two-tailed cat oni. Even as I was thinking, “Wow, that’s ironic,” Tsugaru spoke up.
“Talk about a twist of fate…” he said (06:11).
His tone was so deadpan that I had to laugh.
Favorite Moment from Undead Murder Farce Episode 1
Tsugaru knows how to show a lady a good time. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Off to a Fun Start
Someone in the Reddit thread (see below) compared the dialogue in this episode to Bakamonogatari and its related series. Glad I wasn’t the only one to think that! It reminded me of those series in the best way. Snappy dialogue, entertaining camera angles and framing, and a dark sense of humor were all right in my strike zone. There was no way I was going to pass on reviewing this one!
I had made my decision before my favorite moment. I fully admit: it was the humor that convinced me. A bodiless head, a combat maid, a main character who wanted to die in a way to make a political statement: all good stuff. I was already committed. And then my favorite moment happened.
Aya Rindou asked Tsugaru to kill her in exchange for extending his life. He was more than half oni, and the oni side grew stronger all the time. Sooner or later, it would overwhelm his human self. She could slow down that process.
It’s not every day a talking head asks you to kill it. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
He raised the ante. He said he would help her find her body so she wouldn’t want to die. The effort suited him because the guy who stole her body seems to have been the one to put him in his predicament. So, he gets to help a damsel in distress and extract revenge. Everyone wins!
She agreed, then said she would extend his life – by offering part of herself. He had to consume a portion of her, an immortal, so his body could benefit from her body’s properties.
Delivery: A Romantic Gesture in This Environment?
My first thought? That he would have to nibble at her neck stump or something. Yeah, it’s gross, but come on – the show isn’t exactly without its elements of gore! But the show went in a completely different direction. She told him they’d be using parts she could spare.
She asked (20:39), “Would you prefer my nasal mucus or saliva?”
Even as I thought, “Well, I know which I’d go for!” (and for the record, it’s the salvia), he said, “Your saliva, please.”
The maid Shizuku Hasei did not look pleased. But she didn’t interfere. Now, Tsugaru could have just swabbed her mouth, or been crass about it. But what he did, and how she reacted, sealed my fate (i.e., made sure I was going to review this show – something about it makes me want to use flamboyant language!).
She said she’s share parts she could spare. Though at first I was pretty sure she needed all the parts she had left! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
He gently lifted her head, her hair streaming, and raised it to the sky. Then he drew her close (okay, he drew her head close), and kissed her.
He didn’t have to do that. Like I said, he could have been crass about it. But it was like he wanted to give her a little something special – a gesture with flair to give her something to enjoy, even if it was just a little thing. I appreciated that, as well as her dignified response. I’m really looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops!
What did you think of the show’s setup? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Undead Murder Farce Episode 1: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Undead Girl Murder Farce • Undead Murder Farce – Episode 1 discussion
- The Magic Planet: Seasonal First Impressions: Searching for the Real Monsters in UNDEAD MURDER FARCE
- RABUJOI: Undead Murder Farce – 01 (First Impressions) – Getting Ahead in Life
- Random Curiosity: Undead Girl Murder Farce – 01
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 01: Oni Slayer
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 02: Vampire
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 03: The Immortal and the Oni
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 04: The Headliner Appears
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 05: The Immortal of London
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 06: The Phantom Thief and the Detective
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 07: Free for All
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 08: The Banquet
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 09: Werewolves
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 10: Misty Hollow
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 11: Where The Wolves Dwell
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 12: Where The River’s Flow Changes
- Undead Murder Farce Episode 13: The Culprit’s Name
This show had me laughing out loud several times. The OP and ED are both going on my playlist like NOW. The art is often very fine and beautiful – for instance the lovely blue twilit garden behind them as they discuss how to prolong Tsugaru’s life. Ah, and that kiss…but my personal favorite moment has to do with all the reasons Tsugaru absolutely delights me as a character. He is a evil good trickster god drunk on life and beer and sheer evil glee in life as he does that kungfu dance of how he is going to go insane and kill all those lowlifes in the audience before he dies. What a way to go. I think I’m in love… I rarely watch current anime, prefering to less the fuss and furor die down then browse through the one that most appealed to a couple of reviewers I happen to follow but this one – this one I must consume NOW. Tsugaru will make such a lovely foil for Yuuko, too, as I’m also currently rewatching XXXholic.
“that kungfu dance of how he is going to go insane and kill all those lowlifes in the audience before he dies”
That was a cool moment of sheer exuberance!
This show has pushed my expectations pretty high. So far, though, it’s not a problem, because it’s delivering characters like Tsugaru and Aya. And I know she’s quiet, but I’m quite taken with the combat maid. I like the quiet/efficient types.
Yeah, I really enjoyed this first episode! It was fun and different and wonderfully old school goth! It reminded me of Witch Hunter Robin or Black Butler. When she said he needed to consume part of her, I thought she was going to offer up some of her hair. She has a lot of it and it worked for All Might when he wanted to bestow some of his power.
Oh, yeah — her hair! It was almost an All Might/Midoriya moment, wasn’t it?
I’ll have to watch Witch Hunter Robin — thanks for the comparison here! I like that old school goth feel, too.