Quick Summary • Best Moment • Setup • Delivery • Other Posts
Undead Murder Farce Episode 9 – Quick Summary
In Undead Murder Farce episode 9, “Werewolves,” Tsugaru kept up a running dialogue as he carried Aya up the mountain, Shizuku right behind them. They were looking for the werewolve’s village. What they found instead was a doctor from a village just up the road – a doctor searching for an abducted little girl. Of course, Aya offered to help. Who was this doctor? Who abducted the girl, and why? And what, exactly, did Shizuku do to Tsugaru’s pillow?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from Undead Murder Farce Episode 9
The subject of werewolves fascinated and excited Aya. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Aya fascinates me, as a character. First, I have no idea how she maintains her spirits and focus given she’s just a head in a cage. Maybe I’m biased, having an entire body and all, but I think it’d be hard to not feel bitter and angry about losing my body.
Second, she’s immortal. In the novels I’m writing, I’m beginning to explore the idea of longevity and its effects on some key characters. Aya’s been around for at least nine hundred years – how does she stay interested in day to day life? Especially without the internet!
I mean, come on!
My favorite quote was Aya sounding super excited. She was explaining the characteristics of werewolves to Tsugaru. She had listed their three sizes and some other properties. Then her voice took on a rich, joyful tone as she said (05:43), “Oh, yes! And their senses become fearfully keen!”
It’s awesome the subject can still excite her so much! Did my heart good hearing that tone in her voice!
Favorite Moment from Undead Murder Farce Episode 9
Tsugaru felt outraged that Shizuku had used his pillow as an ash magnet. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Hiding in Plain Sight
This was a setup episode – it’s getting us ready for the real action, probably next week (or so – hard to tell with this show and its expert pacing – this could be feint!). Finding a favorite moment is tough not so much because of too many choices (there are!) but the sense that the whole episode was one quickly unfolding favorite moment.
I’m sure it had something to do with Shizuku getting a lot of screen time. I’m partial to her.
I’d say the chances of me liking an episode go up in proportion to Shizuku’s screen time, but I’ve liked all the episodes so far! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
My favorite moment, in fact, involved Shizuku. Aya and Tsugaru, too. Aya had asked to see Louise’s room. There were dirty paw prints on the floor that looked like a werewolf had made them. There was a bloody patch on the sheets, but none on the floor. Also, there was something else not on the floor, and the scene cleverly tried to hide it with humor.
Aya asked Shizuku to find something head-size (i.e., Aya-sized) that she didn’t mind getting dirty onto the roof to drop down the chimney. They wanted to see if the wolf could have gotten in that way. Shizuku got into position. Tsugaru brought the cage close to the grate and and positioned himself close, too. Aya told Shizuku to drop the object.
Delivery: The Clue Retained Its Mystery
A square object hit. Instantly, it threw ash all over the room. Tsugaru was covered. Aya had so much ash on her face that the beautiful color around her eyes turned practically gray. Then Tsugaru, with exaggerated horror, recognized the object.
““Hey!” he said in dismay (16:23). “This is my pillow!”
I’m getting used to this show’s tricks. Despite the entertaining banter between Shizuku and Tsugaru (she said Aya had told her to bring something she didn’t mind getting dirty, which from her perspective described Tsugaru’s pillow), despite the visuals of Aya and Tsugaru, the show could not hide something very obvious.
Aya couldn’t even flinch! That had to suck. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Before Shizuku dropped the pillow, the floors were clear of ash. Now? The only clear spots near the fireplace were where Aya and Tsugaru had blocked the scatter. If that’s not a huge clue, I don’t know what is! The only problem is I’m not sure exactly what it means.
But this is Undead Murder Farce, so I’m sure of one thing. It know what it’s doing!
What did you think of Louise’s mom’s reaction to Louise’s dad saying Louise had done nothing wrong? What were your favorite moments? Feel free to share in the comments!
Undead Murder Farce Episode 9: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Undead Girl Murder Farce • Undead Murder Farce – Episode 9 discussion
- RABUJOI: Undead Murder Farce – 09 – The Howling Village
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
As I remember it, Aya wanted Tsugaru to kill her initially. I think she was ready to call it quits. Or did I get that wrong? Being trapped as a freak in a sideshow would sap any will to live one might have had.
I remember it the same way! So I don’t know if she sees something in Tsugaru that rekindled her desire to live, or maybe something like TQ described is going on. But yeah — being a display item in such a show would certainly reduce my will to live.
I think Aya, consciously or unconsciously, finds trying to track down her body to be a fun diversion and trying to do things while just being a head to be an interesting puzzle. And she’s looking forward to finally dying – having the end in sight gives you a burst of energy.
Aya might look at the situation that way — that’s a cool way to see it!
But it’s sad to think she’s actually looking forward to dying, even though I have to admit I have no idea what it would be like to be immortal. Especially in a pre-internet age!
Oo, this was a very good set up episode! It certainly has me thinking all sorts of scenarios like a great “Who Done It”. Personally, I think some of the villagers seem a little shady. Considering how quickly the villagers thought that it was one of them that was a werewolf in disguise and turned on each other. I’m thinking that maybe they’re right and it was one of the villagers. Though not because that villager is the werewolf, but rather because of the prejudice in the village against werewolves. Maybe one of the villagers found out that there is actually quite a few half werewolves in the village and that villager is assassinating any person that think could be a werewolf.
I had not considered the assassination angle! That’s a real possibility. And yeah, those villagers… I don’t trust half of them!
The episode begins with a mother werewolf being presumably killed by the villagers. The child who is calling her mother looks astoundingly like the portrait of Louise, I think. It’s entirely plausible that the mayor believed Louise to be a normal human girl and took her in after killing her mother. It is a simple, straightforward explanation: Louise pretended to be human and is now taking revenge on the village, starting with the daughters of the village, and covering for her own disappearance and escape at the same time. Her adopted human mother could well know something about this, she having spent more time with Louise than anyone. She might have seen or thought she’d seen something, maybe ears or eyes, or something about her demeanor as she targeted the other girls. It would explain the lack of a splash of ash easily enough, as she didn’t need to drop down the chimney in the first place, and all the screaming she did as she wrecked her own room was a piece of theater. And she’s not very big for a werewolf because she’s still a juvenile, not fully grown.
It’s actually so obvious that I’m wondering if it’s *too* obvious, ie, a red herring. I wouldn’t put it past the show to dupe me like that.
It’s interesting that the humans say the werewolves come and eat them as they please. If it’s true, then they’re certainly right to kill werewolves on sight. But the village seems to be getting rocked by this string of murders in a way I wouldn’t expect from a village that is accustomed to being preyed upon, so I have to wonder how long it’s been since the wolves last came to call. Did they used to do this and have stopped for some reason? Did they ever do it at all, or is it a lie born of fear and prejudice? Are there any werewolves still in the Forest of Fangs, or have they gone extinct for some reason?
And what is the mechanism of the gate that it requires a diamond as a key?
I like your explanation — and I, too, fear it’s too clean and obvious!
I also like your analysis of how the villagers have reacted to the recent uptick in deaths. There’s something deeply off about this whole situation!
Interesting question about the key. I’m wondering what role that diamond still have to play, too!