Blood Lad – 08
A welcome change.
Just when we thought the only plot around here was Fuyumi, we suddenly get new developments unrelated to her! Hurray!
Braz in Trouble
Come to daddy.
Looks like even Braz, with all his scheming, gets into trouble himself after all. Last time I jokingly referred to him and Liz as the demon world police. Appropriately enough, we meet the real demon world police this episode. And they’re out to get Braz. The official criminal charge is for leaving and entering the Acropolis without proper permission.1 But obviously there’s something more at work; especially so when the king himself wants to have a chat without Braz. Speaking of the king, it is revealed that he is called “Wolf-Daddy”. An awfully suggestive name, don’t you think? Gee, I wonder if he has some relation to Wolf. Hmm… Seemingly obviously telegraphed developments aside, I’m really digging the new focus on the upper echelon of the demon world.
You’ve got something on your face.
As mentioned, we meet the real demon world police, whose only task it seems is to serve as the king’s obedient dogs. They may be set up as some sort of organization to keep law and order in the demon world, but it’s so obviously nonsense considering they tell you at the end of every episode that there are only bad kids in the demon world. Either the prisons are constantly bursting, or no one cares about rules. And from what we’ve seen of the demon world so far, I’m going to have to go with the latter. Anyway, we meet Beros, a snappy officer who likes to chew gum and has a stylish snake tail.2 She arrests Braz without incident, which surprised me. So the natural thing to assume is that the crafty guy has something up his sleeve like usual. But then the preview has him in a rather bad way, suggesting otherwise. This might simply be a case of misleading preview though, so as always we should take it with a grain of salt.
Dere Bell
I laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of this moment.
Back down in the demon world, Bell and Staz track down Fuyumi’s location almost simultaneously thanks to our kidnapper Knell slipping up when he tries to be nice to his hostage. Knell, by the way, is revealed to in fact be Bell’s little brother. As such he naturally possesses spatial magic and can easily kidnap and hide our hapless ghost. His brand of magic is a little less potent than Bell’s though, as it seems the only thing he can do is hide things in his magic cloth. Meanwhile Bell can open a portal using any frame; even frames she forms herself like she does so frequently with her fingers. What’s more interesting, however, is the fact that Knell is acting on orders from his and Bell’s mother. Who, I might add, also tried to get Bell to bring Fuyumi to her except our spatial mage was too busy fantasizing about Staz. At this point I have absolutely no idea what the mother of all spatial mages might want to do with the ghost of a human, but if Bell is willing to let it go it can’t be so bad. In the meantime, however, we definitely see where Bell got her two goods.
It was worth it.
Anyway, enough about Fuyumi and her PLOT. Despite my previous reservations about Bell’s character, I’m really liking her depiction here. No, I’m not saying all girls should be moe and dere, but this is by far better compared to Bell being insufferable. Her peaking the love meter might be a little forced and abrupt here, but at least she isn’t being a massive troll any more. Watching her get so flustered about Staz potentially reading her rabu diary was absolutely hilarious, especially when the sharp guy manipulates her into revealing this weak spot herself. And that bit where Staz apologizes to her while admitting he doesn’t understand why she’s mad struck me as highly reminiscent of the SxS scene where Ichimiya similarly apologized to Chihaya. Except Staz takes it one step further by shouldering the blame for all future grievances by accepting that he is an antihero. Of course, in the end the only girl for Staz is still Fuyumi though, but I have to say I’m much more open to the idea of some attempt at romance between Bell and the vampire now. Her feelings may be completely misguided and hopelessly one-sided, but I’ll take it without issue if it mellows her out a bit. Not to mention, a bottomless Bell is a good sight any day of the week, even if it might be the last thing you ever see in your life.
Extras
Now you’re thinking with portals!
So yeah, this episode felt very different compared to everything since passed. And I say this in a good way. For once, things are happening that aren’t actually directly related to Fuyumi. There’s Braz being taken to Wolf-Daddy, and more importantly the revelation that he has Frankenstien tinkering with good ‘ol Akimu for him. Most likely this has something to do with Staz’s powers. Maybe he intends on giving them to the monster? Although I have no idea what that would accomplish besides giving us an idea of what Bell and Staz’s child might be capable of if those two ever got it on. Moreover, I don’t know how he will deal with the demon world king now that his magic has been sealed on penalty of death. Seems the guy is in a bit of a pickle, eh? And of course, there’s also the question of momma Hydra’s motives. But now we’re getting into Fuyumi territory again. Welp.
1I guess even the demon world has immigration laws.
2Beros must be short for Cerberus, further confirmed by her three-headed curse.
About Sumairii
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 167 comments
Wolf Daddy Time!!!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m already sensing a “Vampire vs Werewolf” grudge.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
This was a good episode and one of the first where I actually started like Bell. Her feeling embarrassed about him reading her diary was just so normal and showed a moment of weakness, that I was actually warming up to her. In fact I can see her as a better romantic lead then plot-device Fuyumi who still remains as boring as ever.
Actually, it was interesting insight that Star considers Fuyumi the ultimate collector’s item though hopefully, if they want that ship to continue, I hope he begins to see more about her than that. (Though I really don’t see how…-_-)
Bell’s brother Knell is pretty funny and likable, even for a kidnapper. As for Braz’s situation, the guy definitely has something up his sleeve. As of right now, I’m not to partial to this so called wolf king. Liz seems to hate him and you forgot to mention that Wolf Daddy is somehow responsible for the deaths of the Blood siblings’ parents. Now whether he killed them or not is unknown, however knowing the age old rivalry of the werewolves against the vampires, I wouldn’t be surprised I’d that was the case. I also wouldn’t be surprised if some of Braz’s motives are directly connected to the wolf king and what happened to his parents and thus the noble vampire clan.
Not too impressed with new police girl. She reminds me of Bell, only with black hair and that she might have a thing for Braz. Still a good episode. I give it a 7.8/10.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
I have a feeling Staz is lying to himself that he doesn’t see Fuyumi as more than just an ultra-rare collector’s item. He’s noted before that she’s a special existence to him, and it didn’t sound like he meant a rare item at the time.
As far as Wolf-Daddy goes, I would not be surprised if he killed the Blood parents to get into his position or something. As you say, there certainly appears to be bad blood (no pun intended) between the two families. It would be interesting if Braz were using himself as bait to get close to him.
And yeah, this was a very good episode for Bell. On the other hand, Beros just appears to be a silly character.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Vampires against werewolves. That’s a feud between two clans that’s as merciless as the Hatfields and McCoys counterpart. Even the Underworld movies show how invested both sides are about destroying each other and that lasted more than 600 years.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I wonder how that all got started? I mean, bats and wolves don’t usually hang in the same circles in the animal kingdom, let alone are natural enemies of each other. I guess I will just have to research that…
Also, as I was thinking about it, ever notice that the OP doesn’t just focus on Staz, but the entire Blood family? I’m wondering if the actual plot of this series isn’t just Staz’s antics in trying to help Fuyumi, but seems to have to do with the Blood family. Will the wolves prove to be a common enemy of all three siblings? I would love to see all of them fighting together with all their powers unleashed.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, they’re both night time creatures, that’s one thing they have in common. This is random speculation on my part. I guess the whole conflict started because one side wanted to impose their will on the other and rebellion ensued. In some stories, especially in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, the werewolves were put to guard the vampires’ resting place during the day while they slept.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
From what I could find, it was mostly modern myths and stories that pit the two against each other. By modern, I mean in the last century. I remember watching even old black and white movies that would have werewolves and vampires be enemies, back in the Bela Lugosi Dracula days before Anne Rice, Underworld and Twilight.
However, they say that most early legends really don’t have them even meeting, much less fighting each other. They pretty much stayed to their own mythos. I’m guessing that in later popular culture, the idea of the two mythical dark creatures meeting and fighting was created along the way, and the idea became so popularized that it’s pretty much now standard when it comes to any sort of modern monster tale.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m aware that Underworld and Twilight use the vampire vs werewolf setting but the only movies I’ve seen that have anything to do with Anne Rice were Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned and I haven’t seen a single werewolf in either of the shows. What gives Underworld a modern day edge is the use biology and genetics that were responsible for the existences of both clans rather than traditional mythology.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Looks like this new character Beros could be the total opposite of everything Bell stands for. As for her demon species, I’d say she’s a gorgon though the snake is her tail instead of her hair. She’s definitely crushing on Braz and though he may be conniving and underhanded, he knows how to act cool under pressure. I can actually see him being Beros’s pet and he seems to like her himself.
Where Wolf Daddy is concerned, this development with Braz was probably a golden opportunity for him because I’m sure the Blood family was the proper Acropolis rulers and he usurped the throne. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say this “talk” is a means to further destroy the vampire family and permanently secure his control.
Come on, Staz! Just say you like Fuyumi and end the self torture. That whole talk of her being a collectible really put a dent in his image. I do feel bad for Bell, though, having her feelings go unnoticed. She can be a brat sometimes but she has good qualities and you can see who has the upper hand between her and her brother Knell.
Knell’s introduction was alright, not a typical Yuki Kaji weak hearted male character but it’s apparent that he’s easy to bully into a situation if the opportunity should arise. The bigger concern is what someone like his mother would want with Fuyumi. It’s obvious they’ve never met so I don’t see the connection.
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 102 comments
Tsundere Bell!!! awww she likes Staz
I thought the Ramen scene was funny too.lol
Knell’s such a cute guy (very polite) haha
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That became apparent when she thought he regained his full power for her sake when he fought that monster Frankenstein made.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
While this was cute and all, I just don’t feel any real motivation for Bell to be in love with Staz. It’s like there’s a backstory for her admiring him from afar, but we know nothing about it. And because we don’t, it just feels like “romance of plot convenience.”
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
That’s because the only backstory is her own delusions. You aren’t missing anything. And love doesn’t have to make sense.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 175 comments
well now this is getting many probs on same go
1.staz’s brother got collar by officer beros to meet wolf daddy give that person did something to their parents.
2.bell’s family is now involve give her brother bring fuyumi to mama bells.
3.staz well yea either he good guy or bad guy well it your call.
(give irony of this bell’s brother happen to be issei yet staz is vali oh my if this foreshadow something to DxD yea we blame this series).
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Seiyuus Yuki Kaji and Ryota Ohsaka are running into each other all over the place this year with the animes they’ve designated to play in. Valvrave, Blood Lad and now even High School DxD New. What’s next? Even Ryouhei Kimura who voices Valvrave’s L-Elf is playing Braz in Blood Lad.