Akame ga Kill! – 08
Shh, no tears. Only dreams now.
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
My voice alone will get you wet.
I made the mistake of watching Aldnoah.Zero and Akame ga Kill! back-to-back. Boy was that a terrible idea. Anyway, looks like I have to cover the passing of another Night Raid member. This time, it’s Bulat. I had hopes that the manly man would make it through the ordeal considering the short work he made of Daidara. Then Liver’s ability to control liquids was revealed and I started to have a sinking feeling. The show did throw us in for a bit of a ride by showcasing Bulat’s overwhelming willpower and skill. And certainly, it was impressive to watch him take everything Liver could throw at him head on. But in the end nothing could save him when Liver took a page from Murasame’s book and used a hidden deadly poison as his last resort. There was literally nothing Bulat could have done to avoid death without his Incursio. Now, the more observant viewer might question why Liver didn’t just use his control over liquids to kill Bulat instantly by manipulating his blood directly. This sort of concept has been explored before in Raildex with Accelerator and even in Avatar with blood bending. But I guess it would have been far too easy if Liver had such an outrageous ability. So we can just chalk this one up to the natural limitations of his relic.
inb4 Deadman Wonderland
With that out of the way, I was looking forward to hearing Liver’s reasons for following Esdeath. I’m sure everyone anticipated the obvious: she offered him freedom from his lifelong imprisonment. But what surprised me was his declaration that his real motivation was his idolization of Esdeath. Wait, what? You’re telling me a sadistic, murderous psychopath is someone worthy of adoration? I mean, I’ll admit that Esdeath is pretty easy on the eyes. And she does have a certain charisma about her. But holy shit are there much bigger problems. You know, like the part where she slaughters an entire country without the slightest bit of remorse. Surely anyone can see that this is the hallmark of a monster and not an idol. That said, Liver had presumably been in prison for a while and the extended isolation might have led him to view Esdeath through gilded lenses as his savior. So I admit it’s not too ridiculous that the guy decided to pledge his allegiance to her even though she represents the strong arm of the empire that had betrayed him once before.
We Got A Badass Over Here
They sure don’t make armor now like they used to.
Ok, on to Tatsumi. This episode marks a very significant event that might change everything: Tatsumi gets his very own relic. There go my hopes that he might become badass enough to fight the empire without one. To be fair, that was a bit of a pipe dream considering the overwhelming advantage relics give their wielders. This, combined with the fact that the empire is now sending relic wielders to go after Night Raid, meant it was pretty much a matter of time until Tatsumi stumbled across one of his own. And in this case, it came with some rather depressing strings attached thanks to the passing of Bulat. Even so, Tatsumi quickly put Incursio to good use, so I’m sure we can all expect great things from him in the near future. Depending on how Akame ga Kill! plays its cards, it might turn out that Tatsumi got lucky this one time and he’ll need to go through a training session to get used to Incursio. Or, it’s possible he’s so epic winning that he can bypass that tedious training stage of shounen protagonists. But whatever the case, the stage is set for him to become one major badass.
Ready to kick ass!
Speaking of badass, I just want to mention that the bgm during the opening of the scuffle was 100%, absolutely, un-friggin-believably phenomenal. That is how you pump up a fight.
Shit’s ‘Bout To Get Real
Esdeath always gets what she wants.
Well, now it’s time for the inevitable discussion of Esdeath since the preview hints Tatsumi will encounter her next episode. A bit too soon for them to be settling anything, for sure. I am convinced Esdeath would wipe the floor with Tatsumi’s cold, lifeless ass in about a second if they fought now. So maybe this will just be a bit of a greeting before the blood starts spilling in earnest. Or perhaps, Akame ga Kill! might try to do what I suspect it has been aiming for. Which is to say, get Esdeath lovey-dovey for Tatsumi. Yeah, this is perhaps the most obvious development. Ever since it was made known that she is searching for love, it has been preordained that she can only find said love in the ranks of Night Raid. Now that Bulat is out of the picture, all that remain are Lubbock and Tatsumi. We know next to nothing about Lubbock, and Tatsumi is the main character. You do the math.
<caption contest>
Besides the tropes, why would the show pull such a thing? Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that it has to find some way to stave off the threat Esdeath poses. I’m not saying that her becoming obsessed with Tatsumi (no doubt she will be a yandere) will cause her to turn a blind eye to Night Raid. Make no mistake, she will come after them no matter what. But perhaps if she becomes infatuated with one of them she might be distracted enough that she doesn’t just end them immediately with her relic that we already know is capable of icing an entire country. Akame ga Kill! is going to great lengths to portray Esdeath as an ultimate, unstoppable force. It then follows that Night Raid can only weather her wrath through unconventional means. And what means more perfect to do this than with the power of love. Love has been so often exploited in one way or another in story-telling since the beginning of time that it’s not even funny. So I am prepared to see Akame ga Kill! follow suit.
For The Esdeath Fans
This post ended up a bit wordier than I anticipated, but that’s because it’s so fun speculating where the show can go from here. I know I made Esdeath out to be some sort of end-game, but clearly she’s not. It’s easy to forget that the show is a two-cour. And even if dealing with Esdeath takes us all the way to episode 12, there’s a whole second half to go. So clearly there are other bigger, badder baddies out there for Night Raid to take on. Or heck, Akame ga Kill! might even move on to a large-scale revolution arc. Now that would be interesting to see. Anyway, it looks like we’ll finally get to see the real Kurome in action next week. So here’s looking forward to a “touching” sibling reunion.
What a beautiful sunset.
About Sumairii
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
No fair. You get all of the character death episodes. xD
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
Let’s have a bet to see who gets to cover the next (good character) death. I’m guessing Sumairii will still get to cover it.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
What’s on the table for the bet? Just to be curious. 😉
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
keikaku doori =3
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Why does that sound so evil? 😉
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s all about timing. And Sumairii’s timing is pretty good.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Third time’s the charm. Surely Kara will get it next time!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go back to bribing White Fox so that they put all character deaths on even episodes.
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Don’t you dare. xD Though I seem to get the episodes with Esdeath doing things, so maybe I’m okay with this.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
See? There is a silver lining.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
Well I have to say that I was happy with Bulat’s death. Unlike Sheele’s death Bulat died for a good reason, that is Sheele’s death was totally avoidable if she just cut off the soldier’s at the multiple chances she got. Bulat died fighting a because of some quick and desperate thinking from the general and it was a reasonable death given how far he’d been pushed. I at least can not see how he would have avoided the outcome and still won.
I’m looking forward to see how they use Bulat’s death to push Tatsumi forward besides the “I have to get stronger” thing. It’d be cool if tatsumi could use the armor differently/it got an upgrade when Tatsumi got it.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Yeah, Bulat’s death was done much better than Sheele’s. Both sides fought tooth and nail down to the bitter end, and I’m a big fan of an all-out smack-down with absolutely no holds barred. Also, the use of a constant, rumbling bgm with the occasional loud peaks was brilliant.
Of course, we still get that same cheesy “longest death ever” thing as the main characters seem to always take their sweet time expiring. But that’s pretty standard as far as shounen-esque action goes, so I’m not too concerned about it.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1692 comments
Perhaps Liver followed Esdeath and pledged himself to her because of her military skills. It has been stated she’s the Empire’s top general and it may be that he valued military skills above all else.
Besides, while the flashback and Bulat’s idealized memories of him depicted him as a noble warrior, we don’t know that for sure. It may be that Liver himself had carried out massacres, just nothing to rival Esdeath in that regard. We don’t know what’s considered an acceptable level of violence in war in their world. It’s only been recently that some countries in our world have decided that massacres are not acceptable in war.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Rest in Peace, Bulat. You died as one hell of a badass. There’s a great contrast between his manner of death and Sheele’s. While hers was random and could’ve been avoided if the chance presented itself but still ended sadly, Bulat’s was seen coming and was the result of a death match. So all you could do was watch with respect as he went in with honor, giving Tatsumi some life advice in his final moments.
Women, if charismatic enough, can get you to do almost anything. Well, Liver is a man of war so slaughter is nothing new and all the time in prison must have dulled him to the point he felt himself without a purpose and a suitable master to serve under. I guess in his mind, living without a purpose is the same as being dead. With Esdeath’s charm and charisma against his weakened will, that was probably more than enough to fill the gap, even though it meant that person serving under the very object of his resentment. Another theory of mine says possible Stockholm syndrome. He was as much as her prisoner as the capital’s and she did say she does get what she wants.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
So we have Branch of Sin infused Deadmen roaming around in this series as well? Well, who’d have thought (sarcasm)?
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
Esdeath is the best character in the series, there i said it! she can be an evil/sadistic/crazy woman and still be awesome(in heels!)
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Female characters somehow tend to sexier when they’re evil and sadistic compared to the regulars.
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
not always…some of them just get creepier “quote Mirai Nikki” and that vampire chic from hellsing(the OVA one)
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Huh? Which vampire chick? If it’s Rip Van Winkle, the woman with the hunting gun in the 4th Hellsing Ultimate OVA, she’s creepy yet sexy.
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
That one!she’s not sexy…she really isn’t…Integra is better
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Integra is better but no one in that series can outdo my favorite: Seras Victoria!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Something came to mind when that girl sitting atop that pile of bodies got a close up. Clearly she’s Akame’s younger sister but there’s an underlying symbolism in their names when they’re separated.
Akame: Aka me (Akai) as in Red
Kurome: Kuro me (Kuro) as in Black
There’s no doubt those two were named after colors. For further symbolism, even Akame’s eyes are blood red. Something the author wanted to point out?
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
just look at Esdeath’s uniform…remembered you of anything? maybe beers?*hint*
i want to tame Esdeath…sorry i’m a S type…and i like sadist girls, they’re much better than M one’s
anyway…everyone say hi for the plot:”Hi Plot!”
POWUH: Meta Team and Megane-chan with 3214 comments
Yeah, I think you have it. Akame’s name is written in katakana in the Japanese manga, but I figure they did that on purpose. 赤目 （アカメ or “Akame”）means “red eyes”. Kurome’s eyes are black too.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
…what Kara said.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The author really knows how to conceal symbolic features in plain sight.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Need some assistance. Spammy’s at it again.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
ANIKIIIIIIIII!!!! Damn it! This was TTGL all over again. Why does Konishi voiced characters are such bros and they die? I haven’t finished that series just because of him!
Though, I’m glad there are actual deaths. Always good when it happens in anime. I’m not the butterflies, sunshine, flowers girl after all. 😉
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
O.M.G! it’s kyokai! hey there Boss-Lady o/
did you miss me *0*(Eyes of hope)
and
Konishi is so good, i’ll feel Bulat’s death till the end of the show
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’m still new to the seiyuu Katsuyuki Konishi but he did a great job voicing the tsukkomi addled Kenji Kazama from D-Frag and the insufferable, manipulating and self-serving douche mechanic Pinion from Suisei no Gargantia.
To my surprise, he’s even the Japanese voice behind Haji from Blood+,
though I prefer the English version from Crispin Freeman, Kill la Kill’s Tsumugu and Tokyo Ghoul’s Amon.POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Hahaa, you are always welcome here, Allen! Keep getting involved. 🙂
It was very sad to see Bulat go but I have hopes for our MC with his continuous growth and his new acquired arms.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 163 comments
Caption Contest:
“Well, he-llooo Dolly.”
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
I guess you win by default because no one else bothered to submit an entry. Congratulations! Your prize is one hour of personal time with Esdeath. Good luck!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That’s a fool’s prize and an hour with Esdeath is far too long. Who knows what could happen? It’s nothing short of a death sentence.
POWUH: 800-899 and Mad Scientist with 814 comments
Esdeath likes to take her time. If you watch the web extras you’ll know. =P
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’ll take your word for it and I could tell by looking at her.