Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge – 13 [END]

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Everything is Shingeki no Kyojin and nothing hurts.

It always feels like it takes me so much longer to figure out what to write for final episode posts than anything else. Maybe because I just want to get into the new anime season already. Anyways, Dansai Bunri was a fairly entertaining run and it’s safe to say that I probably won’t look at hair cuts the same way again.

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The battle in the woods turned out exactly how I thought it would (albeit, a lot shorter) with Iwai putting a stop to Kiri. Who knew that standing in one place and staying very, very still could be so effective? On the other hand though, it’s not Dansai Bunri without adding a bit of weirdness in there, so we had Kiri feeling up Iwai and her hair magically growing back. Whatever works for Kiri I guess. As for the hair thing, from the hints we’ve been given, the hair reflects Iwai’s feelings or bond with Kiri or something? Iwai was pretty shocked with Kiri’s transformation (plus she said something about “my Crime Edge”) and I imagine being harmed by the person and scissors that saved her all those episodes ago was like a betrayal of sorts. Maybe Iwai doesn’t recognize that on the outside, but somewhere deep down, I’m sure it would feel like a betrayal. Maybe it was Kiri’s ability to multiply pain that made Iwai feel torn apart after he cut her hair viciously, but I’d like to think that it’s psychological. …Or I also read a theory about Iwai sacrificing part of herself (or something to do with her hair growth) to bring Kiri back. I guess that works too, though I didn’t really get that from what I saw here.

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Emily and Iwai certainly got along quickly. It’s funny how Iwai’s father actually told Emily that he wanted to help her and she STILL decided to go after Iwai’s life, but I guess that was just childish selfishness. As much as I wasn’t fond of Emily’s character as a coldblooded assassin, I rather liked her as Iwai’s pseudo younger sister this episode (…normally it’s the other way around for me). They have a lot in common. Or at least, they had the same father figure, so seeing them interact like this was like watching them regain something they had both lost and was nice to see. I just hope Violet doesn’t try to get back at Emily in any way for this since she’s kind of run away from Gossip. If that party was anything to go by, Violet doesn’t take any kind of insubordination lightly. …And not that we really have to worry about that since this was the last episode.

As for Iwai’s line about not wanting to deny Emily’s existence… I was really impressed. Iwai has definitely grown since her introduction 13 episodes ago. Looking at it now, I guess it’s kind of expected that Iwai has a heart bigger than the oceans (since that’s a stereotypical heroine trait), but at the same time I thought it was really mature. Of course Emily can’t just ignore that the greater part of her childhood was spent murdering people and it’s kind of unreasonable for her to pretend that it never happened. I’d love to see these two cooperate more in the future like this (or maybe have Emily become a second protector for Iwai since Kiri seems to be having issues right now), but for now I guess we’ll just have to make due with the fact that these two are bffs at the moment.

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…So who knows what’s going on with Grayland and Kiri, but hey, I finally got my explanation on what made-to orders are and how they’re made. As expected, the background story behind them is pretty tragic (…and seems like an awful lot of effort, but I guess if you have the time and the money…). Though Violet’s explanation also opens the question as to Iwai’s father knew about all of this to make Emily. Violet’s proclamation on how no Hair Queen has managed to survive is kind of troubling as well, but once again, I guess we don’t have to worry about that at the moment. Violet seems to be making herself the definite antagonist these past couple of episodes, but I really wish we could have had an explanation as to why she’s doing all of this. Out of envy of Iwai? Because she’s bored? Some other profound reason? Who knows. I was also so convinced that Kashiko had something to do with Gossip, but instead she dropped off the face of the planet.

Iwai was great, but what the hell was that at the end with Kiri? Protagonist-kun, Iwai had some interesting dialogue this episode. What on earth are you doing? Or more like, why is there suddenly a love triangle(?) with Violet and where the hell did it come from? We didn’t even see much of Kiri and Iwai interact, and then Dansai Bunri opens up a whole new possible love route. …This was a pretty bad place to end the anime since it gave us absolutely no closure in anything.

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…and now a montage of “wtf is going on here?”

Uhhh… yeah. So I guess this was their way of making up for the fact that nothing was resolved in this anime (I imagine the producers going “okay, we know this was a terrible spot to end this but look, the story goes on”). Long story short, read the manga to figure out what all of this cryptic imagery actually means. Or buy their shit so they can make a season 2 of the anime.


Like I said, this wasn’t the greatest place to end the anime. However, I was actually pretty okay with where they ended it. Nothing was resolved (they didn’t even attempt to give us much of a resolution) and this episode gave me more questions than answers, but the story obviously goes on from here. Maybe I’m okay with this since I’m kind of sort of following the manga, but they also kept the same tone to the story all the way through. Plus I guess I liked how there wasn’t much of a half assed “And everything continued on peacefully. (Just in case we don’t get around to a season 2,) The end.” conclusion (though maybe that ending with the hair cutting was supposed to be one). Really, if it didn’t have those flashes to future events and the characters, I feel like this could continue right into the summer season. …Though I don’t know if this will ever get a second season since the sales don’t seem to be going so well. I read somewhere that the blurays and such remove the monochrome filter from the battle scenes, but I guess that’s not enough to make people want to buy this.

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this anime overall, to be honest. It had a lot of things I liked in it, but at the same time, it kind of felt like it opened some things halfway and then just left them hanging there. Either they over-explained things, or it left things really vague. I don’t need answers handed to me, but at the same time, leaving things vague kind of dulled my enjoyment for things. I liked blogging this for sure, but I have a feeling I’m going to forget about Dansai Bunri before long.

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About

University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.
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31 Responses to “Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge – 13 [END]”

  1. Liza says:

    This was an interesting anime to say in the least. So many fetishes left and right.

    I think one of the few things that annoyed me about the episode was the fact that it seemed like half of it took place in the bath with Iwai and Emily naked. =_=. Also, at the end when Kiri cut Iwai’s hair, I felt like it seemed too happy? Iwai was essentially “hair-raped” by Kiri so I thought she would be a bit worried(and Kiri as well since he seemed to remember what happened). Maybe it was a way to make it seem like there is a “happy” ending?

    Although I would like to see another season of this I guess I’m going to need to start reading the manga.

    • skylion says:

      one of the few things that annoyed me about the episode was the fact that it seemed like half of it took place in the bath with Iwai and Emily naked

      Annoyed me too. Sunbeams EVERYWHERE! But seriously, they could played that for half the time and 3/4 less exposure and still got the story if they would have bought more time in library learning about their Dad. It was clear fanservice. And this is coming from Skylion of all people.

    • Karakuri says:

      …Yeah, that ending with the hair cutting felt a bit tacked on. I have no idea if the manga handled it differently or not.

  2. Krono says:

    I have to agree it was not the best ending, but I still thought it was a pretty good episode. I really liked seeing a different side of Emily instead of a “I will kill you and talk to you with the same facial expression unless you are my dogs.” Well…that may be going a little far but I still like the change in her character.

    The scene with Violet kissing Kiri was a little random in my opinion. I have no idea if that is going to go anywhere if there is a season 2 but that scene was more than a little sudden if they wanted to make a love triangle in my opinion.

    • BlackBriar says:

      If we want to know what happens from here, then we have no choice but to check out the manga. From what I can see, there’s enough chapters (23 of them) to make this a two cour series. As a example, Zetsuen no Tempest was a two cour show based on 26 chapters.

      • skylion says:

        I would like to see how those teasers work out? Iwai is still getting new hair styles…And it looks like you can take the killer out of the LOli, but not the LOLi out of the killer….if that makes any sense…

      • Highway says:

        Plus, there’s nowhere near enough sales interest to support this show for a second season. The first BD sold 346 at first reporting. It is an economic failure of huge proportions for an anime, as in “might as well have sold zero”.

        The only love triangle I see happening would be Kashiko / Kiri / Iwai. Like I said below, Violet’s not interested in Kiri for anything but trolling and controlling.

    • Karakuri says:

      I liked Emily’s character more this episode than any of her other appearances so far. Though that’s largely because I like watching family bonding of any sort.

      I say ‘love triangle’ (looking back, a poor choice of words), but I don’t think Kiri is interested in Violet at all. This is probably all to throw him off or whatever. Or at least to later throw off Kiri and Iwai at a later date/ cause one of those misunderstandings that tend to happen after events like this.

      • skylion says:

        I didn’t mind the Killer LOLi so much, I’m a Gunslinger Girl fan from back in the day. But I agree, I like her softened side much more. This would make it interesting as one of the catches in the “teaser bit” sees her reverting back to original style.

        • Karakuri says:

          If she’s reverting to do something like protect Iwai, I’m totally there.

          • skylion says:

            And I am right there with you….

          • BlackBriar says:

            At least it shows she’s flexible personality wise now as opposed to being pretty much stiff beforehand. She can Iwai can actually pass for sisters now.

  3. BlackBriar says:

    Commenting on final episodes always gives me trouble. You’re not sure how to bring up your thoughts on the subject and you wonder if you’re expressing in a way everyone can understand because there’s no more after.

    In perspective, Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge is like a more vicious version of 2011’s C³: Cube x Cursed x Curious. There are similarities like the use of weapons (Cursed Tools/Killing Goods) and the reasoning behind why everyone is after the female lead and male has some unique and destructive power.

    Violet kissing Kiri did come out of nowhere but it might be out of convenience on her part. Based on what her family does for a living, she may have developed a personal interest in murderers and after what Kiri did to Emily, he suddenly has appeal to her because she sees potential. She does have the mind of a sadist. That entire conversation was like she was trying to seduce him with her body as much as her words.

    Overall, this was an interesting and dark series. It can even be pegged as a fetish of the week show seeing that some of the characters were aroused by cutting hair, getting pricked by needles and enjoying being lynch by a noose and beaten with a pet whip. Murder and means to unintentionally feel pleasure. Are all the authors for the manga and anime big time masochists?

    There could be another season thanks to obviously open ended finale. There are still two more Authors out there. Not to mention the manga has 23 chapters in right now so anything is possible.

    • Karakuri says:

      Ahaha you always practically write a post in your comments anyways, so I’m not surprised.

      Yeah, it kind of does. …Though I wouldn’t call it more vicious. Kiri only reached insanity in the second last episode. I vaguely remember Peavy dominating insanity the 2nd episode of C3, and then Yukari Tamura’s character following shortly after. In terms of enjoyment, I’d put this on the same level as C3 though.

      Anyways, I can’t see this kiss going anywhere good. Iwai won’t take it well at least and it’s perfect for creating angst somewhere in the future plot. …I imagine it’s hard not to seduce people when your breasts are bigger than your face.

      An interesting series indeed. I was expecting murderer of the week as opposed to fetish of the week when I signed up, but this was fun to watch nonetheless.

      I think there could be any number of Authors out there. There are just two more made-to-orders (which after Emily, don’t seem like that big of a deal, but whatever).

  4. Highway says:

    There’s no love triangle. Violet is a psychopath and master manipulator. If there’s any interest in Kiri, it’s in what he means to Iwai, and how Violet can screw with Iwai’s head (and Kiri’s).

    I’ve realized that I’m totally ok with fictons that just don’t end. Having a story told and complete is fine, we don’t need to have the whole life wrapped up. It just goes on from there and we don’t see it, waiting to show us at a later date.

    • skylion says:

      Yeah, I like it when they stop in a convenient place.

    • BlackBriar says:

      If Violet does have an interest in Kiri, it’s because he started giving into the impulses of his Killing Goods. She really seems to enjoy watching people fall from grace and become savage beasts.

      • Liza says:

        I can see that being the reason why Violet is interested in Kiri now. Although at the same time she is just asking for an Author to kill her off.

        • skylion says:

          Now that I see it that way, “begging” is more appropriate.

          • Liza says:

            Maybe that’s Violet’s fetish. Trying to get killed by Authors.

            • BlackBriar says:

              Sadomasochism? Doesn’t look that way. I peg her more as an all out sadist.

            • Highway says:

              I’m with BB, she’s a sadist, and she’s a controller. She’s in charge of the whole game, and if it looks like Kiri is going to win against everyone, I’d imagine she’d be the big boss at the end.

            • skylion says:

              Well, if it takes me getting the physical media to prompt an S2 then I will…

            • Highway says:

              You and a couple thousand of your friends…

  5. Dan says:

    Hoping for a season 2

    • Karakuri says:

      A second season wouldn’t be bad. Though I still have no idea how well the first season sold, since I don’t really follow that sort of thing.

      • Highway says:

        First season absolutely bombed for sales. Like under 500 for the first volume, and I doubt the rest did any better. I think it was by far the worst of the Spring season shows. There’s no chance that any sales will support a season 2, if they do one it’ll be because they just want to, not for any commercial reason.

        • Karakuri says:

          Oh I don’t know about it being the worst. Aku no Hana came out around that time too. xD Though that one might have had buyers because it was artsy and pretentious or whatever people were calling it.

          • Highway says:

            Aku no Hana’s average sales were just above Crime Edge: 335 to 323. Both trailed Mushibugyou at 351. That’s three of the bottom 4 for 2013 so far (with Mangirl at 339).

            source

        • Krono says:

          That’s disappointing I rather liked this series. Such is the way of things a guess.

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