Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 137

Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Episode 6 Review

“Lies, Truth, or Something Supernatural!” That’s the title of Ron’s new favorite television show, where a psychic named Torage attempts to prove the authenticity of his mind-control claims when a young neurosurgeon challenges him. Ron and his rookie detective partner, Isshiki Tototmaru, watch the broadcast live, where an audience member appears to die after Torage writes “Death” on a card. The two immediately rush to the spot to investigate the case.

For a plot overview, read – Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Episode 1 Review

Titled “The Case of the Live Broadcast Murder,” episode 6 of “Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions” (Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri) is an amusing installment where Ron must prove that the audience member was murdered and didn’t die due to the psychic’s supernatural abilities. Even the neurosurgeon at the crime scene is completely shaken by the turn of events, but we all trust the genius detective to solve the case, don’t we?

This was a colorful and fast-paced episode that delves into the theme of blind supernatural belief versus scientific explanations for everything. There’s the usual comedic banter between Ron and Tototmaru, but the neurosurgeon also adds to the hilarity due to her extremely clumsy behavior. For example, half her body is in bandages because she keeps falling or hurting herself accidentally, an amusing paradoxical behavior for a surgeon known for her precision.

So far in the series, Ron has been treating Totomaru merely as a proxy to help him solve murder cases due to a revocation of his detective license, but for the first time, the asocial genius exhibits genuine concern for Toto. On his part, Totomaru still isn’t used to Ron’s bizarre ways of working, but he admires Ron deeply and probably already thinks of him as his best friend and mentor. The episode concludes with the two planning a vacation to give Ron a much-needed break, but given his knack for stumbling upon murder mysteries even during leisure time, we can be certain that another vacation murder case is just around the corner.

You can stream “Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions” (Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri) on Netflix.

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Wingwomen Movie Ending Explained

The 2023 movie “Wingwomen” (original title: Voleuses) concludes with an unexpected twist that remains unexplained by the creators. So, let’s delve into what the climax meant. But first, here’s a brief overview of the plot. The story revolves around Carole and Alex, skilled thieves and close friends, who decide to pull off one last heist before retiring, as they are both tired of constantly putting their life at risk. They recruit a newcomer named Max for their last mission, much to the displeasure of their boss, known as the Godmother.

Also Read: Wingwomen Movie Review – Leads Soar in this Action-Comedy

Carole tries to persuade the Godmother to let them leave their life of crime, but the Godmother makes it clear that they can only retire when she allows it. The Godmother highly values Carole and cannot afford to lose her as an asset, although she does indicate that she doesn’t care much for what Alex does with her life. But Carole is pregnant and hellbent on wanting to start a new life sans crime, so she begins devising a plan.

In the film’s ending, after successfully stealing an artwork, Carole, Alex, and Max celebrate. Carole steps aside to have a cryptic phone conversation, expressing her need for someone’s services. When questioned if the Godmother knows about her plan, Carole emphasizes that her intention is to keep the Godmother out of it and that she requires a “team” ready for the plan. Alex inquires about the person on the other end of the call, but Carole changes the topic, leaving the conversation mysterious.

In the climactic scene, Carole meets the Godmother to deliver the stolen artwork. Alex, stationed in an adjacent building with a sniper rifle, watches over her. Carole instructs Alex to shoot the Godmother, triggering an attack by the Godmother’s guards. Carole and Alex eliminate the guards, but the police arrive, intensifying the situation. Realizing that they can’t escape the police, Carole decides to sacrifice herself. She instructs Alex to escape and start a new life, lamenting that the Godmother has already taken too much of their lives. Carole opens fire on the police and is fatally shot in response. Her body is taken away, and Alex manages to escape.

The film then jumps four years ahead, with Alex having distanced herself from Max and grieving Carole’s absence. Max urges Alex to go somewhere with her, and although initially reluctant, Alex agrees. During their outing, Alex encounters a child named Raoule, the name she had suggested for Carole’s baby. In a surprising twist, Carole appears and embraces Alex. Alex asks Carole to explain what happened, and the movie concludes.

So, did Carole actually die? The most likely scenario is that Carole orchestrated her own fake death. She either hired people to pose as cops and stage her murder or had a reliable contact within the police force to help her stage the incident. By doing so, Carole ensured that she wouldn’t be pursued by those connected to the Godmother. If she had simply survived after eliminating the Godmother, she would have had to live on the run for the rest of her life. Therefore, faking her death was the safest and most secure way to start anew, which was likely the reason behind her enigmatic phone call requesting services from an undisclosed person.

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Kimi ni wa Todokanai – I Can’t Reach You Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

As soon as the intro song rolled in for Japanese series “I Can’t Reach You”/”Kimi ni wa Todokanai” in its first episode, I exclaimed to myself “Oh no, I guess he is just going to pine for his crush for the whole show until the last episode!”. After watching so many Japanese shows, it seemed pretty plausible that a high-school romance show would just be an achingly long story, filled with misunderstandings, about how the protagonist struggles to express their feelings until some major conflict finally forces them to come clean. But I was proven partially wrong.

Adapted from a manga series of the same name by Mika, “I Can’t Reach You”/”Kimi ni wa Todokanai” (君には届かない。) has been directed by Tanazawa Takayoshi, Izumi Masahide, Hayashi Masataka, the same trio behind the 2020 hit series “Cherry Magic.” Maeda Kentaro plays protagonist, Ohara Yamato, who grapples with his deep affection for his childhood best friend, Ashiya Kakeru (Kashiwagi Haru), and the internal conflict of whether he should confess his feelings. Yamato is tall, handsome, asocial, and a top student in his class, with several girls swooning over him. In contrast, Ashiya Kakeru, who sits right behind him, is clumsy, dorky, and struggles with very low grades. Can these two very different people date, or will Yamato have to move on? This question forms the crux of the story.

This is a standard “friends to lovers” romance, with funny, awkward and cute moments blended in through eight episodes. In a huge surprise, Ashiya becomes aware of Yamato’s crush in the very first episode, after overhearing Yamato tell a few girls that he likes his childhood best-friend, when asked about his “type”. From that point onward, their friendship becomes rocky as Ashiya becomes perplexed about Yamato’s intentions, meanwhile Yamato grows increasingly insecure and jealous as his classmates try to set up Ashiya with someone else.

The cinematography was bright and simple; however, the creators unnecessarily added a sparkly filter in many scenes, perhaps in an attempt to evoke a sense of ‘magical’ or ‘innocence of first love,’ but it ended up being rather distracting. Most episodes either unfold at the school premises or at the protagonists’ home, however, the class goes on a small trip in episodes 4-5, which offered an interesting visual break from the usual classroom set-up. The series opening song “U & I” by Hi-Fi Un!corn(하이파이유니콘) is very cheery, upbeat and complements the series well whenever played behind a particular scene.

Kashiwagi Haru is hilariously adorable as the goofy Ashiya Kakeru. The actor employs physical comedy, utilizing exaggerated body movements to enhance the comedic effect in their performance, instantly reminding me of Mishieda Shunsuke’s portrayal of Aoki in ‘Kieta Hatsukoi’. Both characters are also zany, cute and confused about their romantic feelings for a classmate. Maeda Kentaro on the other hand is earnestly charming as the blindingly good-looking Ohara Yamato, who is very considerate about those around him. Even though Yamato struggles to express his romantic emotions, he is also pretty straightforward and immediately turns down all the girls who ask him out. While the romantic chemistry between Maeda Kentaro and Kashiwagi Haru wasn’t magnetic, their interactions are entertaining. Furthermore, Maeda Kentaro brilliantly captures the agony of unrequited love in his role as Yamato. His longing gaze at Ashiya is reminiscent of Hira’s obsession with Kiyoi in ‘Utsukushii Kare’, a Japanese series about an asocial teen’s excessive adoration for his handsome classmate.

The pacing of the series is pretty steady, with each episode spanning 20 minutes and the focus remaining on the leads. While ‘I Can’t Reach You’ (‘Kimi ni wa Todokanai’) introduced some interesting supporting characters, some of them could have benefited from more development. For instance, Matsumoto Leo’s portrayal of the nosy yet perceptive Hosaka would have been enhanced with more screen time. His character appears somewhat random when encouraging Yamato to be more honest about his feelings. Although Hosaka is a close friend of Ashiya, there are very few scenes featuring the two together, making his overly friendly ‘advice’ to Yamato seem somewhat disconnected, leaving a sense that something was missing from the dynamics. Yamato shares a very warm bond with his younger sister Mikoto (Konno Ayaka), who was a little like Charlie’s sister Tori from the teen romance “Heartstopper”. Konno Ayaka is very poker-faced as Mikoto, but the character is crucial, as she encourages both Yamato and Ashiya to confront each other. “I would cry if I get rejected,” Yamato says in one scene to Mikoto and she kindly responds by saying “I will stay with you all night if that happens” . That one scene succinctly sums up their sibling bond.

“Overall, ‘I Can’t Reach You’ (‘Kimi ni wa Todokanai’) is a charming high-school romance for those who enjoy ‘friends to lovers’ stories, with the exception of a rather ridiculous plot twist in episode six where Yamato forgets a crucial conversation he has with Ashiya. The story typically flows smoothly, without excessive drama and has a satisfactory climactic episode.

Rating: 7 on 10.

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The Archies Trailer Is A Charming Bubble of its Own

Netflix has unveiled the official trailer for Zoya Akhtar’s movie “The Archies” which releases on 7th December. Agastya Nanda, Khushi Kapoor and Suhana Khan play the lead trio Archie, Betty and Veronica from the popular teen comics and the story is also set in a small town called Riverdale, but in India.

Zoya’s Riverdale exudes charm and carves its own niche, retaining many of the original comics’ themes and motifs, including the iconic ‘Pop Tate’s’ soda shop, where Jughead (Mihir Ahuja) works part-time and where all of Archie’s friends frequently gather. The cast is rounded out by Vedang Raina, Dot, and Yuvraj Menda as Reggie, Ethel, and the nerdy Dilton. Much like the comic books, the film centers on the love triangle involving Archie, Betty, and Veronica, with added drama on the side as the teens protest Mr. Lodge’s plan to replace their beloved park and hangouts with a large plaza.

While the cinematography is bubbly and brings out some 70s nostalgia, all the young actors lack a certain spunk, which holds back the trailer from being exciting. Suhana Khan’s portrayal of the wealthy and vivacious Veronica Lodge seems to border on being sweeter, resembling Betty more, and it feels like Khushi Kapoor might have been a better fit for Veronica. However, with a trailer that is only 3 minutes long, those intrigued by this Desi version of the Archies will have to wait for the film to see how the young cast fares in playing iconic comic-book characters that have entertained generations of young readers.

Watch the trailer for “The Archies” by Zoya Akhtar below.

A Deadly Invitation Review – Breezy Seaside Mystery

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Set against a stunning sea-side villa, the 2023 Spanish thriller-comedy “A Deadly Invitation” (original title: Invitación a un Asesinato) follows a rookie crime podcaster’s attempt to solve her sister’s mysterious death onboard a yacht.

Directed by J.M Cravioto, “A Deadly Invitation” is an Agatha Christie style whodunnit, written by Javier Durán Pérez, Anton Goenechea and Carmen Posadas. Regina Blandón plays the protagonist, Agatha, a nerdy busybody with a popular podcast show about unsolved mysteries. She receives an unexpected invitation from her wealthy older sister, Olivia (Maribel Verdú), to spend a few days at her fancy beach-facing mansion. As it turns out, some of Olivia’s close friends also received the same invite, and she takes them on her yacht, warning that one of them might not see the next morning. Late in the night, Olivia is found dead, possibly murdered, and everybody becomes a suspect. The plot slightly reminded me of the Bollywood thriller ‘Neeyat,’ which is also about a wealthy person inviting a group of friends and family to his seaside castle and then mysteriously dying.

It takes a while for “A Deadly Invitation” to become engaging because, at first, it’s challenging to be interested in what becomes of the wealthy and vain Olivia, who had been married five times and led an extravagant life. Except for Agatha, all the other suspects appear snobbish or insincere, such as Olivia’s embittered friend Sonia (Stephanie Cayo), who used to date Agatha’s ex-husband and is currently in a relationship with a seemingly dubious yoga instructor, Carlos (Aarón Díaz). Then there’s a fidgety doctor, another ex-boyfriend whose acting career is down in the dumps and a sarcastic ex-husband. Though a suspect herself, Agatha helps the police crack her sister’s murder case.

The cinematography of “A Deadly Invitation” stands out as its most compelling feature. The majority of the story unfolds against the backdrop of the stunning blue sea or within the exquisitely adorned seaside property. The color palette is vibrant, sunny, and pleasant, providing a refreshing departure from the typical dimly-lit mysteries that often rely on warm orange-red hues. Regina Blandón is entertaining as the “know it all” rookie investigator, who bosses around the cop investigating her sister’s murder, while the rest of the cast is caricature-like and doesn’t leave a strong impression.

Overall, “A Deadly Invitation” is an amusing mystery, which starts out weak, but gets more gripping in the second half and covers some surprisingly serious themes after maintaining a light-comedic tone for most of the runtime. With a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes, the movie is not excessively long, making it a good choice for those seeking an entertaining thriller similar to Adam Sandler’s ‘Murder Mystery’ or ‘Knives Out.’ However, ‘A Deadly Invitation’ doesn’t quite match the humor of the former or the stylish thrills of the latter, but it’s somewhere in between.

Rating: 6 on 10. Stream the film on Netflix.

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Disco Inferno Short Film Review

Rating: 2 out of 5.

“What was that?” I asked myself as the end credits of the short horror film “Disco Inferno” rolled in. Directed by Matthew Castellanos, this 19-minute film features Soni Bringas and Stephen Ruffin as the young couple Mel and Brandon, who are gearing up for a dance competition at a new club, where Mel encounters a sinister presence.

“Disco Inferno” begins with a dark and twisted flashback to the 1950s, set in a church where an elderly woman confesses to something terrible. The story then transitions to the 1970s, where the church has been transformed into a trendy nightclub named “Inferno,” yet the venue’s corridors still conceal dark secrets.

Soni Bringas is radiant as Mel, who is dressed in a shiny costume for her dance performance and reminded me of a young Penelope Cruz in some scenes. Just before her big dance, Mel is haunted by an old woman and the plot follows her terrifying ordeal. While the ‘church turned disco’ setting provides an excellent backdrop for the horror short, the story itself lacks compelling depth, and the writers struggle to deliver a significant impact within the short runtime. Although the first half successfully builds some suspense, the pace eventually flattens out, and the scary scenes remain rather tame. The actors deliver what’s expected of them, but the creators fall short in delivering the kind of spine-tingling thrills that a title like “Disco Inferno” promises.

Rating: 4 on 10. You can stream the short film on Netflix.

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Dangerous Romance Review – Tame & Safe

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The wealthy brat Kanghan often bullies Sailom, a top scholarship student, and although they initially despise each other, their feelings begin to change after Sailom agrees to tutoring the spoilt teen on a request from Kanghan’s grandmother. Set in a high school, the twelve-episode Thai series “Dangerous Romance” (original title: หัวใจในสายลม) is directed by Lit Phadung Samajarn and Toh Worawut Thanamatchaicharoen, who last collaborated on the romantic show “Love in Translation”.

Chimon Wachirawit Ruangwiwat and Perth Tanapon Sukumpantanasan play lead pair Sailom and Kanghan respectively in this series. The two were seen together as supporting characters in the drama “Never Let Me Go”, where both of them leave quite a strong impression, despite their limited screen-time, which created quite a buzz among fans for “Dangerous Romance”. The first episode entertainingly sets up the “enemies to lovers” trope, where Kanghan tries to torment the smart Sailom, but the latter always manages to outwit him. It was enjoyable to witness the nerdy character not cower and cry but instead fight back with all his strength. However, despite Sailom’s academic success, he is a financially struggling teenager with no parents; he lives with an an older brother Saifah (Papang Phromphiriya Thongputtaruk), and the two of them are overwhelmed by debts and frequently harassed by creditors.

While “Dangerous Romance” primarily focuses on Kanghan and Sailom’s evolving relationship, the series also includes some secondary subplots that were unnecessary and poorly executed. One of them revolves around Sailom’s close friend, Guy Koraphat (played by Marc Natarit Worakornlertsith), who frequently gets into fights with Kanghan’s buddy, Nawa (portrayed by Pawin Thanik Kamontharanon). Once the two find themselves on the same football team, a potential romance brews between them. The Guy and Nawa love story felt forced, awkward, and could have simply been a “rivals to friends” tale. In fact, even Kanghan and Sailom’s love story felt slightly contrived because, for half of the series, Kanghan has a serious crush on his classmate Pimfah (View Benyapa Jeenprasom), and he shifts his affection towards Sailom rather abruptly.

Perth Tanapon Sukumpantanasan’s first major role was as a humble student from a middle-class family in the 2018 romance “Love By Chance” and in “Dangerous Romance,” he convincingly plays the rich and arrogant brat Kanghan. Kanghan’s mother has passed away, and he shares a complex relationship with his father (Nong Natchukorn Maikan), which is a significant subplot in the series and is well-executed. Pimkae Goonchorn Na Ayutthaya portrays King, Kanghan’s grandmother, who does her best to guide the teenager.

Chimon Wachirawit Ruangwiwat is incredibly endearing as Sailom, a level-headed character who, despite financial challenges, finds joy in simple pleasures like video games and good food, embodying the essence of a typical teenage boy among his friends. While Perth and Chimon perfectly embody their teenage characters, their romantic chemistry isn’t exactly electric, even though they do make a cute pair. Despite an interesting enough plot for a high-school romance, the writers of the show often resort to cliched outdated tropes to create moments between the lead pair. For example, episode four has a scene where Sailom slips in the school washroom and falls into Kanghan’s arms, which was pretty cringe-y, especially since a high-school bathroom setting is anything but romantic.

The series doesn’t really live up to its name “Dangerous Romance”, even though Sailom often gets into perilous situations due to the debts his brother owes to a shady gang of goons. Perhaps setting the story in a college environment would have worked better, as high school students have their limitations, while college characters could have been portrayed with a more adventurous streak. Overall, the story is pretty predictable, with some pointless sub-plots that could’ve been removed to improve the pace of the show. If you are looking for a high-school romance with the “enemies to lovers” tropes, this series is a pretty decent pick for the weekend.

Rating: 6 on 10. You can stream “Dangerous Romance” on YouTube.

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Wingwomen Review – Leads Soar in this Action-Comedy

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Carole and Alex are expert thieves, teammates, confidantes and best-friends. Tired of constantly risking their lives for the next job, the two decide to pull one last heist before they can retire and rope in a newbie called Max for help. But their boss has other plans for them.

Mélanie Laurent directs and stars in the women-led action film “Wingwomen” (original title: Voleuses) which beautifully portrays female friendships but has a pretty familiar plot – protagonists who want to pull off one last daring theft before they hang their boots. The movie opens with a tense yet comical sequence, where Carole (Mélanie) is running through a forest after successfully stealing diamonds, while her partner Alex (Adèle Exarchopoulos) is waiting with their getaway vehicle, fretting over boyfriend issues instead of worrying about their escape. It’s easy to get distracted as a viewer at the beginning, wondering why neither of them was wearing masks, helmets, scarves, or anything to hide their identities or protect their heads from gunfire. They eventually don helmets, but only after all the firing is over. Basically, the story is quite exaggerated, but well, that’s typical of most action movies in this genre.

Carole is the doer, who gets the job done, while Alex is her ears, eyes and sniper; together the two women make a near perfect team, but Carole recruits Max (Manon Bresch), a stunt motorcyclist, for their next assignment, as Alex’s driving skills aren’t as excellent as her sharpshooting acumen. Three feisty women pulling off heists for an evil master might sound a bit like ‘Charlie’s Angels’; however, ‘Wingwomen’ is refreshingly sunny in its exploration of bonds between women, giving viewers a trio of friends who define ‘friendship goals’ in many ways. In an intriguing addition, even their overlord is a woman – Isabelle Adjani plays a character referred to as ‘Godmother’, who assigns jobs to Carole. The Godmother isn’t happy with Carole & Alex’s plan to retire and serves as the primary antagonist in this action-comedy.

Mélanie Laurent, who was last seen in another Netflix action-comedy “Murder Mystery 2”, is charming as Carole and gives off “big sister” vibes; while Adèle Exarchopoulos is even more endearing as the fiercely loyal Alex, who instantly becomes jealous of the new member, Max, much like a child’s reaction to a new family member. Manon Bresch might be the last entrant to the team as Max, but the gorgeous actor has great screen presence and it was entertaining to see her blossom from a nervous rookie to a more confident gang-member. The trio embarks on a short vacation before their inaugural heist together, deepening their bonds. Alex pushes Max to undergo intensive training for their upcoming adventures, a part that felt akin to watching ‘The Karate Kid,’ but with two women of nearly the same age, offering a refreshing twist.

With a 2-hour runtime, ‘Wingwomen’ maintains a reasonable pace for the most part. However, it might feel slow for those who expect an adrenaline-pumping action flick filled with constant blood, guns, and deaths. Although, thanks to Alex’s love for guns, there’s definitely a lot of shooting throughout the runtime, even though you won’t see limbs and body parts flying about. The cinematography was a mixed bag, while some of the indoor scenes were too dim and warm in tone, a lot of the outdoor videography was aesthetically pleasing. There’s a striking flamenco scene in the middle of the film, with Manon Bresch as the lady dancer and Carole as the baialora (male dancer). They perform on a road strewn with autumn leaves, for a group of goons, and the entire sequence is chef’s kiss, accompanied by the soulful sounds of a moody guitar in the background. At least, it was my favorite scene from the film, a moody-magical dance that’s soon followed by violence.

The last 15-20 minutes of ‘Wingwomen’ feel like you’re watching a completely different movie as the mood becomes quite serious and dramatic. While the dialogues weren’t exactly rib-tickling earlier either, there was at least a consistent light-hearted atmosphere for the majority of the runtime, which is nowhere to be seen in the climax. There are a bunch of twists towards the end, all of them were surprising, yes, but that doesn’t mean they were good surprises. Overall, “Wingwomen” doesn’t have a lot of novelty to offer in terms of story, but the friendship and chemistry between the lead actors make it worth a watch.

Rating: 6 on 10. Stream the film on Netflix.

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Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 5 Review

It’s family day out again for the Forgers in “Spy x Family” Season 2 Episode 5, where Anya wins a cruise for two at a raffle and in an incredible co-incidence – Yor is also scheduled to travel on the same luxury ship for her next assignment as Thorn Princess. Since Yor must work during the cruise, so Loid takes a leave to accompany Anya on the ship.

Read: Spy x Family Episode 1 Review for plot overview

Titled ‘Plan to Cross the Border,’ episode five is a swiftly paced entertaining installment that includes a brief cameo by Yuri Briar, Yor’s younger brother, as the two unexpectedly encounter each other on the metro. Yuri’s cameo was brief, this chance encounter serves as a catalyst for Yor to reevaluate her life and her clandestine profession as an assassin. Orphaned at an early age, Yor took on the dangerous job to support her younger brother. However, with Yuri now in a secure government position, Yor is seriously contemplating whether she still needs to maintain the double life as a covert operative.

Yor’s new assignment is to protect a woman named Olka and her toddler during their stay on a luxury ship. They are the only survivors of a mafia family being hunted by assassins, and they are attempting to escape the country by sea. While Yor is anxious about her role as a bodyguard on the cruise, Anya is having the time of her life exploring the various entertainment options on the ship and trying to convince her spy dad, Loid, to relax a little bit.

With a host of new faces, Spy x Family Season 2 Episode 5 is largely interesting, and it ends with a surprising twist. The Forger family’s cruise vacation is far from over, and even though there were no action or fight scenes in this episode, there might be some blood and drama in the next one.

You can stream Spy x Family on Netflix.

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Migi to Dali Episode 5 Review

Plot Overview – Based on a manga by Nami Sano, this mystery-thriller series introduces the audience to orphaned identical twins, Migi and Dali, who craftily scheme their way into the lives of an aging wealthy couple Sonoyama Osamu and Sonoyama Youko. The couple believes they’ve adopted a single child, Hitori, with no clue that they’ve unwittingly welcomed two brothers into their home, who have their own agenda. So Migi and Dali take turns to play Sonoyama Hitori.

“Migi to Dali” continues to take some really bizarre turns, but for those who have already read Nami Samo’s manga, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. However, for the rest of us, the anime series seems to be getting progressively stranger with each new episode. Episode 5, in particular, was undeniably unsettling. In this episode, Hitori (Migi and Dali) pays a visit to Eiji Ichijo’s house with their adoptive parents for lunch. Things take a disturbing turn when Eiji accuses Hitori of stealing something and then demands that he undress. What makes this scene even creepier is the fact that Hitori’s parents allow this absurdity to unfold. And to make things worse, Eiji’s parents demand that Hitori be left in their house for a few days so that they can discipline him and once again, the Sonoyomas meekly agree to this unacceptable demand and leave their son in the Ichijo mansion.

This is the first time that I did not enjoy a “Migi to Dali” episode much. The way Hitori is treated in the Ichijo house is abusive, disturbing, and it delves into themes that can lead to lasting childhood trauma. What becomes increasingly apparent as the episode unfolds is that the Ichijo family’s twisted behavior is indicative of their wealth and arrogance. They are fully aware of Hitori’s orphaned status, which leads them to view him as less than human and they treat him accordingly.

While the content was more on the disturbing side in this edition, in terms of advancing the primary plot involving the twins’ efforts to investigate their mother’s death, the events significantly contribute to moving the story forward. Together, Migi and Dali navigate their problematic stay at Eiji’s house and seem to get closer to their goal. The episode ends with a worrying cliffhanger and will keep fans interested in wanting to know what happens next.

You can watch “Migi to Dali” on Crunchyroll.

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