The show's revisionism of the Victorian Empire reminded me a bit (unfortunately) of Le Chevalier D'eon.

(Elizabeth's sweet and, if brainless, at least not quite AS brainless as her traveling companion Paula it's kind of a shame that she's engaged to someone who sold their soul to a demon.) Ciel's nominal 'fiancée' Elizabeth has an affection for 'cute' things that ends up with her anticipating cosplay by a century or more. I should also mention that Grell's 'Death Scythe' seems to be intended as humorous anachronism, but this show has LOTS of anachronisms. To me Grell came across as an unflattering caricature of a trans person, and it infuriated me no end that so much of the storyline was given to Grell to carry. Worst of all is Grell Sutcliff, who's a Grim Reaper, but one with an outrageously over-the-top obsession with the show's title character, that Black (=Demonic) Butler, Sebastian. As far as I'm concerned, these guys are just INCREDIBLY annoying.

It tries to get some physical comedy out of three klutzy household servants, but it mainly leans on some raving lunatics to try to amuse us- and, since a discussion of the period REQUIRES I put it this way, We Are Not Amused. As for Black Butler.well, maybe not so much. Among the shows I'm familiar with that attempt it, Princess Resurrection and Moonphase seem the most successful, though Calamity of a Zombie Girl might rate an Honorable Mention. Melding humor and horror so that each complements the other is difficult. When you have a superpowered demon as your personal butler, it's all in a day's work. This review covers the first two seasons of the show, and includes some short Season Two OVAs: Ciel in Wonderland (Parts I and II) Welcome to the Phantomhives The Making of Black Butler II The Threads of the Spider's Story and The Story of Will the Reaper.Ĭiel Phantomhive is the young heir to the Phantomhive 'toys and confections' business, but he's also Queen Victoria's 'fixer', dealing with problems the police can't handle. Notes: Based on manga by Yana Toboso, published in Monthly GFantasy (and in English by Yen Press) Related Series: Black Butler: Book of Circus (series Season 3) Black Butler: Book of Murder (OVA) Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic (OVA) a live-action filmĪlso Recommended: Princess Resurrection Moonphase Ge Ge Ge Kitaro Also streaming on Netflix.Ĭontent Rating: TV-MA (Violence, mature situations.) Length: Television series, 36 episodes, 24 minutes eachĭistributor: Currently licensed by Aniplex of America.

Ciel in wonderland ranmao