Review of Black Butler

The thing that sets Kuroshitsuji apart from a lot of other shows, especially the over-hyped shounen anime that most people (myself included) have gotten used to, is just how damn dark it is. It’s a show where evil triumphs… and that’s a good thing. It’s a show that isn’t afraid to kill off characters. And just when you start thinking that maybe Sebastian, for all his demonic powers, isn’t such a bad guy, his utter apathy for the death that unfolds around him shocks the viewer back into the realization that the hero of the show is just plain evil. In fact, it seems thatmost of the characters are shady bastards with hidden agendas, leaving the audience rooting for the forces of evil. Ah, the refreshing feeling of evil winning. [insert maniacal laughter here]

In most anime worlds, revenge is a fruitless endeavor that never fulfills the way the avenger hopes it will. Most anime, especially shounen anime, exist under the assumption that good will always triumphant over evil (eventually) and that fighting in the name of friendship, honor, or for the sake of others will guarantee victory. So that must make Kuroshitsuji the opposite of shounen anime. The hatred and revenge that dominate Ciel’s heart is what drives Sebastian’s loyalty, and as long as their contract remains, Sebastian’s demonic strength will overcome any of Ciel’s enemies. So, the moral of the story is, live for hatred and a demon will make all your wishes come true. Selling your soul for the win! But I guess when the hero of the show is a demon, evil is going to win over good… and everything else.