Review of Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc

A year after the previous Black Butler season was released, we've received a new sequel, this time being the anime adaptation of the Emerald Witch arc. With this arc teased at the post-credit scene of the Public School arc's adaptation, it's something many fans have anticipated. And the end result? In my view, this season is one of the best ones yet. About the characters, at this point, we should already be familiar with the main cast, or are we? One of the biggest accomplishments this season is showcasing the fact that we don't know much about them, particularly Ciel Phantomhive, our protagonist. But within thisarc, with the help of a certain trigger and flashbacks, we get to learn more things about him, revealing more of his personality, feelings, and ambitions that we didn't know of before. With subtle foreshadowing and plot points along the way.

To continue, we get to see more of the Phantomhive servants, who have been absent for quite a bit, participating in this arc. Seeing them in action and in spotlight is always enjoyable, with Finnian getting a bit more screentime as we learn more about his origins. But, we can't talk about the characters without mentioning the titular character of the arc, Sieglinde Sullivan. Known as the Emerald Witch, she's a person of curiosity and a talented individual. We get to know her and her ambitions, and I believe she's an overall well-written character.

As for the adaptation itself, it follows the manga faithfully, with the animation elevating during the major moments of this arc. However, there are some complaints about the way it adapted, specifically regarding the abundance of recaps. Spanning from 3 to 7 minutes in most episodes, they take away a decent amount of content per episode. I do agree to some extent. Could they have removed the recaps altogether? Yes. Could they have reduced this arc from 13 to 11 episodes? Yes. But in my opinion, it doesn't change the fact that the Emerald Witch arc is an excellent season. While it may be annoying for some viewers watching it during its airing, it shouldn't pose a problem at all for those watching it in one go after it has finished airing.

All in all, Black Butler's newest season proves to be another amazing entry to the series. With the constant twists, build-ups and foreshadowing, it's a matter of time before it comes to fruition. We can only hope that they'll announce a sequel sooner or later for the Blue Cult arc that was shown at the last scene of this season.