Review of Black Butler: Book of Circus

This truly feels like the real beginning of the Black Butler franchise and what the series is fundamentally about. The earlier seasons almost seem like they existed just to introduce characters like Grell and Agni, but this arc sets the actual tone and emotional depth of the story. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the opening theme is strikingly unique, one that will definitely stick with me. It subtly hints at the emotional emptiness and sorrow the show is about to dive into. Though the arc is relatively short, it’s sharply focused. The circus troupe is largely memorable, and the core members make a strong impression despitetheir limited screen time, though I do wish we had gotten to spend more time with them. The narrative is deeply tragic, and for the first time, we truly get to explore the thoughts and emotions of Ciel and Sebastian in a way that feels far more real and human than in the first two seasons.

We see Ciel stepping outside his sheltered mansion life and encountering a harsher world, and we witness more of the dark, flawed sides of other characters which unlike Season 1, where many characters felt more like archetypes serving a theme. This story wraps up in a satisfyingly imperfect way. It's morally complex, and while characters make questionable choices, their feelings are portrayed as valid and understandable.