Black Butler passes as a great experience for anime fans and mystery lovers

An abundance of Netflix members are scouting for another show to watch that isn’t a 127th viewing of the “Friends” series. It is also evident that the streaming service has a tendency to remove a show from its list thirty seconds after its placement.

Hence, my next Netflix recommendation that hasn’t been swept under the removal rug is “Black Butler”.

Before I delve into the review, I would like to note that I have not watched the entirety of the third season and the movie adaptation, “Book of the Atlantic”.

Black Butler revolves around the adventures of Ciel Phantomhive, a wealthy thirteen year old boy, and his demon butler, Sebastian Michaelis. On Ciel’s tenth birthday, his mansion was mysteriously burnt to the ground and his parents and dog were maliciously killed by perpetrators. While being held captive, Ciel makes a contract with a demon, Sebastian. The contract states that until Ciel gets revenge for whomever kills his parents, Sebastian will be his butler and protect him at all costs.

A friend recommended this anime to me while I was on the hunt for another show to watch. I am grateful for the recommendation because I am pleasantly surprised with what Black Butler has to offer.

From the slice of life episodes to the dramatic ones, each episode is entertaining to watch. Anyone with a knack for murder mysteries and the 1800s will easily find this enjoyable as much as I did.

The visuals are stunning and the aesthetic of the 1800’s London civilization is widely present. The animators clearly pay attention to details of everything from the vigorous fighting scenes to the simple having a cup of tea scenes.

My favorite character is Ciel Phantomhive, due to his relatable persona. His sarcastic charisma and biting remarks flavors the complexity of his character. On the other hand, my least favorite character is Claude for being a flavorless Sebastian clone.

With positives being said, there is an elephant in the room when regarding season 2: The third and final act is a slight mess. Without naming spoilers, an event occurs that spoils the likability of one of the main characters. There are also a few continuity errors that can be easily pointed out, making the entirety of season 2 unnecessary. However, this still passes as a decent season of a great show.

Another caution to point out is the graphic depictions of violence and death that may be unsuitable for younger and sensitive viewers.

Despite its few flaws, Black Butler is a must watch for anime lovers and casual viewers who can handle mature themes. The first season of Black Butler can be viewed on Netflix & the entirety of the series can be viewed on Crunchyroll and Funimation.