Highlights
- Episode 53 of Bungo Stray Dogs reveals Fukuchi as the true main villain, showcasing his formidable powers and adding depth to his character.
- The partnership between Atsushi and Akutagawa, known as "Double Black," is explored further, with Dazai's intent to make them the next evolution of his own partnership with Chuuya.
- Fukuchi's ability, "Mirror Lion," allows him to increase the strength of any weapon, and his space-time sword adds another layer of power and intimidation to his character. The animation in the fight scene is unique and captivating.
Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Bungo Stray Dogs, Episode 53 "HERO VS. CRIMINAL", now streaming on Crunchyroll.
It's oddly fitting that Akio Otsuka, the Japanese voice of Snake from Metal Gear Solid, also voices Fukuchi in Bungo Stray Dogs, who comes off like a more definitively evil, superpowered homage to Big Boss. Both characters are well-known in their respective worlds, made legendary for their hard-fought victories and heroic deeds, yet the truth behind those legends is far darker.
Last week, Ranpo and Atsushi made contact with Fukuchi, asking for his help to stop the Decay of Angels, only to discover that Fukuchi is none other than their leader, the man codenamed Kamui. Ranpo made his escape, urging Atsushi to do the same, but the were-tiger stayed, intent on defeating the author of the Agency's suffering, and despite his fears of fighting alone, a familiar face appeared.
The Next Generation of "Double Black"
Episode 53, "HERO VS. CRIMINAL," is more than just a well-earned battle a long time in the making, but a revelation that deepens Akutagawa in subtle ways after a lengthy hiatus. Finding out that his absence was part of Dazai's plan was hardly a surprise - by this point, it's expected of the man - but for Atsushi and Akutagawa's partnership to be put into perspective was hugely satisfying.
"Double Black" was one of the best episodes of Season 2, but it was also the name of Dazai and Chuuya's partnership detailed therein. By that point, the pair's history together was only discussed in the past tense, in between their playful banter, physical violence, and sexual tension. In the time since, their dynamic is something of a legend within the criminal underworld, and Atsushi and Akutagawa are to be the next evolution of that dynamic.
Dazai's stated intent to make it so adds a lot of clarity, both for the audience viewing their dynamic, and for Akutagawa himself, who continues to grow ever so slightly. He's responsive to criticism of his actions when its made clear that it betrays Dazai's expectations, and he's kept his promise not to kill anyone. He's only been back one episode, but his return comes so naturally and his presence is so felt that it's almost like he never left.
Akutagawa has always been a moody menace to Atsushi and his friends, but despite that, they work well together, and by combining their powers, they're nearly unstoppable. He's like Bakugo from My Hero Academia, except he's a villain and the characters don't pretend he isn't a cantankerous ass. If Atsushi and Akutagawa's disdain wasn't mutual, their partnership might not be as compelling.
However, the synergy of powers isn't enough if they can't trust each other in the heat of battle, and that is one half of this episode's objective. They've gotten lucky before, when their combined hatred of a shared enemy was enough to push them forward, and they have improved, but they still struggle to get in sync. That struggle becomes like hemlock for the duo, as Fukuchi proves why he is the true main villain of this arc.
The Mirror Lion
Fukuchi's ability, "Mirror Lion" lets him increase the strength of any weapon one-hundredfold. The name is derived from the real-life Gen'ichirou Fukuchi's kabuki play of the same name. It tells the tale of a woman who becomes so engrossed in her rehearsal of a lion dance for a festival that a lion spirit takes over her body.
If this episode's first objective was adding clarity to Atsushi and Akutagawa's union, then the second was solidifying Fukuchi Ouchi as the most formidable foe yet. This is not simply because of their skills, but the unique blend of powers at his disposal, and animator Yuu Yoshiyama worked their magic again, creating one of the coolest fights in the series in a long time.
At first glance, some might call the animation choppy, but it's an incredibly inspired and meticulous approach to action that retains a lot of the emotion from the artwork. It's textbook Yoshinori Kanada school animation, where it alternates between very fast movement and slower pauses meant to emphasize emotion. It's the kind of animation where conventional momentum is tossed out the window and the animator can create a unique sense of impact.
All this culminates in a fight that feels decidedly unlike what Studio Bones typically puts on the screen, and in a good way. It comes across more like a Trigger production with the exaggerated motions, like when Fukuchi tosses a piece of rock with the speed of a bullet. His strength and tactical awareness is conveyed effortlessly in just a brief but powerful exchange. [See it here!]
To add insult to injury, he pulls out secret weapon; the space-time sword, Shintō Amenogozen. What really makes this sword so effective is how - on its own - the sword isn't incredibly impressive. It can carve through space and time, but there are limits to its power, until Fukuchi gets ahold of it. In his hands, it's practically Yamato from Devil May Cry. It's a small detail, but it makes his power feel a lot more earned.
The audience is first shown the power of the sword's reach through space, but its second, far more daunting function, is saved until after Atsushi and Akutagawa have seemingly snatched victory. Fukuchi's sword is called a "space-time" sword for a reason. It's a brilliant twist summed up in an equally poignant quote by Atsushi.
This monster slays even past defeats.
Fukuchi's motivations are fascinating, and it's not too difficult to guess how he reached this point. The revelation that his sword can manipulate the past implies that he has died countless times, saved by the marriage of his "gift" and a relic that he treats as a sign that the heavens have "chosen" him. Having seen horrors that few could imagine, he harbors hatred for a world that lives in blissful ignorance of such tragedy.
It will be a pleasure to see this side of him explored further. In the beginning, it was surprising to think that anyone could be a villain higher on the totem pole than one as iconic and captivating as Fyodor, but with this episode, Fukuchi has earned his place. A terrifying, "insurmountable" foe. It's hard to believe that it's only the third episode of the season, and it's a wonder how Bungo Stray Dogs plans to top it with the remaining eight.