「黒ずんだ野望」 (Kurozunda Yabou)
“Black and Deep Desires”

I thought 91Days was already dark.

Far more raw energy and mood in this installment than previously experienced. Not so much hard laid out exposition to progress the plot, but the episode delivered on intensely on setting up a palpable mood. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

What’s so fantastic about all this is that it forwards the plot and develops its central character, despite its lack of explicit, concrete explanation. Through all of Avilio’s moping and pouting, we can get better insight into what’s going on in the guy’s head. Avilio has never been one to express whatever emotions he’s been feeling. It’d really be kind of weird if out of nowhere he started talking about what he was thinking, especially about a subject as touchy as Corteo’s potential execution. The matter no doubt brings about a myriad of conflicted feelings and emotions. It demands that Avilio show his hand concerning his friendship with Corteo. He’s probably conflicted as to whether he prioritizes a more efficient revenge scheme or the only genuine friendship he has left.

Despite how poorly developed Corteo is as a character, it’s apparent that he’s the only one who actually gives a damn about Avilio. He knows him on a level that literally no one else on the show does. Does Avilio not at all value the only true, genuine relationship he has to anyone on the show?

As we witness, the guy’s mad confused. He’s alone, he’s isolated. Maybe this is what he’s wanted all along. Or maybe not. The guy’s always at least had Avilio as a confidant. Even if most of their exchanges amounted to mere exposition—the guy was always there for him. Always a crutch for the guy to lean on. Now, however, Avilio is taking the full blunt of loneliness. Now he’s all alone, and he has to truly deal with that prospect. Surprising to think that he would potentially be more loyal to his kind-of friend. Interesting to see how this plays out, but kudos to the show for developing its lead in a truly unique way.

6 Comments

  1. And on top of that, there’s Avilio learning that Nero never actually killed any of his family, so now it begs the question on whether Nero really deserves to die for his revenge simply by being there and by association or not.

    HalfDemonInuyasha
    1. I think that was the point of Avilio’s “You’d kill that kid now” line: Justifying the killing of Nero in his head, now that he’s been told Nero isn’t technically guilty of any of the Lagusa killings.

      Hanover Fist
  2. I have a feeling that Avilio’s going to decide not to kill Nero (and maybe work for him properly) just as Nero finds out who Avilio really is, destroying any hope of them getting along again. This seems like the kind of anime that would do that to us.

    Also, that guy Avilio asks about, the one Nero says was supposed to be part of the group that killed Avilio’s family but ended up in jail before he could go, is he going to be important? It seems like pointless exposition unless he’s going to play a role later.

    Blue
    1. Yeah, I really think that when Avilio said, “But you could kill him now, right? That kid you failed to shot 7 years ago.” signified that Avilio is already decided that Nero is no longer in his revenge list and he is ready to accept the retribution to be killed by Nero after he completed his revenge.

      Also, the level of trust that Avilio have for Corteo is amazing. Does he totally not worried that Corteo might leak out everything about him being Lagusa kid and his revenge plan? Corteo is the one that know every single damn thing about him.

    2. About the guy who went to jail, I don’t think it’s pointless exposition. Avilio was trying to narrow down who the fourth man is. I do think it’s interesting that he’s a veteran (he seems to be extremely loyal to Vincent Vanetti). It’d be cool if he plays a role later.

      Yukie
  3. I could see how everyone might think that Avilio might not end up killing Nero but he had come all this far and turn back? And even Show Spoiler ▼

    . After this episode, I feel like he is more determined to take revenge.

    Now, there isn’t really anyone in his way of revenging. @.@

    lunascha

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