Naruse in the Conservatory with the...Pepper Spray?
I'm about a week too late to harp on about Maou Ep. 3, but it can't be helped.
Just got back from my mini-hiatus, so sorry for any missed comments~~ I'll get to them! ^_____^
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But first... an oblique reference to Clue. But that was my reaction to the ending of Ep. 3
This drama does NOT waste screentime. Except when Naruse does his scary eye thing and Naoto does his freakout-and-run thing, there's something important going on EVERY SECOND of this drama.
Like Yousuke's asthma attack in a previous episode. (1st? 2nd? I forget.) Foreshadowing dictates that that scene should lead to something, but since most Jdramas don't use foreshadowing properly, I wasn't going to get my hopes up. And then Yousuke ups and dies from pepper spray. Or whatever it was that came out of that harmless little toy gun.
I was completely sure he'd died of a gun wound until they showed him being rolled into ER without a single drop of blood on his body.
Sheer brilliance.
Because it'd be boring if everybody just gets knifed in the ribs. Maybe next week it'll be Naruse in the Dining Room with the Candlestick!
The rest of the episode went something like this:
Naoto: It's my fault that Yousuke died.
Lady (AKA Naruse's tool): No, it's my fault that he died!
Shiori: No, it's completely my fault that he died!!!
Naruse: ... Actually, it's my fault that he died. *smirk* But like I'm going to tell you that.
~~ Oh, Naruse. You kill me with your ironic murder schemes.
And the best part is, they really ARE ironic. He uses an innocent women to kill his victim, and then gets her off scotch-free? No cigar--she's still completely convinced she's at fault. And she cannot forgive herself for being a murderer.
So far, this is the only weak link I see in Naruse's perfect plans: While he can absolve the woman of all guilt in the eyes of the law, he cannot make her guiltless in the eyes of her conscience.
Will this figure as thematic material in the coming episodes? I really, really hope so. Because I see it as the beginning of the undoing of Naruse's own conscience.
*Note: I have not yet watched Ep. 4*
I am SO looking forward to seeing how all the intricate relationships and characters play out.
C'mon, drama, ~*surprise me*~