Cracky thought, but actually I wonder about if UT didn’t happen to really leave his scythe behind when he deserted…
only to get it back right after the events of Vincent’s death and the twins’ abduction…
which would explain why he said he had so many troubles managing to rescue the twins in the first place? He arrived after the contract was made (that’s why he wanted to check Seb’s CR during the campania arc) and just in time to collect the twin’s corpse before it got burnt.
Maybe that could also explain the change of design, from simple-looking scythe
to “skeletonized” after he got it back, even if we still don’t know whose skeleton it is (either Claudia’s or Vincent’s, but someone he most likely thinks he can’t bring back if he cut up the skeleton to make it a part of his scythe).
I know he said that he “found it hard to part with it” and that’s why until now I always thought that it was justifying why he had possibly deserted with it.
However, who knows if the English translation isn’t a little misleading and the whole thing may actually be meant as “it was actually very hard to be separated from it after/for such a long time” (aka about 45 years) “and I had a lot of troubles taking it back”.
We don’t know why UT deserted, we don’t even know when exactly in his punishment he deserted, like:
was he super close to being forgiven and he decided that he didn’t want to go “rest in peace” soon?
or did he still have some time to work and he got so fed up with it/curious about humans that he left?
but maybe his decision to desert was one he took after he got back to HQ from that mission with Othello 50 years ago and, in that case, he could have left without his scythe (especially if he was throwing away his shinigami life and wanted to meddle a little with humans).
It’s when the situation got total desperate, when Vincent was killed + the twins were nowhere to be found, that he imagined that the whole case could have a supernatural component and that’s when he had a lot of trouble getting his scythe back? Without his scythe, it’s harder to fight against other supernatural beings after all.
As I said, just a crack theory, I’m probably reading too much into this x) but otherwise I fail to see what else could have taken UT so much time to find the twins?
I’m aware it’s my umpteenth recap post for this arc, but I’ve seen a lot of posts that are throwing UT’s characterization to the bushes after ch140 + I still can’t believe that this arc is as simple as it appears to be after almost 3 years of it, so here’s one more.
It’s nothing particularly new if you’ve been following my posts or reblogs on the topic for the past year, but less than the arc itself, I’m mostly going to focus on what possibly led to it. In fact if you read @frederickabberline‘s own recap post that is more recent, you will probably see where I’m going in general.
The reason I’m writing this post, despite possibly being proven wrong in a week or so, is because I’ve been into Kuroshitsuji for 6 or 7 years now, there are subplots everywhere that have been left hanging, and I refuse to stop believing that Sensei can craft a good story when she gave us arcs like the Campania or when she writes amazing characters.
Moving on, I’m just going to start with UT’s character:
‘Cause actually ch140 finally confirms that UT’s motivation in the story 100% revolves around the Phantomhive family
But that doesn’t mean that “bringing the twin back” was his only goal for the last 4 years.
Because not only would that imply UT gives 0 shit about our!Ciel selling his soul to a demon and that is so not true
but also because that’d create some inconsistencies with what we’ve seen of his character so far, since bringing back the twin or Ciel’s contract aren’t just what’s on UT’s mind.
I mean, guys, if UT’s motivation centers around the P family, wouldn’t you say that a little something might be linked to his issues with losing so many of them?
And he did express some concerns about our!Ciel too on this matter:
In other words UT most likely has at least 3 goals:
bringing back the dead Phantomhives (for now it’s just the twin though, because Vincent’s body is too damaged and we don’t know about Claudia) => something that’s for his own sake
saving Ciel’s soul from the contract => something that he put on hold despite almost killing Seb during the Campania arc, because Seb can be useful to protect our!Ciel against a more urgent matter, that is…
saving Ciel from the Watchdog duty/Victoria => because in just one year Ciel already did too many mistakes that most likely will end up costing him, like it most likely cost his predecessors.
you could also see this as UT wanting revenge against Victoria because of Vincent and Claudia, it’s the same.
It’s simple logic: if the Watchdog duty is responsible for taking the Phantomhives away from UT, then that explains why UT literally said he was no big fan of Victoria, especially if he believes she deliberately led Ciel’s predecessor(s) to their death. Thus trying to take Seb down can wait because…
…he can be useful to protect Ciel from whatever Victoria/Brown may plan as punishment (the Murders at manor arc being just a preview).
I’m aware that, currently, what’s super hard to decipher about UT’s character is how he sees what’s left of the P family, but I think that’s precisely what this arc is also supposed to establish, mainly through Othello’s introduction (so we might get more insights into UT’s character and backstory, which is always helpful) but also possibly through whatever will happen to Lizzie (since establishing if UT gives a damn about the Midfords would tell us what kind of obsession he has).
Until we get there though, what I wanted to insist on was the idea that personally I doubt that this super long arc is only supposed to focus on just one of UT’s goals (i.e bringing back the twin and why it’s a bad idea), because narratively speaking it’s weird and, for now, it seems to leave a lot of plot holes.
However, since I also think that taking Seb down is on hold for UT, because of more urgent matters, it means that perhaps this arc can also be about UT’s little grudge against Queen Victoria, even if indirectly, as a follow up to the Campania and Weston arcs on some aspects (I’ll expand on that in a minute).
What’s important to keep in mind is that the Bizarre Doll project originally comes from UT before his desertion wondering about if cinematic records could be edited.
Now we don’t know yet what the trigger was that led from curiosity about the CRs to thinking that maybe UT could bring back the dead if he experimented, but I’d bet on Claudia/Vincent/the twin’s death.
The whole point though is that UT would have probably needed backup, while in the early stages of experimentation: to get funds if needed, to get enough corpses, a way to make counterfeit records that he would then add to the corpses’, then a way to get those episodes he used in the Weston arc, etc.
And aside from support, he probably also needed a place to “store” the twin until he could finally manage to bring him back (so the body wouldn’t rot for example), since he saved his body 4 years ago.
So overall, I think that’s the whole point of him joining/using the Aurora society
or even striking a deal with these “eccentric fellows”.
Think about it: his goal was at least bringing back the twin, but in order to achieve this, he first needed to experiment on a lot of corpses and if he received support from “eccentric fellows”, then obviously those same guys would have wanted to see results => that’s the Campania arc.
There is a common theme tied with the Campania arc though, which was introduced in the arc previous to it: the upcoming war between at least Germany and England. Yes, it escaped no one (not even dear Victoria) that UT’s bizarre dolls would make amazing war weapons.
Anyway, UT got what he wanted from the Campania arc and he gave results to “these eccentric fellows”, as well as potential clients of theirs, using what was his first prototype of Bizarre Dolls (CR edited with counterfeit memories).
Then the Weston arc happened and it’s been 6 years, but I’m still wondering about why UT felt the need to be involved in the first place. I mean, sure, because of the Aurora society he made BDs for the ones who were killed by the Prefect 4, but since he had already inserted them (or at least just Agares) back before Ciel even joined Weston, why did he feel the need to pretend being the Principal ever since the cricket match?
For the lulz? Maybe. To see how Agares would manage, since he was UT’s masterpiece at the time? Again, maybe, but he could have done that from afar.
Another explanation could also be that he knew why Ciel was sent to Weston…
…and becoming directly involved was his way to make sure that, this time, Ciel would tell the Queen about him and his second prototype of bizarre dolls (CR edited with “episodes” coming from the corpses’ longing for the future).
Weston was different from the Campania because the Campania was something Ciel decided to investigate on his own, so he had no report to make to the Queen. After Weston though, he just had no other choice but to tell the whole truth, which is
possibly
what UT was counting on…
especially if he knew about Victoria’s war plans and that she would be interested in such a technique.
Obviously, since UT most likely personally despises Victoria, I doubt he would be happy to help her with anything. However, if UT has a deal with those “eccentric fellows” and if those BDs he’s making are a business that “those eccentric fellows” intend on selling to the highest bidder for the upcoming war, then if he really wanted to thwart Victoria’s war plans, he could…
advertise these weapons to her enemies for example.
UT’s Bizarre Dolls might not even be the only weapons “those eccentric fellows” have to sell. For example, if we look at the current arc…
And Sieglinde confirmed that the Blue Sect definitely mastered the technique through probably experimenting and then “dialyzing” those old lords from the Parliament.
Obviously we don’t know yet how the blood transfusions even factor into how/when UT brought back the twin or who invented all those devices that Othello was sent to investigate (ch125), but all in all, what’s important is that…
…Victoria felt threatened when UT is definitely involved again.
As it is right now, there is a lot we don’t quite get yet about the current arc so I only want to mention that maybe there is a difference between “bringing the twin back” and “being behind the blue sect” as far as UT is concerned in this arc.
Of course, it really does seem that the twin is at the heart of the Blue Sect…
…but why/when/how did UT create a whole sect surrounding something that’s so personal to him
when he had the twin’s corpse for 4 years
and he also said
? Especially when that sect initially seemed to be about researching blood transfusions? And when he also seems involved with “eccentric fellows”, according to the Campania arc? Couldn’t we tie everything somehow?
Everything from here onward is theoretical and just my opinion, but looking at what Othello said:
…who knows if “those eccentric fellows”/the Osiris company/the blue sect aren’t a group of humans working with several supernatural beings and experimenting with very advanced technology in different fields?
So an example of explanation for the current arc could be that:
UT initially struck a deal with “these eccentric fellows” in order to be able to experiment as much as he needed in order to make a perfect bizarre doll
because ultimately he wanted to bring (at least) the twin back
but also because at the same time all the other BDs he made to experiment could be sold and used as war weapons, thus allowing “these eccentric fellows” to make money off their deal
meanwhile, another part
of “those eccentric fellows” researched about blood transfusion
(with the help of another supernatural being who helped making those advanced devices?)
which led to them making money by “dialyzing” those old lords from the Parliament
but also possibly in order to eventually sell the technique to different armies for the upcoming war.
Then maybe, after the Weston arc, UT had the idea to combine these two (initially unrelated) methods, or “these eccentric fellows” wanted him to try, leading to the twin becoming “the blue star” and heart of Bravat’s blue sect, despite the fact that UT wanting the twin back is 100% personal.
I guess that’s when it leads to theories about what exactly Lizzie and Tanaka know about this arc, since I still don’t think Lizzie chose the twin’s side (or was crying about not being able to give her blood to real!Ciel in ch113) or that Tanaka just randomly expected the twin to come back one day.
Same for whatever UT meant in ch108 and what that liquid was (since I also don’t buy that he was able to get the twin’s soul back from Seb or whatever).
(I mean, why would it be “too early to awaken” when UT’s been working towards this goal for 4 years?)
Finally, UT being cornered into bringing back the twin as a part of another experiment by “these eccentric fellows” (instead of just on his own terms) could also explain the lack of control that he seems to have over the twin.
Bringing back the twin is something of personal significance for UT, however if Bravat’s sect represents another party that is involved with his revival, it could be that they revere the twin (and the other star lords) to the point that…
…they let this happened (by ‘this’ I mean the violence overall that took place in the town house).
Fair enough, UT probably does not care about Soma or Agni, but would he even want the twin to go this far in order to reach his brother? Sure the twin is dead and has no soul anymore but…
in general it seems UT isn’t pro-violence where the Phantomhives are concerned? I could be reading wayyy too much into this though.
…And it could be the same for Lizzie when you think about it, since she apparently gave some of her blood (at least once in ch112?) and could have been hurt way more than she was when she fought against Seb (ch117).
If UT is the mastermind behind this, then that just screams that he doesn’t care or just that he bet Seb wouldn’t kill Lizzie because Ciel wouldn’t forgive him (even though Lizzie is related to Claudia the same way the twins are). However if the current arc is somehow divided between two parties (UT with his personal goal and Bravat’s sect) then that could explain why Lizzie ended up having some rough times despite her possible significance to UT.
TL;DR Lots of questions, lots of possible answers, lots of uncertainty, my only stance on this is that I doubt we’re just supposed to pile the current arc on top of the rest of the story without any link between the different parts (more than just the 2CT finally being confirmed I mean).
It’s a long arc, it’s a complex arc, it introduced the twin, addressed what happened 4 years ago but now it’s focusing on UT’s motivations too, so is it really just going to end like the Campania and Weston arcs when even those arcs still seem to have unanswered points?
I guess we’ll see on June 18th… Thanks for reading! Sorry it was so long. :3
Undertaker can’t bear to lose another Phantomhive.
Could he bear to lose Elizabeth? Frances or Edward Midford?
The problem with UT is that it’s hard to measure just how far he’s gone:
If bringing back the twin and wanting to bring back Vincent is generally related to him caring about the P family, because of whatever his relationship to Claudia was, then he might care about Frances and her children.
However if Vincent and the twins themselves are just a proxy for dead!Claudia to him, because he’s constantly reminded of her through them, then it’s not likely he gives a damn about them. (One possible hint of this would be his way to constantly refer to the 3 of them with the title “Earl”, which is genderless in Japanese and thus also means “Countess” I believe?)
The campania arc doesn’t help, except in assuming he only baited Seb with Ciel and didn’t mean to hurt Ciel, because “he knew Seb would protect him”, but that doesn’t mean the same goes for the Midford whose lives were in danger too.
TL;DR this arc will give us a definite answer since Lizzie is involved.
There is a possibility he might care if he really considers the entirety of Claudia’s family (even if he might have met Frances’ family less overall).
However if he’s Ann or Kelvin 3.0 then he might only see the twins as relevant (since Vincent can’t be brought back), because they’re who he clings onto, to be reminded of Claudia.
Edit: forgot to say but this is independent from all the UT = Cedric theories, because there is a bigger chance he might care about all of them if they’re actually related (even if I still think he probably wasn’t a good father figure if that’s the case).
Undertaker: You wouldn’t understand [4 flashback chapters]
Sebastian: Well, you ought to know something too [2 flashback chapters]
RC: But we have to remember something very important [3 flashback chapters]
OC: That’s right, because [2 flashback chapters]
Snake: Fuck [3 flashback chapters]
what I say: I love UT
what I mean: but he really gotta get his shit together at some point because there is no place in the narrative for him if he stays stuck in the past instead of really seeking a way to help our!Ciel out of the contract. As it is the end doesn’t really matter, because ultimately our!Ciel also needs to want to get out of it, but there isn’t going to be any chance to address it if the only character who managed to hold his own against Seb is drowning in regrets about the past and dead loved ones. I get wanting them back man, really I do ’cause I love them a lot too, but seriously how about focusing on what’s left of Claudia’s family instead? Without mentioning that Claudia would probably throw a fit at what he’s doing right now (which kinda negates the whole point of UT trying to get them back), helping what’s left of her family would probably help him cope more than trying to achieve the impossible anyway. There is still our!Ciel, there is still Frances, Lizzie and Edward so, unless all UT sees about Vincent and the twins is that they’re Claudia 2 and 3.0, I’m really hoping UT will get his shit together and try to cope like Tanaka did. Otherwise he needs to go down, ’cause the narrative will literally have no use for him.
This is just in case we actually start to get to the bottom of this arc in this month’s upcoming chapter. Here’s a list starting with ch108, but feel free to add in case you think I possibly forgot something!
Last update: 12/12
Ch108: what is that weird liquid that UT gave to the twin and why did he say “it’s still too early for you to wake up”?
About Bravat himself: is he a charlatan, or is he a scientist maybe?
He’s human and didn’t use to be a good deviner (ch143)
Also did he really see through Seb’s disguise or was this all pretending too?
He confirmed that he sensed Seb was different at first glance! (ch145)
ch112: how many times did Lizzie give some of her blood to Lord Canopus?
ch113: what did Lizzie mean when she was crying about “not being able to save the twin”? Save him from who or what?
it was most likely about not having the same blood type ‘cause they don’t know about universal recipients (ch144)
ch114/119: about blood transfusions => who mastered the procedure? Does it serve a purpose outside the 4 or 5 star lords (like war, as Wolfram pointed out)? How does it play into making more “perfect” bizarre dolls?
Is it why real!Ciel “grew up” despite dying 4 years ago?
How come no one knows that AB (sirius) is the universal recipient type?
ch114: Othello and “50 years ago” => is this old case relevant to the current arc somehow? Or is it just related to UT’s desertion?
Othello and UT know each other = confirmed (ch142)
ch115: about the twin’s damaged arms that we can see => is it because he’s dependent on blood transfusions?
ch116: is there a reason Nina was chosen by the sect to make all the outfits? Could it be because “the Hopkins tailors have outfitted generations of the Phantomhive family” (and “it’s all for the blue star” who’s the twin)?
ch117: why are the rooms for the 4 or 5 star lords so different? Is it supposed to remind them of their previous environment/social condition when they were still alive?
ch119: Any chance that us finding out about Wolfram having the B blood type (same as Lizzie) will be relevant later? To transfuse Lizzie maybe?
still ch119: was Othello speaking about UT when he said “that one didn’t know much about this stuff… who else is there?”? If so, then can another supernatural being be involved with the sect?
ch123: we found out that Lord Sirius is real!Ciel, but what about the other star lords’ identity? Are they possibly characters we already met (and who died)?
ch124: how/when did Bravat/the blue sect came to know and dialyze those old lords from the Parliament?
About the blue sect: any possible link to the Aurora society or even the mysterious Osiris company?
Also if UT is really the only mastermind behind this, then why the change of method between the Weston arc and now, when he called Agares a masterpiece?
ch125: what’s the point of making a second music hall in Bath? Or is it just a false lead, because it was just the place where Bravat would dialyze the old lords?
ch126: was the twin wearing an eyepatch when he came to attack Agni and Soma? If no, did Soma just fail to notice the difference with our!Ciel?
ch127: who killed Agni? Is it Polaris, the “blue star’s butler”, or is it someone else? Also is he human or a supernatural being, since Agni commented that his killer was really strong?
ch128: what was the purpose of the attack on Soma and Agni? Leaving our!Ciel a message (”who stole the candy from my tummy”)? Or simply the twin being jealous (since Soma does call himself Ciel’s “big brother”)? Something else related to the curry arc maybe, since Ciel made sure Scotland Yard wouldn’t get to Agni?
ch129: Did Ciel leave the pieces of the photo with Soma when they took him to Sieglinde? Will Sieglinde manage to convince Soma that our!Ciel is not the one who attacked him (since he’s the one who brought Soma + especially since she saw our!Ciel has the contract’s seal in his right eye)?
ch129: between the dead lords from the Parliament in ch125 and Violet probably giving the name “Ciel Phantomhive” for the blue star’s identity to Scotland Yard, will our!Ciel get in big troubles and accused of all that Bravat did in this arc?
Yes, he was for a good part of it (ch143)
where are the Double Charles?
ch129: since the servants initially thought the twin was our!Ciel, did they not notice the possible absence of Sebastian by his side? Or do we have a doppelgänger for Seb too?
ch130: how comes Tanaka didn’t appear very surprised about the twin’s return? Could he have known in advance? But if so, who told him and why? (additional question: was it foreshadowed in ch120?)
Also, how and when did Tanaka find out about our!Ciel taking his brother’s identity? Could this be related to him knowing the twin was coming back?
midnight-in-town 