REVIEW: ‘Moriarty the Patriot,’ Episode 12 – “A Scandal in the British Empire Act 1”

Moriarty the Patriot Episode 12 kicks off the anime’s second cour by introducing a fan-favorite Conan Doyle character: Irene Adler. The anime from Production I.G. adapts the manga series by Ryosuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi. The manga is published in English by VIZ Media and can also be read online through their Shonen Jump app. The story takes Conan Doyle’s characters but tells the story from the point of view of Sherlock’s rival, Moriarty. Reimagined as a young man disillusioned by the social structure in England, he and his family plot from the shadows to overhaul the caste system and to use crime to root out corruption. 

Team Moriarty is back after getting themselves established back in Part One. Now that Sherlock and John Watson are (unwittingly) pulled into Moriarty’s dealings, it is time for the cast to expand a bit. Expand it does, Moriarty the Patriot Episode 12 introduces both Mycroft and Adler fantastically. The Mycroft here is a bit playful while still being the stern government official the character is known for. He leaves Sherlock with a comically cryptic warning to beware of women. 

Behind the scenes, Mycroft recruits Albert to hunt down Adler, leading to all the players’ fates becoming tangled around one woman…and what a woman she is. Irene Adler’s introduction in Moriarty the Patriot Episode 12 is wonderfully fitting for her. She is calculating and clever enough to rival the many leading men of the show. She also has a fantastic scene with Miss Hudson where they both correct each other upon being addressed as “Mrs.” She is a courtesan, but any sensual shots of her feel fitting and done in a way that takes away her agency in the story. Also, for anyone wondering, the fan service is on fairly equal footing this episode with the inclusion of a very shirtless Sherlock.

As I said in my review of Part One, Moriarty the Patriot is just plain fun. It is well animated, with the few moments of action fluid and exciting to watch. The opening and ending themes for the second half continue pairing awesome electronic beats that somehow work with this period piece. All in all, a lot of Moriarty the Patriot Episode 12 is setting up larger threads in the show, but it is so fast-paced that it is exciting all the same. It is great to see Team Moriarty scheming once again, even though more time is spent on Sherlock this time. Per Mycroft’s warning, it will be intriguing to see if he develops an emotional investment here because inevitably, something will drive a wedge between him and James Moriarty.

Moriarty the Patriot Episode 12 kicks off part two with a bang, introducing both Mycroft Holmes and Irene Adler in ways befitting each character. Adler is a fantastic addition to the cast so that Miss Hudson is not the only woman and is clearly going to shake things up. The animation and voice acting are still fantastic, and it is looking to be a fun, campy spring with this period piece.

Moriarty the Patriot is streaming now on Funimation.