REVIEW: ‘Moriarty the Patriot,’ Episode 13 – “A Scandal in the British Empire Act 2”

A masquerade ball is the primary setting for a stylish Moriarty the Patriot Episode 13, which forces Irene Adler to make a decision. The anime from Production I.G. adapts the manga series of the same name by Ryosuke Takeuchi and Hikaru Miyoshi, which is available in English from VIZ Media. A fun reimagining of Conan Doyle’s classic characters, the show is told primarily from the perspective of James Moriarty, the notorious crime lord.

Moriarty the Patriot Episode 13 opens with a strong statement. While brothers Albert and Louis assist mastermind William, he has been the one viewers likely associate as the Lord of Crime. This is true in a sense, but the story takes a more interesting angle. The three brothers agree in solidarity that together they make up the entity known as James Moriarty. While William is the mastermind, Albert and Louis are brilliant and invaluable in their own right. Viewers are also reminded that “James” is actually a shared middle name among all three brothers. It once again adds a more compelling spin to these classic characters. While William is clearly set up to be the foil to Sherlock, in reality the detective’s rivalry with James Moriarty is a rivalry with all three brothers. It is a compelling way to establish how these characters will approach their schemes in the upcoming plot

That being said, it is in fact Albert who takes the lead in Moriarty the Patriot Episode 13. As both the group’s inside man in the government and the public face of their nobility, he orchestrates a grand ball to showcase The Lord of Crime’s reach. This is all to lure out the star of this story arc: Irene Adler. It is a joy to have this character finally grace the anime. She is exemplary in that she is on equal footing with the men in the show. Even when Sherlock or Albert get an edge on her, that doesn’t erase the times she has gotten the drop on them. It is a tug-of-war between the three. What makes it doubly good is that she is given her own unique brilliance. Adler’s mind isn’t a copy/paste version of Sherlock or William’s. She uses her own unique talents as an actress and from her lived experience. I will never get tired of seeing Adler being portrayed as a master of disguise. 

All of this is to say that Moriarty the Patriot Episode 13 maintains the show’s fun. The pace doesn’t feel slow, but it might feel drawn out for viewers used to the show’s usual two-act structure for arcs. Normally, when there has been a case spanning multiple episodes, the anime has resolved it in two acts. That is not the case here: A Scandal in the British Empire has more to go. So, while the episode certainly doesn’t feel slow, not a large amount happens in comparison to the production’s norm.

Moriarty the Patriot Episode 13 gives viewers more of everything they love about this anime. It is fun, slick, and has a fantastic female lead in this story arc with Irene Adler. It ensures that little spins on its adaptation of the classic characters keep it feeling fresh. The “mystery” itself is being drawn out longer than most in this show, so the pacing can feel a little off, but it is enjoyable nonetheless.

Moriarty the Patriot is streaming now on Funimation.