REVIEW: ‘Pretty Boy Detective Club,’ Episode 6 – “The Pretty Boy in the Attic Part 1”

Last time with the Pretty Boys, we wrapped up their second case at the Reasonable Doubt Casino. Admittedly, the two episodes that made up this arc were quite flowery, making for an often confusing pace that frequently went a bit too fast. However, in Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 6, we’ll be starting a new arc with the Pretty Boys and a boy in a mysterious attic.

Episode 6, “The Pretty Boy in the Attic Part 1,” starts off in medias res with a young boy sitting in an attic before a projector. Not much context is given until after the super fun OP wraps up, and even then, it’s not immediate. After all, this is a detective show, for all its foibles and comedic beats.

Post-OP, we’re with Mayumi, now nicknamed Mayumi the Seer, who’s presenting as male ahead of another club meeting. However, Mayumi isn’t quite so into going to the club, and attempts to duck out, until her attempt to escape from school is foiled. She’s promptly dragged to the club room, where the episode ensues as it usually does.

In the clubroom, she finds the “urgent business” that she was summoned for. It’s the completion of the arc room that the club uses. In this case, it’s specifically the completion of a fresco being painted on the ceiling. Things seem to be okay until they “break” the ceiling. Of course, the ceiling isn’t “broken;” rather, the Pretty Boys have discovered a secret passage. And naturally, they poke their heads in and discover a veritable treasure trove of art. Only… something’s off about the picture she finds.

The bulk of Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 6 is, just like episode 4, set up for this new arc. It hints at another three-episode arc, like the premiere and episode 2 and episode 3. While some viewers might be a bit tired of the titular detective club’s antics, I still found them engaging. Moreso, I found the characters still intensely likable, especially now that Mayumi is a serious member of the club. That means that she has to put forth a theory regarding the art found above the club room, as well as a theory -and assumably a solution- for this case overall. Once more, it’ll be quite interesting to see how Pretty Boy Detective Club keeps the “school detective” plot fresh. Hopefully, this arc won’t be as confusing as the previous few episodes.

Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 6 was a pleasant start to a new arc. It’s back to being engaging without info-dumping too much. Then again, these Pretty Boys love to talk, so… emphasis on that “too”, you know. During my watch, I noticed that the jokes about Hyouta’s legs have calmed down, opening the show up to fewer fanservice-y gags and more jokes among friends. It’s a good shift, though I can’t say if that’s the same in the source material or a decision by Shaft. Either way, the move away from sexualizing Hyouta allows him to shine as a character who’s more than just his legs.

Ultimately, Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 6 proves that the series wasn’t just a one-hit-wonder with its first few episodes. In fact, like a fine wine, things are getting better—and more plotty—with time. Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 6 is still just as gorgeous as episode 1, and still just as fun. And now that it’s found its stride, the series is even more of a delight.

Mayumi and her fellow student detectives are so over the top that you can’t help but like them. Mayumi is most enjoyable still, especially when it comes to her character and how she plays with presenting as Mayumi, who presents as her assigned gender, and Mayumi the Seer, who presents masculine. And while I don’t think Pretty Boy Detective Club will ever take a moment to directly address gender, I do like that Mayumi has clearly become a member of the club, and is accepted as presenting male when in attendance. That’s definitely reinforced in Pretty Boy Detective Club Episode 6.

It’s never too late to hop on board. If you’re looking for a modern version of Ouran High School Host Club, then be sure to check out Pretty Boy Detective Club. I think you’ll find a lot of things to like about the Detective Club.

Pretty Boy Detective Club is now streaming on Funimation.