REVIEW: ‘The Tale of Outcasts,’ Episode 1 – “Night One”

In Victorian-Era London, Wisteria is a poor orphan girl who must beg on the streets to survive. Living with a corrupt priest who abuses her, her only companion is Marbas, a demon who she can see thanks to her special eyes. Marbas is curious about this girl who can see him and visits her each night. But their story is about to change in a way neither would’ve foreseen in The Tale of Outcasts Episode 1 from Ashi Productions.

This episode spends most of its time setting up the bleakness of Wisteria’s world. Her abuse at the hands of the priest she lives with is delivered with few punches being pulled. As she begs on the street, we see the people pass by without even giving her a second glance, as if she is invisible. It is this sense of invisibility that feels like the perfect link between her and her only friend, Marbas.

Marbas’ invisibility is a far more literal thing. In The Tale of Outcasts Episode 1, we learn that demons walk the world among us, but few humans can see them. This has led to Marbas feeling lonely and largely bored with his eternal life. But with the discovery that Wisteria can see him, the two form a bond that sees him visiting her at night to chat and tell her stories— providing a shred of light to both of their bleak worlds.

The bond between Wisteria and Marbas is warm and charming. The odd duo plays off of each other well, and it’s easy to see what both get out of their time spent together. With how harsh and uncaring Wisteria’s life is, it is easy to see why simple kindnesses are so welcome. And Marbas seems to genuinely care about her, even though there are limits to what he can do for her.

The Tale of Outcasts Episode 1 culminates when Wisteria is threatened by a rich aristocrat that has purchased her from the priest. How Wisteria escapes, Marbas’s hand in it, and where that leads the duo helps set up the story to come. While the action that plays out in this final set-up moment gives the episode some excitement, it is mostly overshadowed by the feeling of pain it brings with it. The sacrifices that must be made by Wisteria are so cruel, it nearly overwhelms the positive note the episode ultimately lands on.

The animation and visual design do a great job of capturing the harshness of Victorian London. While the animation is kept fairly simple, it brings every moment of this episode to life in a way that allows its many emotional beats to land with the impact they are intended to impart.

The Tale of Outcasts Episode 1 gets its story off on solid footing. The viewer cannot help but root for Wisteria and Marbas as they set out on their journey together. But given the opening act of this tale, it feels like they will have a rough road ahead of them.

The Tale of Outcasts Episode 1 is streaming on Crunchyroll.