REVIEW: ‘Dead Mount Death Play,’ Episode 10 — “The Emblem”

With Phantom Solitaire displaying the secret emblem he acquired on blimps throughout the city, Polka recognized it as a symbol from his home world. Does this mean that Polka’s world and ours are the same? Whatever its meaning, it is clear someone doesn’t want the symbol to be spread around, as swift action is taken to silence Solitaire in Dead Mount Death Play Episode 10.

While the meaning of the symbol’s presence in our world plays a vital role in this episode’s plot, it also drives another surprising development. Sayo overhears Polka, Misaki, and Takumi discussing the potential ramifications of the symbol, which forces Polka to reveal his true nature to her. While Sayo takes the news remarkably well, Dead Mount Death Play Episode 10 uses the girl’s discovery of the truth to drive a meaningful moment of character development, which is once again delivered in a less-than-ideal situation.

After learning about Polka, Sayo decides to shower while she considers things. While showering, she is confronted by Misaki who reveals the nature of her first meeting with Polka and her role in his death. The character exploration that occurs between Misaki and Sayo is excellently handled. Misaki’s dangerous side shows itself here, as she tries to push Sayo into an emotional moment the other girl completely rejects. Sayo’s astuteness towards Misaki’s actions belies a level of perception the show had not even implied prior.

While this scene is crucial for Misaki’s character and it helps establish Sayo as someone that can think about something other than sharks, the gratuitous level of heavily implied nudity throughout the scene is ridiculous. Especially since Misaki is only 17. While all the fully nude shots are blurred out, the need to put a minor in this position is simply unnecessary. Even if they felt the setting was of particular importance to the moment, it easily could’ve been shot in a way to avoid all the body shots and boob emphasis that plays out during the scene, which feels far more like a distraction to the important elements that the scene strives to convey.

After this sequence plays out, Dead Mount Death Play Episode 10 returns to Solitaire as it explores both how his ploy with the blimps works out for him, as well as further exploring his meeting with Grocer. The swiftness with which his blimp stunt draws a violent amount of attention goes a long way to further solidify how important someone thinks the symbol is. But while the response is effective, the moment that truly sets the symbol as something Solitaire must pursue comes from the rest of his discussion with Grocer.

Grocer is a unique spin on an oracle-style of character. He seems to know all and speaks in riddles and tricks that allow Solitaire to understand his intent while keeping factual information out of reach.  Whether he is indifferent to the larger situation that is playing out in the story or secretly manipulating Solitaire to do what he wants him to do remains a mystery, but both seem entirely plausible for now. The acting that gives the character his voice, along with how the animation and camera work present his explanations and statements further reinforces the air of mystery that surrounds him.

Questionable setting choices aside, Dead Mount Death Play Episode 10 delivers some great moments for its cast that continues to build up both them and the mystery that they have found themselves in wonderfully.

Dead Mount Death Play Episode 10 is streaming on Crunchyroll.