REVIEW: ‘Undead Murder Farce’ Season 1 Delivers Mystery And Monsters

Tsugaru Shinuichi (Taku Yashiro) works in a traveling circus fighting monsters for the amusement of others. When he is approached by Aya Rindou (Tomoyo Kurosawa, Skip and Loafer), an immortal who has lost her body and now resides as a head in a bird cage, and her assistant Shizuku Hasa (Makoto Koichi, Lycoris Recoil), with a request to head to Europe with them in order to recover Aya’s body. The Oni Hunter agrees and the three set out. But while searching for the missing body, the trio finds themselves embroiled in whodunits across the continent in the action mystery anime Undead Murder Farce Season 1 from Lapin Track.

One of the more unique offerings this season, this series delivers a lot of different things over the course of its 12 episodes. Stylish action, intriguing mysteries, a memorable central cast, and a slew of appearances by some of classic literature’s most recognizable characters come together to make this show a blast to watch. Let’s start by talking about the core cast.

Standing at the center of the series is the brilliant Aya. With a deductive mind on par with the legendary Sherlock Holmes, Aya is the central figure of the series, as she unravels the various webs of intrigue the trio engages with. Brilliant, but rarely coming across as condescending, Aya’s critical eye and serious demeanor provide a great bedrock for the show’s narrative. Kurosawa does an excellent job voicing the character, as her soft-spoken words carry conviction and certainty in them, while rarely coming across as aggressive or hostile. She can more easily command a room with a whisper than most full-bodied individuals can with a shout.

Aya’s powerful presence in the show is also thanks to the skillful visual presentation of the character. The camera work does a great job of projecting Aya’s presence and creating the feeling that everything in a scene truly revolves around her. Despite being a decapitated head in a birdcage, Undead Murder Farce Season 1 manages to let Aya project herself wonderfully as she commands the attention of both characters and audience alike.

Playing the fool to Aya’s serious lead is Shinuichi. For the former carnival attraction life is a joke and we are all the punchline. Taking few things outside of Aya seriously, Shinuichi generally keeps the series from taking itself too seriously, while also providing the core fighting force for the team.

The fights that he is often at the center of are fantastic moments that deliver style and flair to the series. With combatants ranging from classical monsters like werewolves and vampires to highly trained humans, Undead Murder Farce Season 1 finds ways to make every combat encounter as unique as they are enjoyable to watch.

The last major element of this series I love is its utilization of classic literary characters. From opponents like Frankenstein’s Monster, The Phantom of the Oprah, and even the dread vampire Carmilla, to allies like the legendary Sherlock Homes, the series manages to present each of the familiar characters in such a way that they fill the role you would expect, but with elements that allow them to feel different than previous iterations you’ve known.

With the excellent use of the classics easily catching the eye, it would be easy to overlook the original antagonists of the series. Making up a clandestine organization of monster hunters, this shadowy organization hounds our protagonists and the supernatural beings they interact with throughout the course of the series. Beyond simply wanting to destroy any monsters they come across, the group seems to have some grander scheme in the works, though the details are scarce and hint at larger devs to come should the series get a second season.

These hunters each stand out brilliantly as they come with an eclectic set of skills that help keep the fantastic action moments fresh and interesting as the viewer is constantly left wondering what new trick one of them will pull out.

While the series mostly delivers on both action and narrative, there are times when it stumbles. There are moments where explanations and dialogue can run long, dragging out certain moments in the show. While not overly frequent, these moments bring the energy of the series down, making a couple of episodes less engaging to watch.

Undead Murder Farce Season 1 delivers mystery, action, and fun as it follows its cast across Europe. With only a few hiccups along the way, this monster fest is a fantastic watch for anyone looking for something that feels both familiar and new this spooky season.

Undead Murder Farce Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.