REVIEW: ‘Dead Mount Death Play’ Episode 13 — “The Invaders”

With Polka’s (Yuuki Sakakihara, AYAKA) brazen use of magic getting caught on tape and seen by people all over Shinjuku, Dead Mount Death Play Episode 13 picks up in the following days as many in the area try to grasp what has happened, including some of Polka’s closest allies.

Between the battle on the roof concerning Lemmings, Solitaire (Hiroki Takahashi, Street Fighter 6), and Lei Xiaoyu and the Fire-Breathing Bug dropping the name of the Bastard Sons of Sabaramond, Polka had a lot to process, causing him to act out a bit too publicly against what he perceived as a threat to his home. Just how complicated this rash action will make the lives of Polka and those around him begin to become clear when a discussion between Polka and Takumi (Yuma Uchida, Shangri-La Frontier) is interrupted by an unexpected guest.

The opening conversation explores the relevance of the name Sabaramond as Polka begins to give some details concerning the individual to Takumi. In a flashback sequence, we learn that Sabaramond was a court sorcerer, the only one placed above Polka’s master in rank, though that was due to political skill instead of magical prowess. The character is presented as a compassionate man, which helps explain why Polka’s reaction to the name’s appearance negatively affected him. Discovering a connection to his world, only to learn it’s being misused here, upsets him greatly.

Before too much explanation can be given, Dead Mount Death Play Episode 13 sees the arrival of a new face, reporter Kochou Eightport. Claiming to be interested in Polka’s work as a fortune teller, Kochou requests an interview with Polka, as well as a chance to observe some of his work. While not keen on the reporter’s presence, when Kochou hints at knowing who Takumi is and his connection to the strange drones people notice in the area, the group has little choice but to accept her request.

The highlight of this interaction is Polka’s inability to lie convincingly. With the last episode putting the awesome power the character wields on display, you’d think the guy would also be capable of telling a self-serving lie that hurts no one. However, the scene uses this moment to remind the viewer that while Polka is a powerful necromancer, he remains innocent of many things, deceit being one of them. Takumi’s reactions to Polka’s blundering lies only heightened the well-delivered comedic moments.

While this meeting serves as the primary focus of Dead Mount Death Play Episode 13, the episode also catches viewers up on what is transpiring with some of the other factions at play in Polka’s world. New assassins are appearing in the city with implied associations to Lisa (Emi Lo, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners). Some of these characters are introduced through some note-worthy moments that excellently deliver the threat some of them will provide in the coming episodes. The animation gives these introductions well, as we see some illicit terror upon others, providing the kind of introduction necessary to feel threatening to the characters already established in it. Given that some seem likely to play an antagonistic role towards Polka, it will be interesting to see how Lisa balances their presence in Shinjuku, given that she has shown no active hostility towards Polka, even setting him up with his current residence.

While largely set up for the larger plot, new characters, and their motivations, Dead Mount Death Play Episode 13 keeps an excellent flow to its story. Never allowing itself to get bogged down in unnecessary details, this entry’s dialogue-heavy moments flow nicely, thanks to some well-timed humor and good cinematography.

Dead Mount Death Play Episode 13 opens the new cour on a solid foot. With new and old dangers surrounding our protagonists, this episode does a solid job of getting viewers reacquainted with its world so the narrative can move on from here.

Dead Mount Death Play Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.