REVIEW: ‘Firefly Wedding’ Episode 3 – “A Watchful Rat”

Satoko’s resolve at the end of Episode 2 to stay behind on Tennyo Island to become a courtesan was arguably naive at best, and foolish at the very worst. In Firefly Wedding Episode 3, “A Watchful Rat,” the young woman gets a dose of reality when her first customer proves to be the epitome of all the bad things wrapped up in one man, and a painful reminder of the kinds of violence sex workers face in an industry that easily treats them as wholly disposable. 

Firefly Wedding Episode 3 starts immediately after the events of Episode 2, where Satoko Kirigaya (Lynn) decides to follow Shinpei Goto’s (Koki Uchiyama) suggestion to become a courtesan and get a customer to buy her out so she can leave the island. It’s a completely foolish plan that is likely to go horribly wrong, and for the most part, the episode shows Satoko and Shinpei how ill-thought-out it really is. Firstly, by the brothel, they end up choosing where to start Satoko’s career.

Shinpei takes her to, in his words, the lowest-ranked brothel on the island. The outside and inside are shabby, and the women Satoko met in the previous episode are not keen on her joining their ranks. While it is likely Satoko’s only option starting out, there is a problem that neither Satoko nor Shinpei realize at this point in the episode. The problem is that a brothel in such dire straits attracts a certain kind of customer, one who knows exactly how to take advantage. Unfortunately, for Satoko, she learns the hard way.

Satoko’s foray into brothel life is already off to a bumpy start in Firefly Wedding Episode 3.

Upon entry, the matron whisks Satoko away and completely transforms her through makeup, hair styling, and a new kimono. Shinpei is completely gobsmacked by Satoko’s enhanced beauty, and Satoko holds herself well. Her etiquette training pays off, and her intellect gets a brief moment to shine as she calculates the best approach to handling her first customer, Eishin Nitobe (Kazuyuki Okitsu), the superintendent general’s son.

Firefly Wedding Episode 3 uses Eishin to demonstrate how appearances can be deceiving, and how giving the benefit of the doubt can sometimes turn fatal. From what Shinpei tells Satoko, Eishin is red-flag central. Yes, he has power as the son of an important official, but he is also banned from every establishment on Tennyo Island except Satoko’s brothel. That the ban is related to how he gets consuming alcohol is another red flag, one that Shinpei and the other women in the brothel account for, but with different motivations.

Of course, this information builds an image of Eishin in Satoko’s mind, yet what she (and the viewer) initially sees is the least threatening man ever. In fact, the biggest threat in the room once Satoko meets Eishin is arguably Shinpei (who takes it upon himself to lurk in the rafters above to keep watch). The conversation between Eishin and Satoko is awkward and a little adorable at first, but the ease with which Satoko drops her guard is concerning. Her inexperience shows, making her an easy target.

Eishin is a prime example in Firefly Wedding Episode 3 of how appearances can easily be deceiving.

This inexperience leaves Satoko open to several mistakes. One is not checking to make sure she won’t be sabotaged when dealing with a customer. The other women decide to sabotage Satoko, putting her in harm’s way. The second is being so vulnerable so quickly with a stranger she’s never met before because, without knowing who he is under the surface, that person can take advantage of her. Once Eishin drinks the sabotaged drink, his “second” self surfaces, and Satoko is no longer safe. 

Unfortunately, this moment and much of Eishin’s dialogue afterward are the weakest part of Firefly Wedding Episode 3. While I’m not as versed in Dissociative Identity Disorder (D.I.D.), the handling of it here in Firefly Wedding Episode 3 makes it clear that it is meant purely for shock value. And the way this “second” self is explained is pure monologuing, turning this big reveal into expositional drivel that, while showcasing the worst of the worst of mankind, is quite uninteresting. 

Still, the threat is real for Satoko in this moment. Eishin’s “second” self is menacing and twisted, and holds nothing back in his violent intentions directed towards the young woman. Only two things truly give him pause: the giant secret Satoko keeps hidden under her clothes, and Shinpei, once things take a turn for the worse between Eishin and Satoko. The former reveals a double standard regarding women and scarring, with scars seen as a physical deformity truly hard to stomach. The latter features a moment where Shinpei is proven vulnerable.

Firefly Wedding Episode 3 puts into perspective how much worse Shinpei could be.

The push and pull between Shinpei and Satoko is reduced in Firefly Wedding Episode 3, but still present. Satoko still has her eyes on marrying someone her father will approve of, barely clinging to the illusion of the marriage promise she made to Shinpei to save herself. Shinpei, on the other hand, still harbors the idea of a marriage to Satoko, even if at times he makes comments hinting he knows she’s not that serious about it. 

The thing that is undeniable, though, is that despite Satoko’s assurance that she can’t be with a killer like him (and frankly, his extremely unpredictable personality and behavior do not help him in this cause), Eishin is one of the many men out there who are a far worse option. These are the men that specifically prey on the weak, or as Eishin puts it, “the trash,” because no one will care enough to look. For someone as sheltered as Satoko, the confrontation that arises between Shinpei and Eishin shows the former in a slightly different perspective.

While Firefly Wedding Episode 3 leaves things with a slight cliffhanger, it’s incredibly clear that Satoko has yet to find her footing in this strange world she’s found herself in, and perhaps, neither does Shinpei. Unfortunately, what undercuts the main takeaway for Satoko (and the viewer) is the incessant, clunky monologuing and checkbox list of ‘bad guy’ stereotypes delivered by this episode’s villain once all pretences are stripped away. The series has yet to be subtle, but going full ham here did not do this episode any sort of favors. 

Firefly Wedding Episode 3 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

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