REVIEW: ‘Firefly Wedding’ Episode 4 – “I’ll Set You Free”

Firefly Wedding Episode 4, “I’ll Set You Free,” picks up immediately after the events of the previous episode, quickly resolving the unfortunate incident between Satoko Kirigaya (Lynn) and Eishin Nitobe (Kazuyuki Okitsu) before paving the way for the complicated (albeit relatably frustrating) dance of teenage emotions surrounding Satoko and Shinpei Goto’s (Koki Uchiyama) feelings for one another. And with the episode’s lightning-fast pace, the brief exchange between the two about freedom that speaks volumes is easy to miss.

Thankfully, the situation between Satoko, Eishin, and Shinpei resolves itself with comparatively less bloodshed than expected. Surprisingly, Eishin is spared, but Satoko’s grip on Shinpei remains strong despite the push-pull of their developing relationship and the injury he sustains to protect her from Eishin’s alter. Through this traumatizing encounter, though, the two’s relationship seems to be getting closer. At least, that’s what one might think at the beginning of Firefly Wedding Episode 4.

It’s not without a lack of trying from Shinpei, who, while still incredibly unpredictable, is showing more and more how he is trying to relieve Satoko’s worries and make her comfortable. Throughout Firefly Wedding Episode 4, he does things to try to make Satoko feel better. Whether it’s showing her his many scars to make her feel less self-conscious about her own surgical scar or bringing fireflies into her room for a spot of beauty (which backfires because of the significance of fireflies), each act shows he really does care for her in his own way.

Throughout Firefly Wedding Episode 4, we see how much Shinpei cares for Satoko.

However, leading up to Firefly Wedding Episode 4, Satoko has rightfully struggled with Shinpei’s bloodthirstiness and penchant for violence. Shinpei’s back-and-forth between manic romance and killer intent creates instability between them, making it hard for Satoko to know whether she is truly safe with him. It’s clear, however, that they have a bond and Satoko is willing to use it to try to change him. This is apparent after Shinpei knocks out Eishin when she lectures him about the wrongs of killing people and violence in general. 

For his part, Shinpei is listening. He’s not perfect, but he didn’t kill Eishin. At least, not yet. However, a hidden threat rears its head and pushes the theme of freedom and what it means to the forefront of Firefly Wedding Episode 4. Satoko’s health takes a turn for the worse, with a coughing spasm leading to her passing out and quickly taking ill, leaving Shinpei desperate to do anything to make sure she heals and feels better.

In her unconsciousness and delirium, a flashback reveals Satoko’s past, showing that she was never allowed to leave her family home as a child. An exchange with her stepmother reminds Satoko and the audience that she is the family’s property. She is little more than a tool to be used when the time is right, meaning what she desires matters little. Every aspect of her life belongs to them, keeping her tethered in place with no hope of freedom.

Freedom emerges as a defining tenet of Firefly Wedding Episode 4.

In a surprising moment of vulnerability, Satoko shares her dream with Shinpei after she awakens, giving him a piece of herself in the process. “The thought of slowly dying alone like that frightened me,” she admits, making Shinpei’s decision to bring the fireflies into her room after a bittersweet one. The parallels between Satoko’s fragility and the fireflies’ are stark, with Shinpei sharing that once the fireflies take to the air, they die not long after. Their beauty leaves a brief but joyful mark before they pass.

For Satoko, who has lived her life trapped inside her home with death hovering over her, she sees herself in the fireflies. It’s no wonder she ultimately frees them, wanting them to spend their remaining moments free, not confined in a room with her and Shinpei. He doesn’t quite pick up on Satoko’s sadness here, instead focusing on their future as husband and wife and, for a brief moment, it is a welcome distraction until Satoko points out that Shinpei isn’t focusing on what he wants.

This is an important conversation had in Firefly Wedding Episode 4. “All your plans seem to revolve around me. What do you want to do?” Satoko asks him. After her initial proposal, Shinpei has been obsessed with the idea of being a husband, but only in this episode does he start to sound serious. Rather than a fantasy, the idea is sounding more realistic on paper, but the relationship is still unbalanced, and Satoko is right to point this out. His explanation afterward fills in the gaps as to why he clings so hard.

The past defines both Satoko and Shinpei in different ways and tethers them.

Revealed in Firefly Wedding Episode 4, Shinpei has been an orphan since he was a young child. It is here on Tennyo Island that he first killed someone, developing the bloody skill that ultimately drew him and Satoko together. Without a family to call his own, it is easy enough to see why the young man would have such fanciful dreams of marital life. Yet he seems tethered to the island, unable to truly let go, trapping himself rather than experiencing true freedom.

Satoko very well might be a catalyst for that freedom. She tells him to come with her and be free rather than remaining on the island. Of course, this path won’t be an easy one, especially once Satoko experiences conflicting new emotions like jealousy. The latter half of Firefly Wedding Episode 4 highlights her confusion. She starts to feel self-conscious around him, but when he puts her to bed, his admission that he likes her because she accepted him for who he is sparks her ire. 

This exchange, as Satoko lectures him about love, is probably the best in a while at showing how vexing teenagers can be when navigating abstract feelings. She, of course, doesn’t realize she’s starting to develop feelings for the young man, and she lacks the maturity or awareness to navigate the emotional minefield she’s wandered into. For his part, Shinpei also lacks awareness of the little things he says or does that might trigger jealousy. In fact, since arriving on Tennyo Island, he’s seemed almost oblivious to these finer emotions and social nuances.

There are more struggles ahead for our budding lovebirds, and time will tell if they can make it.

This leads to the ending moments of Firefly Wedding Episode 4. Freedom is almost within reach for Satoko after Shinpei reveals his backup plan to get them off the island. However, what neither has prepared for is the sheer hellscape that is dealing with a litany of jealous women within the brothel. Confronted by the same courtesans who have targeted her since she arrived on Tennyo Island, Satoko faces her first major rival for Shinpei’s affections before the episode ends. 

Firefly Wedding Episode 4 packs a lot into its short runtime, developing Satoko and Shinpei’s relationship and setting up future conflicts. The focus on freedom and what that might mean for the two characters is a strong choice thematically, especially with the ever-present reminder of Satoko’s mortality. While the slowly budding relationship between the two may hit another speed bump because of their ignorance about their own emotions and why they are reacting the way they are, there’s something strong here to sink into.

Firefly Wedding Episode 4 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

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