Undead Murder Farce

Simply put, the most interesting anime about headlessness since Durarara.

Part of the reason people end up with mixed opinions on a show is because they set themselves up with expectations that end up not being met. If a show is tagged with a certain genre, they expect it to check all the boxes associated with that genre with little deviation, and get frustrated if the show doesn't do exactly that. And some people don't want to commit to watching a show unless someone explicitly tells them that it's not only this or that genre, but also that it's "good" and that they SHOULD watch it.

By either of these metrics, I would not TELL you to watch Undead (Girl) Murder Farce. But would I recommend it if you're the type of open-minded person who doesn't set expectations before watching? Abso-fucking-lutely, YES.

If I took the time to explain the full details of what's happening in this gif, there wouldn't be any room left for the actual show review!

Undead Murder Farce is a weird hybrid of a show that teeters between dialogue-heavy murder mystery thriller and stylish action series, so if you have expectations for either of those genres, you'll probably find yourself disappointed that it's not more of one than the other. This show is decidedly both, often at the same time, and the way these two genres play off each other's strengths using the show's dry sarcastic humor and compelling visual style makes for a very unique blend that hearkens back to a more experimental era of anime. I feel like this series would be right at home among eccentric 00s classics like Gankutsuou and Mononoke.

On top of stylish character designs, the sudden art style shifts are a welcome callback to that bygone era.

Undead Murder Farce takes place in early 1900s Japan and familiar parts of western Europe, in a world where supernatural and mythological creatures live alongside humans, albeit tenuously. Each chapter focuses on our cast being contracted to solve a mystery, and using the connections they make in the process to solve their own, bigger mysteries. The three of them advertise themselves as a detective service who specialize in cases regarding the supernatural, and quickly earn a name for themselves across all of Europe. But, considering our main trio are a bunch of misfit anti-heroes at best, violence is often a necessary part of the equation, and each one of our so-called super sleuths is no stranger to violence.

There's losing your marbles, and then there's Arsene Lupin-ing your marbles.

The unofficial main character is the affable Tsugaru, an oni/human hybrid who will one day succumb to his oni side and be destroyed by his own excess of power. He spent his days living as a circus freak, thrown in a cage and made to destroy other oni for the amusement of rich assholes, until he met up with the enigmatic Aya Rindo, an immortal disembodied head who offers him a chance to extend his life force if he will help her recover her stolen body. Traveling with Aya is her loyal maid Shizuku, a stoic woman of few words who obeys Aya's every order to the letter and has no tolerance for nonsense.

It can be argued that Aya doesn't even need Tsugaru for his power, as Shizuku is an extremely proficient fighter who can hold her own even against werewolves and vampires, armed with nothing but her bayoneted rifle. But there are also a lot of allusions to her and Aya having some kind of physical relationship as well, which, given the sort of reverse dullahan situation Aya has going on, certainly has my interest piqued.

With any show I watch, lesbianism is inevitable. It's just facts!

But what truly gives the show its flavor is the team dynamic between these three. Tsugaru generally plays the class clown, but in a subtle sort of way that disguises how sharp and knowledgeable he really is. Aya tends to be the classy and charismatic leader of the group, but can't help bouncing off Tsugaru's fondness for wordplay and cracking constant jokes about having nothing below the neck. And while Shizuku remains the silent, intimidating bodyguard no one expects, her unflinching loyalty to Aya combined with her refusal to put up with Tsugaru's bullshit rounds out the team and makes them all very entertaining to watch.

Now throw in some familiar European folk heroes and literary icons such as Sherlock and Watson, Arsene Lupin, Carmilla, Aleister Crowley, Jack the Ripper, and the Phantom of the Opera, and you have quite the eccentric ensemble!

There's just something extremely compelling about combining the over-the-top nature of anime with the haughty nobility of European folklore that you simply can't get anywhere else.

As of this review (written in late December 2023), the show only runs for a measly 13 episodes and does not come to a proper ending, with no sign of a second season in sight. Each mystery - lovingly referred to by Aya as a "farce" - spans multiple episodes, as the already dialogue-heavy interrogation and investigation phase frequently invites conflict and combat. As such, the show moves too slowly for some action fans, but is too loud and violent for some mystery fans. It's frequently given mixed reviews, but generally only because it's not more of one genre than the other. And with no certain future on the horizon, I can see why people would be hesitant to invest in even watching the series at this point.

The most badass maid with a gun since Roberta from Black Lagoon, and you won't even CONSIDER watching this show?

That said, I found the show immensely entertaining, and would recommend it to anyone looking for something fresh and different. Think of it like a more playful, less dour Castlevania. It's the perfect example of what you can achieve by mixing unusual genres and themes together, and going all in on niche interests rather than trying to please everyone. I wouldn't call Undead Murder Force a masterpiece, but its punky refusal to follow the rules of genre and expectations is compelling and exciting, and I'm going to be really fucking bummed if it doesn't come back for more somewhere down the line!

She can't keep getting away with making these jokes forever...