English Dub Review: Case File nº221: Kabukicho “The Water’s Usually Hot”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)
Moriarty invites Sherlock and Watson to a Rakugo show at a bathhouse, with Sherlock nearly jumping out the door to go. It’s also Watson’s first time at a bathhouse, with Moriarty needing to show him the ropes of how to properly enjoy it, including the bathing part. But he soon starts spotting people with weird masks walking around who have a mystery of their won. They’re all part of a band called “Momotaros”, led by the titular Momotaro, but said leader seems to have gone missing. The other members, Pheasant, Dog, and Monkey, all panic as to what they’ll do for the show. Moriarty, taking the lead in the mystery for a change, start deducing that Momotaro has been murdered…by DOG, who even admits to it once pushed.

In fact, he admits to it a bit too quickly, mainly because HE DIDN’T KILL HIM. It was actually Pheasant, with Dog taking the blame so that Pheasant, who Dog admired, wouldn’t take the fall for a murder. They even steal Sherlock’s thunder in admitting the crime. Turns out Sherlock really wanted to be a Rakugo performer, and Moriarty first met him performing by himself in the park.

OUR TAKE
Another completely serviceable Sherlock episode! Though this time has a bit more focus on Moriarty than normal, even giving him more time to be a part of the mystery! And that’s not necessarily a bad thing to do at the fourth episode since by this point we’ve gotten used to formula enough to shake things up a bit. Moriarty IS meant to be Sherlock’s equal, even so much that he would be an archrival, which is why it’s so curious that he’s established here as Sherlock’s ally, at least for now. In fact, there seems to be a bit of a one-sided friendship, so maybe that will fuel their eventual turn to being enemies. This episode does seem to be laying the groundwork for SOMETHING with him down the line, even if I can’t quite pinpoint exactly what that’s going to be just yet.

The mystery part of the episode was also a bit of a subversion in some places, partly because it wasn’t quite the focus of things and STILL managed to be super interesting. The really distinct designs of the suspects lent a lot of significant impressions to the story, including throwing Sherlock off his game by having not one but TWO confessions to murder within the span of about a minute AND stealing Sherlock’s thunder in the explanation. This version of Sherlock does seem to focus on the theatrics so to steal that from him for an episode does inform his character a bit. As does learning that he really wished to be a Rakugo performer but was left by his own master. I can’t imagine that will be the last we hear of his past and passion, so this was a good way to start the introduction to that.

Kabukicho Sherlock is, so far, managing to be a pretty interesting take on the legendary detective, especially with the distinct Japanese culture breathed into it. While I still scratch my head at some of the interpretations, getting through what might be the first third has been sufficiently enjoyable and piquing my curiosity more and more with each passing episode. Next week looks like it will be focusing a bit more on Mary and Lucy, which no doubt means some more development for Watson as well as he gets closer to Mary. I’m pretty strapped in to learn more as it comes, and hopefully, the viewership is getting invested just as much as I am.