English Dub Review: Special 7: Special Crime Investigation Unit “The Fifth Seal”

Overview (Spoilers Below)

We begin with that terrorist-consultant—the one who looks eerily like Warlock—talking to Scarface in a public park. This guy—who almost certainly is Warlock—acts like a happy-go-lucky fool alongside his puffball dog as he discusses the art of chaos with his client. He rants about dragons and their hold on the world’s magic, and how he wants to kill more people than ever before—surpassing the record they set nine years ago at the airport. Why? Because they can!

Special 7 is hanging out at the mall because, just like the girls from Clueless, something magical drew them there. Before searching the entire four-floor structure, Ichinose drops some exposition on the rookie. As his eyes drift between Forever 21 and Build-A-Bear, he informs Nanatsuki that magic is illegal if used outside of government facilities. The only reason Bellemer gets away with using her homunculus ninja skills is that Boss is her legal guardian and nobody messes with the Boss.

Ichinose immediately slacks off to grab a Smashburger and Orange Julius. This leaves Nanatsuki with Nijo who reiterates his concerns over Charisma’s work ethic. Nijo, however, soon separates from our hero to parlay with Public Safety who are working in the basement. Nijo, being a straight-laced choirboy is the only member of Special 7 the other departments even remotely put up with.

In the basement, Scarface and his goons kill most of Public Safety before Nijo can even make it past the Foot Locker. With the lower level secure, a bunch of other NINE members draw their weapons, blockade the exits, and begin taking all the shoppers—as well as the slackers, mall walkers, and part-timers—hostage.

These hip, young terrorists call themselves the Children of NINE and they’re able to lock down the mall quickly by communicating through an isolated group chat. After the guys cold clock a trouble-maker in the washroom, Nanatsuki takes his phone and trench coat and acts like one of the “Children.” Ichinose dons a hostage costume to give his protégé some agency among the villains. With all other technology blacked out within a thousand-foot radius—including Bellemer’s drones—the other members of Special 7 are forced to sneak into the mall through Nordstrom’s back door.

After learning the terrorists plan to blow everybody up at midnight, including themselves, our undercover faction spring into action. Using one of the gunmen’s love for cats against him, they knock him out while the rest of Special 7 take out the other fourth-floor terrorist. The episode ends with the team united and one floor secure. Everyone except Nijo is around for the reunion. Still in the basement, he is being held captive by Scarface who just so happens to be the brother Nijo thought he lost nine years prior.

Our Take

Just as I suspected, Nijo’s brother isn’t dead. They didn’t even need to audibly say it was his brother; the reveal was a little obvious. Either way, congratulations, me! But sadly, for Nijo, it kind of paints his “decade of hating Ichinose” in a bad light. How could such a discerning analyst have missed something so major? On second thought, maybe Ichinose and Boss are guilty of a very unfortunate cover-up. Since we know Nijo is a hothouse flower, I can’t imagine how he is going to process this bombshell. Poorly, I would assume.

While I’m excited to see the whole gang finally working together, this was only the fifth episode and I fear they may have blown their load far too quickly. A full-on seven-member blitz should have been properly built up—week by passing week. But since they don’t have Nijo, it’s technically not the whole team. Plus, Boss is miles away and his cutesy dragon drone is down for the count. So it’s only the five of them, which will still be interesting, just not “seven of seven” interesting. I am, however, intrigued to see if Bellemer will continue to ride on Nanatsuki’s shoulders throughout the entire mission.

Who else is pumped that we’re getting at least a double episode set inside a shopping mall? With online shopping capturing the essence of our modern zeitgeist, this might be one of the last major works of fiction set inside a mall. That being said, the Dawn of the Dead and Fast Times at Richmond High antics best be cranked all the way up, otherwise, they’re missing out on a one-of-a-kind opportunity. And it goes without saying, but before this adventure ends Ichinose and Nanatsuki’s friend Willam better see the hidden sailboat in that Magic Eye poster.

This cliffhanger has left us with a number of questions for the next highly-anticipated episode. Will Nijo get over his culture shock long enough to break free from his brother’s clutches so he can assist his team? How many of the Children of NINE are really willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause? Where exactly is the magic energy being emitted from? Will Macy’s be able to cover the mall’s ever-rising rental fees or are they doomed to become relics like Sears and JCPenney before them?