English Dub Review: The Case Study of Vanitas “The d’Apchiers’ Vampire”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Captured by Chloe, Noe is shocked to learn that her true name has been given to Naenia, and that the history of the d’Apchier family is one of tragedy. Chloe became a vampire at a young age, and was sequestered away in the castle with her father and a gaggle of scientists working to cure her and restore her humanity. Years passed. Her father died, but still not cure was in sight. Eventually she befriended Lord Ruthven, but their relationship ended when he tried to take the Alteration Engine for himself.

Our Take:

The Case Study of Vanitas is back with another dubbed episode, and it’s all about the Chloe and her history. After that initial premiere that had plenty of action and intrigue, we’re finally settling back and getting some answers about what drives Chloe and how she became the Beast in the first place. The d’Apchiers’ Vampire isn’t the best episode of the show, but it certainly does a good job of humanizing poor Chloe despite her lack of humanity.

The basic gist of it is that the girl became a vampire and was frozen at the age of 12. Her family told the world she had died in a tragic accident, but in reality they just locked her up in a castle in the countryside in order to keep her state a secret. Granted, she wasn’t completely isolated at first, with her father and a team of scientists keeping her company while they researched ways to make her human again. But they eventually die off and then Chloe’s left alone with her troublesome thoughts…

Until Lord Ruthven arrives, that is. On top of the look into Chloe’s past, we’re treated to a new side of Lord Ruthven this ep as he’s an idealist who just wants there to be peace between vampires and humans. He becomes a friend to Chloe, and even brings Jeanne to stay with her for a bit. Eventually though, she has to be reunited with her parents and Chloe is left alone while Ruthven goes to take part in the Great War. Chloe seems to be visited by strange thoughts and nightmares caused by Naenia. Consumed by her loneliness and depression, in time she isn’t sure if she’s a beast or not.

That’s when Ruthven returns, but he’s not the same friend she used to know. He asks her to hand over her family’s research so he can use it in his fight, and when she refuses, he attacks her. Since then, Chloe has only gotten more in her feelings, and now she’s finally ready to unleash the power of her family. This is where Noe comes in, but who knows if he’ll be able to reason with her now that her humanity is so far gone.

The d’Apchiers’ Vampire is an episode that takes place mainly in flashbacks and stories of the past. It’s not the most exciting one to watch, and it definitely feels like the pacing was a little weird at times, but overall I like being able to know more about Chloe and her backstory—I just wish the execution could’ve been a little more interesting or engaging instead of Noe just listening to her story while he hangs around with the butler.