MARS RED “Unknown Song” Review
MARS RED “Unknown Song” is the fourth episode of the MARS RED anime. Whilst episode 3 served as a good way to introduce the separate characters to us. Episode 4 has them working as a team with a small side story giving more insight into Sawa. Who, up until this point, has been a fleeting presence.
A massacre
Maeda and Kurusu are training with their swords. With Maeda having to remind Kurusu that his fondness for humans and eagerness to give choices to vampires will get his friends killed one day. The Colonel is called to Yoshiwara where multiple deaths of prostitutes from vampire attacks have been happening in quick succession. All of the bodies have strange purple-y colouring.
Meanwhile, Aoi is annoyed that the higher ups and her boss keep editing her reports in the paper. She knows they’re up to something and is being silenced. Whilst Nakajima is seen speaking to another senior officer. The other officer warns him that Code Zero will be shut down if they don’t produce notable results by the end of the year.
The same night Code Zero go and check out the are where the attacks have happened. Sending Yamagami to find them as he is the lowest ranked. Lower ranked vampires can instinctively tell other vampires through fear so he’s best for the job. Aoi is outside the Imperial Hotel and sees the man who was talking to Nakajima, having a conversation with another strange man we later lean to be called Rufus. He gives her a vial of Ascra and tells her it’s perfume before leaving.
During the stake out at Yoshiwara, Sawa visits a 15 year old prostitute named Akesato. They have a chat and he lays in her lap, telling her he’s 300 years old. She asks him to sing a song to her but he doesn’t know any. Eventually she falls asleep but not before giving him her hairpin and him promising to return it.
The Hunt
Maeda the next day is infuriated with Code Zero as they’ve let the vampire get away last time. That same night they decide to return and try again. Instantly Yamagami knows something is wrong. He tries to use the ultra high pitched communication that the others can but can’t seem to get the hang of it. He follows the vampires and finds there’s loads. He’s quickly outnumbered but he fights back anyway whilst still calling out. Eventually Kurusu hears him and follows the sound.
He comes across his friend being bitten to death and loses all sense of kindness. He kills the vampires there on the spot within a second, even he can’t quite believe his own power. More come and he quickly disposes of them too. Eventually Maeda catches up and he and Kurusu investigate the warehouse. It seems the Ascra has been hidden in barrels meant to contain British scotch. Whilst Defrott and Rufus look on with Defrott commenting that Tokyo wasn’t meant to be a hunting ground. Defrott has been in close contact with Aoi, who gave him the Ascra bottle, as he doesn’t mind the smell so much.
Sawa comes across three vampires eating someone on the floor, that someone is Akesato, who is dying. He returns her hairpin to her as Takeuchi comes up behind him he asks him to teach him a song someday.
Review
This was a great episode! Perfectly paced, beautifully directed and finally some more info on Sawa. The team seem to be blending well together as a unit, with one of the better scenes being them teasing Yamagami about his natural fear of them seeing as they’re higher ranked than him. Even Maeda and his dry sense of humour seem to get in on the action.
The point hinted at last episode that vampires are more human than humans are was repeated this time. Though in a more literal sense as Akesato literally says it. Though she’s clearly saying it from the point of view of a young teen prostitute who’s not used to being shown kindness at all. The point still very much stands. Massive hints towards the British army being behind the Ascra being distributed in Japan though that storyline needs to progress more before I end up putting my foot in my mouth.
The best part of this episode has to be the camaraderie between Code Zero and seeing Sawa be more open and honest. He openly admits he was ambushed by vampires and is one to Akesato who doesn’t believe him much but still thinks he’s very kind. Whether he does it because he’s 300 and lonely or because he’s tired of living and wants someone to know. Or wants to test the waters with how much he can reveal without being outed is anyone’s guess but it was a genuinely heart-warming and beautiful character arc he’s been set on.
I look forward to what this amazing show can bring us next!
