Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions – Episode 12

At least the last two episodes of the season are going to be a two-parter. It’s like they knew that I like those better! YAY!

At least the last two episodes of the season are going to be a two-parter. It’s like they knew that I like those better! YAY!

Is it just me or did this episode give anyone else When They Cry vibes? Major ones. I guess it’s very obvious. An isolated rural Japanese village with a scary old god that they worship. Zall the superficial elements are there. Oh, and of course the villagers are all acting suspiciously. I think that’s pretty much a must for village cult stories. Not that this is a cult… But there’s something else that links the two together.

It took me a while to figure it out. When They Cry has a lot going on, arguably too much at times, and I have to be completely honest, some of the details escape me. But I do know that you couldn’t trust your sense of time or relationships in this show. And I’m getting that same feeling from Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions right now. I think the key is the mayor’s daughter.

Actually, let’s go back a step. The fact that Spitz is actually returning to this town was the first element. My understanding is that Spitz isn’t from the village but he was here years ago with his brother to research Yadagami-sama. Now that sounds a little familiar, right? And his brother disappeared during this time – dum dum DUM!

I’m not entirely sure where Spitz is from originally, but I find it very entertaining to think that Spitz Feier is an originally Japanese name.

So we have a family disappearance that’s already several years old and now a fresh unexplained murder in the village. Are the two linked? And if so, why would things be happening again now? Apparently, some years ago there were plans to construct a dam and…again, this sounds familiar! Oh and by the way, the latest victim is the surveyor who was telling everyone that the new dam is going to destroy the village and they need to leave. That’s a great way to elicit the wrath of an ancient serpent god. And every single resident of the village… and anyone who dislikes dams I suppose.

The point is, the setup is very similar and if any of you liked it and have not watched When They Cry, you might want to give it a try. It’s a very different sort of show though. I doubt that Ron Kamonohashi is going to go into supernatural explanations. However, at this point, I can’t be 100% certain.

Here are my guesses. The mayor’s daughter has something to do with it. You thought I had forgotten about her! Nope! She was acting very shifty and although she might not be directly responsible for the murder, she knows something! Also, since the black syrup bottle and stains are not aligned, I’m going to say there’s a secret passage under the house. There’s always a secret passage. As for motive, there are way too many folks who might want to stall the construction project right now, let me think about it some more…

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