[DreamSword]

Episode 5: Moonlight

I was all in on this episode the moment it started.

Seriously, that opening sequence was top notch and instantly drew me into the episode. The atmosphere all throughout this thing was on point.

The episode never fully lets it go either, as a good majority of the plot isn't even about Kaoru or Koga, but rather this police investigation into a recent murder case; All filmed like it's an old locked room horror film.

And make no mistake, I totally dug how this plot felt like its own short film almost entirely set apart from GARO as has been established, as it was not only pulled off artistically well with interesting characters, but also helps to show that there's always more going on in this universe than just Horrors running around eating people.

Kaoru and Koga aren't totally left in the dust though. It's established that the two have more in common than it seems, as they both lost their parents at a young age, it's just how the two went about processing it was entirely different. Koga shut himself off from the world and focused on killing Horrors, whereas Kaoru exhibits her thoughts and emotions through her art. But in the end, both have their own hang ups that they need to work through.

The brief interaction the two share in this episode is great too. That screenshot I took comes from when, after moving into Koga's' house, Kaoru points out that he doesn't have much room to complain, given that last episode he ordered her to stay as close to him as possible. The face Koga makes in response is priceless.

And when it comes to influences this show had on the anime, this episode is where Crimson Moon got its "magic butterfly" aspect from. Oh and, since I keep forgetting to mention it, I definitely do prefer how the anime had the armor descending from the halo when a Makai Knight transforms rather than here where the armor just kinda materializes. But I get it, this was the first entry in the franchise and so there's still plenty of room to play with certain aspects and ideas across the establishing universe.

But... yeah. This episode is easily my favorite so far. An interesting story where every character is engaging, a top notch atmosphere and tons of wonderfully artistic direction. The action might've taken a bit of a backseat, where it's just Koga's' actor playing off a bunch of CGI, but that's so minor in comparison to everything else that this episode has going for it. And on that note, it's so cool to see that he does his own stunts, especially nowadays where that's becoming more and more rare in Toku, unfortunately. Don't get me wrong, I get why that is, but it's still so cool to see.

Top notch episode. Loved it.