With Season 2 discounted, Book of Circus basically picks up after the Jack the Ripper case in S1, and sees our favourite earl and demon butler team investigating a mysterious circus which may be tied to recent abductions of children, As it turns out, there is much tragedy, deceit and blood behind this 'greatest show on earth'....
A1 Pictures restored fan faith in their handling of the property with this really enjoyable, if a little questionable, 10 episode series. Like with S1, we have really dynamic and atmospheric animation and design work, a superb voice cast, and that same blend of fan-aware humour and intense horror-action that gives the show its unique appeal. However, the shorter episode count means we get a significantly more focused, and often more emotional, show over the meandering of the first, and then the straight up cluelessness of S2. Be it the circus' tragic backstory, the revolting fate of the missing children, or even Ciel having to revisit a horrible event from his past, I found myself often white knuckled and even holding back a gasp or two watching events unfold.
However, I did call the show 'questionable', but not in the tonally imbalanced manner of S1. Though we still go from horror to comedy, this series has more of an edge (probably from drawing more on the manga), so the issue doesn't lie there as much. Rather, it's more on principle: can I call this a proper 'series'or 'season'(technically being 3, though really it's more like 1.5)? Not simply because it draws on just one story for its entire, and short, runtime, but unlike most 'seasons', the status quo and what we learn about characters doesn't change much by the end, feeling more like just another day in the life of Ciel and Sebastian, and less like a major progression in their story or relationship. Now for fans, that's not such a bad thing, but it makes 'Book of Circus' feel more like a beefed up miniseries, an apology for S2, instead of a proper series of television with a clear beginning, middle and end that informs us about something new in who the cast are, opportunities for change, and what they now must do moving forward. In essence, Book of Circus feels more like it's part of a bigger season, instead a real, legitimate show itself. It's more how to open S3 than actually being S3, if you will.
Regardless, the same strengths from before apply, and fans will get exactly what they want out of this experience. In many ways, it surpasses S1, being more concise and tight, but in the end doesn't feel as meaningful or standalone as it should, thus putting it merely on par. Still a blast all the same!
