Episode 2: Turn of Golden Witch

My first review on Umineko no Naku Koro ni was focused on my impression toward the first episode of the visual novel, Legend of Golden Witch. Since I've just finished playing all 4 Episodes of the novel, I decided to put a little bit of my thought on all 4 episodes, starting with the second episode, Turn of Golden Witch since the first one has pretty much been summed up in my previous review.

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Episode 2: Turn of Golden Witch

Beato in formal outfit. Me like ♥

*may contain spoiler*

This is the continuation of the torment from Episode 1, Legend of Golden Witch. Everything return to square one and the tragedy will be repeating as if it's a game of chess, with players being Battler and Beatrice, each trying to deny each other. The neverending 2 days of October 4th and 5th that torment the people in Rokkenjima, repeating times and times again. This episode is my least favorite among all 4 episode, because halfway through the victory become obvious and I can't help myself but pitying the loser.

This episode gives a bit more depth on Shannon's past and how she and George started their relationship, as well as how it all related to Beatrice. At a point we might think that Beatrice is a casual witch with some humanity in her heart, but the truth seems far from that. This episode also provides more background on another master-servant couple in the game, Jessica and Kanon and how their relationship come to a stale. The scene on Kanon attending Jessica's school festival is really funny :3

As the story progress, it goes without saying that it eventually reach the day of the family conference on October 4th, and the mysterious murder starts to unveil. The sequence of which victims were selected are totally different than the first Episode, and more brutal. Imagine someone's front was sliced from chest to stomach, and the organs inside were replaced with sweets. And the murder goes on, according to the epitaph of the portrait. This time, the viewpoint often switch from one party to another, and this opportunity is used to show how magic was "directly" involved in that world, despite the fact that the piece Battler (not the player) didn't have the chance to observe any of the magic. We see the battle of magic between Kanon and the goat servant, slashing their red/blue arc-like weapon. We see the "doppelganger" who sliced Gohda and Kumasawa's throat. We see Shannon's futile magical barrier. We see the loli human form of the Seven Stakes of the Purgatory sisters who were used to pierce the victims in Episode 1 (and this episode too). And finally we see the ceremony of the banquet by the end of the game.

As previously mentioned, Battler and Beatrice sit on the outside world as the player, observing each murder case and try to deny each other. In this episode, Battler utilizes his best move, the "Devil's Proof" to explain many of the incidents and try to deny the witch. While Beatrice herself has her own weapon, that is the 'Red Truth" which means everything she says in red means absolute truth. By using the Devil's Proof, Battler finally manage to make Beatrice fall, although only for the first twilight. The first victory for Battler feel really sweet when he manage to beat Beato, but after that everything fall apart for Battler due to various reasons. He lost his composure and eventually surrendered.. it's really a pitiful ending.

Seeing how Battler was severely defeated, Federika (Furude Rika lmao) Bernkastel made her appearance and vows to help Battler in the next game..while battler himself has regained his composure and swear to fight again, refusing to surrender to Beatrice's evil grip.

And who's the culprit in Episode 2 from human point of view? *classified information*