New episode, or arc if you want, begins and this first episode focuses on events before October 1986, and character relations developments over the time. It starts in not so distant past, in summer 1986, when George is on a trip to Okinawa with Shannon. They have visited an aquarium, and now they are enjoying a lunch in a restaurant there. George is talking about their relationship, and how it's surprising that he, a member of Ushiromiya family, is able to go out with a family servant. His thoughts are that it's a work of magic. Shannon, hearing those words, shows a little shameful expression and doesn't say anything that would oppose George's supernatural theory.Going further into past, we see what happened in December 1985. Shannon is standing by the small shrine on the reef, and lifts up a mirror. Then, she breaks it and shouts that she fulfilled her promise, and that now it's time for Beatrice to fulfil her part.We are in even further past, October 1984 to be exact. Eva, Hideyoshi, and George are on Rokkenjima. They talk with Krauss' line of family in parlor and Eva is swaggering with George's achievements is study. Natsuhi tells Jessica that she should learn a bit from him, which irritates her so much that she leaves the room. Some time later, she is in the garden with Shannon and they talk about George. Jessica teases her, and after that George suddenly appear behind them. A few moments later, another person comes to the garden. It's Eva and she tells George to that Grandfather wants to hear about George's arranged marriage meeting. Shannon makes a shocked expression when she hears it and it doesn't escape Eva's attention. Figuring out that Shannon might have some feelings for George, Eva tells her that she should know her place in a straightforward way.Later, Shannon is lamenting by Beatrice's portrait about her problems and painful feelings. She probably doesn't expect any response, yet the witch shows herself and talks some funny rubbish about love being the basic element in the world. After that verbose talk of hers, she gives Shannon a magical brooch that should help her to get close to George. However, in order for that brooch to get power, she must break a mirror in the shrine on the reef.We have moved forward in time, and now we are in some time when the trip to Okinawa is already an event of past. Shannon is having a tea with Beatrice on the beach, and she thanks her for everything. Saying that she doesn't need it anymore, she wants to return the brooch that helped her get George. However, the witch doesn't want it back and tells her to keep it as a token of their friendship.Shannon doesn't keep the brooch in the end, but gives it to Kanon instead. Even though he doesn't want it at first, he accepts it.School festival is held at Jessica's school and she has invited Kanon to go there. To be precise, she wants him to pretend to be her boyfriend. When her girl classmates see him, it drives them crazy and say some inappropriate remarks which doesn't remain unpunished by Jessica.A big event at the festival is musical performance by school band, in which Jessica plays the guitar and does the vocals. Kanon isn't used to such music and big crowds of noisy people and finds it stupid. But he notices that the Jessica singing on the stage is different from the Jessica he knows from the mansion.Back at the mansion she tells him that she has created another her that can live without thinking about bearing responsibility for being a member of Ushiromiya family, and enjoy the life to the fullest. She suggests that Kanon should try doing the same, but receives quite a harsh negative answer. He claims that it's impossible for him, because he's nothing but a mere furniture. Only humans can create another self, in his opinion.He thanks Jessica for thinking of him as human and leaves her alone in the arbour. On his way back to house, he encounters Beatrice. She says that she will revive and control everything on this island, and then the door to the Golden Land will open again.I almost forgot. This episode had altered opening, the portrait of Beatrice was replaced by the other one.On the whole, I didn't like this episode much, but I didn't like this part even in the game. It was too long, more than was necessary in my opinion. Well, what I liked in this episode was that cackle of Beatrice. I was afraid that it might go wrong and sound bad, but her seiyuu did a really good job at this.Concerning the song that Jessica's band played on the stage, it was obvious that it wouldn't be Tsurupettan, like in the game. But still, it wasn't a bad song. Sound is something that we can't complain about in Umineko anime, though there are people who don't like the ending or some characters' voices. It is definitely a way better than animation, which is one of the weak points.Anyways, I'm looking forward to the next episode, because there might be some murders already. And there will be some nice ones. *cackle*
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