Wow the season is really flying by!
Also, yay! It’s another 2 part episode. I really do like to have a bit of a pause before we get the reveal. A lot of the Ron Kamonohashi cases are a bit out there and you won’t necessarily be able to figure it out from the clues in the episode but it’s always fun to try anyways!
I like that Ron Kamonohashi (the show not the character) is giving up the pretense. It knows it’s a cooky mystery sitcom and it doesn’t need to get any deeper than that. So Ron and Toto are just on this island because of reasons (a gastronomic tour? well that explains nothing…) and Ron’s old mentor is also there, of course, he is and there’s an astronomy-loving idol and we just have to go along with that! And you know, a lot of mysteries are that way. The setup is extremely kooky and rarely explained. That’s not the point after all.
I do like this like I said. I was a little worried that they were going to have to win different raffles every week or get mysterious invitations from long-lost family members in order to bring Ron and Toto to the right setting. I find that just skipping over all that is a lot cleaner. And honestly, I’m ok with the idea that these two just constantly vacation together now. Like every other week, they do a little weekend trip. That’s cute! I want to do that too maybe minus the murders. Then again, it is exciting…
So for those of you trying to follow along with this messy post, I’m basically at the first scene. Ron and Toto have arrived on this island (I think) and there’s a somewhat disused but still very nice observatory there. This is great because there’s going to be a meteor shower that very night. And guys, I desperately want to see a meteor shower. I always miss the Perseids but it’s in my calendar for 2024. Oh and that’s what was happening in this episode as well!
You guys have all heard of Chekhov’s gun, right? I’ll give a quick summary in case it’s not popular anymore. Basically, it’s just a narrative principle that every element in a story must be necessary, and irrelevant elements should be removed. The famous example used to illustrate that is that if you write a play and show a gun in the first act, it has to be used by the third act. And this episode was a literal application of Chekhov’s gun in such a blunt way that it was almost insidious. It was surprising by how obvious it was, you know?
When we saw the gun in the lobby and then heard about the first tragedy years ago and how the weapon had never been recovered my instantaneous and only thought was, duh it’s the gun in the display case of course. Why else would it be there (in the story I mean)? Also, a working gun is not a great good luck charm. I don’t know, maybe get some worry dolls. Those things are great!
And having Ron’s former teacher there means that Ron can’t even casually solve anything. (I love how ridiculous that plotline is). So naturally, I figured, by the end of the episode we would have another shooting, one that mirrors the previous incident and Ron would either be the suspect or the victim. I’m a genius… If I say so myself and with the full benefit of hindsight. But why would we shoot the photographer? Maybe there’s a reason but we know so little of the characters at this point that it’s up in the air. Part of me hopes the cook just went postal because of their ridiculous demands but I don’t really believe it.
My current theory is that it’s the owner. I think he’s actually trying to tank the place. I don’t know why I think this though. Also, there should be an idol show next week. I mean if you’re going to show an idol in your first act…
Previous Reviews
- Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions – Episode 1
- Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions – Episode 2
- Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions – Episode 3
- Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions – Episode 4
- Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions – Episode 5
- Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions – Episode 6
Knowing that the observatory is practically soundproof means that it was opened deliberately so people could hear the sound of a gunshot, which makes everything they found suspect. I would think that Ron’s teacher would realize this. But, then again, does he know it’s a soundproof chamber? The ones we know for certain know about this are the cook, the owner, and our two protagonists. Assuming the cook is innocent, that leaves the owner, who would know the ins and outs of the place well enough to be able to rig something up, and a natural in with his intended victims. Also, the incident they mention happened when his dad was in charge, which gives him a connection to it. Narratively speaking, he’s the natural suspect.
Personally, I think it’s the guy with the weird haircut. Mainly I think it might be him because he’s the least suspicious person and he has an alibi, so it would make an interesting story to explain how he did it . . . and also I just don’t like his haircut.
Idk, I wrote in my review that Toto being invited to the observatory reeks of suspicious, especially since the owner said that he got word of him from a friend who spoke with Kawasemi.
While kawasemi does respect Toto, it’s weird how there was two invites as everyone else came alone…
How would the owner know about Ron if Ron’s sleuthing is a secret?
Hmm, that’s a good point! I can see why Toto was invited, but why Ron too? It does look very sus.
And the director is the only one who could have prior knowledge of the gun. He could’ve lied about the gun being a replica because he knew it was a real one.