The premise of Umineko is similar to Higurashi’s in that there is a series of murders that are blamed on magic, the events repeat themselves with slight alterations, and a main character attempts to find the real reason for the murders. It is different in that every character involved is trapped on the island, and there are a limited number of suspects including the family members and the servants.
The episode opens with the patriarch of the Ushiromiya family talking about his demise, which is coming closer. He calls out to Beatrice, telling her he’ll throw all his possessions away and asking to see her smile. The scene cuts to Battler, riding a boat on the ocean to the island of Rokkenjima where the patriarch resides. The time is October 1986. We then discover what is happening: The Ushiromiya family is gathering to discuss what to do with the patriarch’s possessions after he dies. As the family greets each other at the boat, Maria points out a shrine on a nearby crag that got struck by lightning the previous year and calls it sinister.
They approach the mansion and Maria points out a rose in the garden, which is withering, and George ties a ribbon around it so they can find it again later. They then sit down to dinner. Battler narrates the story of his family, his ancestors and how his family’s wealth from spinning mills was lost in an earthquake. Kinzou, his grandfather, mysteriously revived the family wealth.
Battler reads the inscription below the painting of Beatrice, which is a riddle. Allegedly, it leads to Beatrice’s ten tons of gold, which she gave to Kinzou in exchange for his soul. Battler reveals that he doesn’t believe in magic or witches, and Maria gets upset, being an avid believer of witches. The cousins talk together on the beach about Beatrice’s riddle, and how it mentions sacrifices. Maria, worried that their lack of belief in Beatrice will enrage the witch, gives protective scorpion charms to Battler and Jessica.
The family discusses the assets amongst themselves, since Kinzou refuses to leave his study. Krauss is accused of embezzlement. Eva and Hideyoshi have conditions for Krauss, assuming he had Kinzou’s ten tons of gold. Krauss turns the conversation around, revealing that his siblings are in debt, which is why they need the gold, and that he never had the gold.
As the storm approaches, Maria and the cousins try to find the rose that George marked. Rosa’s mother tries to help at first, but becomes annoyed with Maria, and hits her. The other cousins, unsure of the appropriateness of interfering, return to the mansion. Once Maria and Rosa are alone, Rosa becomes more aggravated and leaves Maria on her own to look for the rose. It begins thundering, and Kinzou throws his ring into the storm, to return it to Beatrice.
Maria is still looking for her rose, and a figure approaches her with an umbrella. Kanon greets the cousins as they return, and asks them where Maria is, since she wasn’t with Rosa. They go back to the garden to look for her, and find her there, with an umbrella. Rosa tearfully embraces Maria and apologizes. Maria then says she borrowed the umbrella from Beatrice, leaving the episode at a suspenseful and chilling cliffhanger.
There is only a lot of foreshadowing in the first episode, not a whole lot of action; although, it nicely introduced the plot and the characters. It left plenty of mysteries concerning the family wealth, Beatrice’s identity, and whether magic exists or not. However, this series being the sister to Higurashi, one can’t trust what’s in front of them. I always appreciated the type of horror in Higurashi, and I’m glad to see it return in Umineko, with a new twist. It’s never a scream, but a shudder. However, the first episode leaves you starving impatiently for more. Let’s see if the next episode is more satisfying.
Rating: 6/10