10 Second Anime - Bungou Stray Dogs - Episode 27

Dazai and Chuuya make a side bet to see who can catch the hoaxer first and clues point to a familiar face.

Episode 27 - "The God of Fire"

Hmm.

After only the second episode, it's clear that this extended flashback is actually Chuuya's origin story. We've seen from the events in previous episodes where Chuuya has to be careful how much he uses his power, otherwise it runs amok, which is why he and Dazai were the best pairing possible for the Port Mafia.

What's nice about exploring Chuuya's back story is that we also get to explore the idea of how the weak can take advantage of the strong. The scene in the arcade where some of the Sheep gang run into Chuuya with Dazai shows how the tensions between belonging to a group, the responsibility of using a great power for the group's greater good, and how those without power can play on those ethics to the detriment of the individual. Dazai was quick to see how the Sheep were becoming lazy about territory rules because they relied on Chuuya bailing them out. Chuuya has a short temper to begin with, so it's amazing to see how long he can bury his resentment before it explodes into another scene like 8 years ago.

That resentment Chuuya felt about the unfairness the weak Sheep fostered was probably the hook Dazai and the other special powered Port Mafia used to officially welcome him into the Port Mafia. Another hook would be how well all of them, starting with Dazai, understand that special powers don't really make one special; they're just another aspect of a person's many talents. Dazai appears to be useless against regular people because his power only works against others with special talents, but he gained the reputation as the most feared and effective Port Mafioso before he joined the Armed Detectives. The same kind of thing will be developed with Chuuya and why he can only fight at half power, which will be the real origin story next episode.

Heh.

Chuuya and Dazai were going to meet Randou, but these GSS guys tried to get to him first.

It's fun to see the chaos in the plots of these Port Mafia backstories. Chuuya and Dazai were there to interview Randou because he was present during one of the first sightings of the former Boss. GSS was there to kill Randou because he was a Mori loyalist and make it look like the old Boss had blown him up, to stir factional fighting in a rival gang. Chaos!

Chuuya is all rar! while Dazai picks the spot where he won't be shot. Broken arm and all that.

Chuuya doesn't like being called "shorty." That hasn't changed. 15 year old Chuuya was denied his last growth spurt.

Dazai shows he's got a few screws loose with how he puts the GSS commander out of his misery. Chuuya stopped him and told him not to shoot dead bodies. Dazai's maniacal look showed there might have been envy there as he saw someone check out before he himself suicided successfully.

Opening credits this time, showcasing the shanty town. And reusing a lot of the animation product from the first episode this season.

I see that Randou has a perfectly square piece of preserved space around him and the fireplace.

GSS's boss supposedly has ties to the Guild, which were the baddies from last season.

Randou claims he was there at the first Arahabaki explosion 8 years ago. He saw a beast of black flame. The details of his story solved the mystery for Dazai somehow. Chuuya has questions.

This great! This wall of text makes it look like Dazai and Chuuya are actually fighting while arguing, but it turns out they're just 15 year old boys playing an arcade game!

Dazai points out that Chuuya's ability is so strong that it's actually a weakness. He's never had to be cunning, tactical, or use his intellect.

Contest - Catch the hoaxer first!

Chuuya has reasons for only fighting with his feet and legs and it's not because he's keeping more cards up his sleeves.

Dazai is so mean! He just called Chuuya's gang members over to his hiding place.

Dazai quickly notices how these two are taking advantage of Chuuya's strength in letting the rest of the gang break their own rules.

Dazai has connections. He's only the Port Mafia's number two.

Ha! Dazai is throwing a party for Chuuya officially joining the Port Mafia. He brought this silly side to the Armed Detectives.

He made a special point to have Randou here because he wants to win that bet against Chuuya!

Randou is the culprit, according to Dazai, because of the way he described the Yokohama Sea could only have been from the vantage point of Arahabaki.

And here comes Chuuya.

Chuuya also knows Randou is the hoaxer, but for a different reason. A reason that shows Dazai was wrong.

Randou described a beast instead of the Boss, and he's the only witness to do so. Chuuya knows he's lying from that stray bit.

Chuuya claims he is Arahabaki and that he caused the crater in the shanty town 8 years ago. Randou was there too, and he's been looking for the beast of black flame ever since.

Um, are we going to get an answer on how Randou is actually bring the dead boss back to life or what?