Arne no Jikenbo [Season 1 Episode 3]

Arne no Jikenbo Episode 3: A Bloody Mess of Mystery and Mixed Vibes

Let’s cut to the chase: Episode 3 of Arne no Jikenbo feels like a vampire trying to solve a puzzle with fangs—messy, a little confusing, but weirdly intriguing. If you’re here for the dark mystery vibes teased in the first episode, you’ll get some of that… but also a whole lot of “wait, what just happened?” moments that’ll make you scratch your head harder than a werewolf with a flea problem.

First off, let’s recap the basics for anyone just tuning in (or who forgot after Episode 2’s chaos). Arne Neuntöte is our suave vampire detective—think Vanitas but with less flair and more “I drink blood to solve crimes” logic. Lynn Reinweiß is the nobleman’s daughter who’s low-key obsessed with vampires (relatable) and somehow got tangled up in his world. Together, they’re supposed to be solving supernatural mysteries in the spooky city of Lügenberg, where humans and non-humans coexist… badly.

Episode 3 dives into a new case involving a series of gruesome murders that look like vampire attacks. The victim? A local merchant found drained of blood, with bite marks on his neck. Cue Arne and Lynn investigating, which means Arne using his vampire senses (smelling blood, seeing in the dark) and Lynn being the human sidekick who’s equal parts curious and terrified.

But here’s the thing: the mystery itself feels like it was written on a napkin. The clues are thrown at you so fast, you’ll miss half of them if you blink. One minute, Arne’s sniffing a pocket for “dried blood,” the next he’s accusing a random non-human of the crime. Fans on MyAnimeList are already calling it out: “The plot holes are bigger than Arne’s appetite for blood!” one user ranted. Another added, “They solved the case out of someone’s ass—no build-up, no real deduction, just ‘oh, this guy looks suspicious!’” Ouch.

The animation doesn’t help either. It’s flat, like a vampire who forgot to iron his cape. The fight scenes? Crude, with movements so stiff you’d think the characters were golems (wait, there are golems in this show—maybe that’s intentional?). And don’t get me started on the character designs. Lynn’s supposed to be a noble, but she dresses like she raided a Hot Topic clearance rack. Arne’s ears are pointy enough to be a hazard, and his fangs look like they’re about to fall out. One fan joked, “Does anyone in this city know what a vampire actually looks like? They’re walking around with neon signs on their heads!”

But wait—there’s a glimmer of hope here. The dynamic between Arne and Lynn is starting to grow on people. Lynn’s vampire obsession is endearing (she’s basically all of us at 2 a.m. reading vampire fanfic), and Arne’s dry humor balances her out. When Lynn gushes about how “cool” his powers are, Arne deadpans, “They’re not cool—they’re useful for not getting killed.” Relatable king.

And let’s talk about the ending. Without spoiling too much, it’s a twist that’ll make you go “WTF?” in the best (or worst) way. It’s dark, it’s gory, and it’s the kind of “wait, did they really do that?” moment that’ll have you arguing with your friends. Some fans loved it—“Hidden gem alert! That ending was a total shock!”—while others hated it: “The subversion of expectations was too sudden. It felt like they just threw it in to be edgy.”

So, should you keep watching? If you’re a die-hard mystery fan, maybe not—this isn’t Sherlock Holmes with fangs. But if you’re here for the supernatural chaos, the weird character dynamics, and the occasional “what the hell is happening?” laugh, stick around. The three-episode rule applies here: it’s not great, but it’s not awful. Plus, with all the vampire, golem, and witch drama, there’s potential for it to get better… or worse. Either way, it’s a ride.

Final verdict? Episode 3 is a bloody mess, but sometimes messy is fun. Just don’t go in expecting a masterpiece. And for the love of all things undead, someone give Arne a better cape.

Rating: 5/10—Vampire adjacent, but not quite biting.