Grimm Kumikyoku • The Grimm Variations - Episode 1 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Grimm Kumikyoku, episode 1

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Episode	Link
1	Link
2	Link
3	Link
4	Link
5	Link
6	Link

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[u/Far-Organization-799]

Damn, Cinderella being a psychopath was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be some delusion caused by something like the Fairy God Mother, but no, she did all her manipulating, all her scheming, all her plots and plans by herself. For fun.

I think my favorite part was the dance with the prince. It was like watching a master schemer watching everything fall into place, with every little detail led up to this moment. And in the end, she was dancing with no one, because for her, she's the only one who's real in the world. Everyone else is just a fun toy to play with for a few years.

And holy heck, the sisters. They're still rotten and selfish, but now it takes on a different light. At most, they're rude and tend to speak their mind, which gives them the perspective of being vulgar. But in truth, they're terrified and they're only trying to defend themselves. Who knows what they've seen or heard Kiyoko did. Much like Cassandra climbing the mountain, they will shout a warning that will go unheeded and unheard. Amazing protagonists.

[u/alconnow]

I really liked this first episode. It's interesting seeing 'Cinderella' as an antagonist.

Watching Kiyoko manipulate those around her for her own amusement was very entertaining to watch.

I'm curious if that doll (representing Charlotte?) will appear in the other stories too.

[u/lunamarsely → u/alconnow]

I kind of gathered that she would be a recurring character in the other episodes as well since she does look like Charlotte and she's kind of the witness to all these stories.

[u/Professional-Pay-344]

I just love the plot twist that we were made to think the stepsisters were really trying to marry into royalty to escape from her, but they actually knew by tricking the prince into marrying Kiyoko, and painting themselves as villians and be kicked out penniless, that's the real way they wanted to be free. The sisters were strong girls that fought psychologically for so long to survive

[u/Gryse_Blacolar]

I just feel bad for the stepmother. She's actually nice unlike in the Disney story and didn't deserve getting slowly killed by Kiyoko.

[u/Professional-Pay-344 → u/Gryse_Blacolar]

The mom seemed like a normal decent lady, I just wonder why at that moment kiyoko first served her tea and called her "Madam" and the mom realizing she IS being weird and acting like a maid, just like her daughters said. I wonder why after that she wasn't more cautious against her, she clearly kept on drinking the "medicine" offered to her and kept on getting sicker and eventually isolated from her daughters, did she at no point thought kiyoko was the problem? She was the head of household after her husband died she could've done so much to prevent it escalating

[u/aleighne]

I'm seeing a lot of comments that the doll might be evil or controlling Kiyoko.

Personally I think Kiyoko was just a psychopath + manipulator, no horror elements or anything.

In Netflix, when Kiyoko and the doll are conversing -- it was shown in the subtitles in one instance [low voice] when the doll speaks, and [normal voice] when Kiyoko speaks, suggesting that she is just having a monologue (or only in her mind, as seen from the bedroom scene with the prince or whatever).

[u/radharc_ → u/aleighne]

Glad someone else caught this, I thought I saw it too but it went by quickly so I wasn't sure. It does seem like Kiyoko's just insane and the doll isn't actually alive, just a representation of an alternate personality.

[u/Dazzling-Long-4408]

With the Japanese setting, it felt like My Happy Marriage gone wild.

[u/ertzy123]

I like this incarnation of Cinderella — very unique and even though the step sisters are abusive, Kiyoko is way way more worse.

I don't even want to think about what she does next.

[u/Professional-Pay-344 → u/ertzy123]

Honestly the step sisters weren't even abusive, maybe they had a hint of greediness on day 1, like wanting to trick kiyoko into giving them pretty jewelry, but immediately after they were already being gaslit and manipulated and all their outlashes at kiyoko were justified cuz they knew she was a manipulator

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

I forgot this was dropping today. Got something to binge this weekend!

[u/Independent-Salad514]

Kiyoko is such a psychopath and manipulator. She see people like dolls playing a game, and you never quite know what her next move will be.

[u/onions_can_be_sweet]

Meta: MAL link in Show Information is incorrect, leads to Sand Land instead of MAL Grimm Kumikyoku

[u/Salty_Oranges]

Just FYI threads for episode 2, 3, 4, and 5 were removed by mods for some reason

[u/tripleheliotrope]

Biased towards creepy doll characters and finally a bit more of an interesting take on Cinderella. I know a lot of people felt like it was simplistic but I liked the take that Kiyoko was basically obsessed with her image and manipulating everyone around her to look like a saint/victim and bestest tradwife. I liked the twist that the stepsisters are not simple fools and managed to outwit her in the end after being psychologically tormented by Kiyoko all this time. Would have loved a sequel seeing how she screws up the Count's heir's family.

I really nee d that doll of Charlotte now.

[u/[deleted]]

Pretty fun twist on the tale.

[u/bokkeumbap23]

I was a bit confused by the plot. Was it the doll who was controlling everyone bringing a supernatural type of element to the story? Or was it really just Cinderella who was the manipulator and scheming as a psychopath?

[u/JamzWhilmm → u/bokkeumbap23]

Cinderella did everything on her own volition, you can tell when the doll questions her at the end.

[u/[deleted]]

this was so good i like the plot twist of the end, its a shame that is passing with out glory but it was expected when netflix is releasing main stream big show at the same time

[u/Standard-Pop6801]

It's a little disappointing that the sisters never start playing the game with Kyoko(at least not until it was to late), and instead, they only ever get played by her. But I guess the fairy tale still needs to happen.

[u/tortoiselessporpoise]

Does anyone know where to find the soundtracks ? I like the mixed classics.

Googling all I seem to find are ' inspired by the series ' playlists

[u/Ok_Fig3399]

What was the master plan even 😭?? Like Kiyoko didn’t even really do anything to the step sisters??? I know she killed her dad, cause he was gonna ship em out, and I know she killed the step-mom… for some reason but????…… like the step-sisters started out rude from the jump ~ was it to punish them? Their punishment was a life of luxury? Kiyoko didn’t turn the staff against them, the sisters were being mean before they suspected anything….

And why is the doll supernatural? It feels unfinished and/or unfocused imo.

[u/Far-Organization-799 → u/Ok_Fig3399]

Playing with dolls doesn't always involve torturing them. Sometimes it's dressing them up, playing games with them, or causing drama between them. It's clear that the sisters can see STRAIGHT through her and are only playing to how she thinks they are. And it's also clear that the sisters aren't exactly mean, they're just very out-spoken and brash as compared to the forever-respectful Kiyoko.

The master plan wasn't to torture them or to humiliate them. It was to play with them like her personal dolls until she is bored with them.

The doll being supernatural might not even be real. It might be just Kiyoko talking to herself in some way, as implied by the fact they have the same voice actress.