[ENG SUB] Seal of Roses (Moon, 2003)

[nightless_castle]

Summary: Francis de Valois (Shibuki Jun), a Templar knight of the Solomon Order who’s been declared anathema escapes to the Balkan Mountains. Injured, he finds himself in the Valley of Roses in the arms of a beautiful maiden named Lydia (Emi Kurara) who saved him along with a monk named Mikhail (Ayaki Nao). Mysteriously, his poison wounds have healed. In a visit to the valley's church, Francis finds a mysterious cross entwined with roses and is revealed the truth about the valley. A story about vampires on a lifelong quest for roses and love.

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Big fan of the homoeroticism in this one.

TW: depictions of Nazi Germany. This musical takes place throughout many different time periods including WW2.

It's camp. I know we all like to categorize a lot of things in zuka as camp, but really, it is. Though I think perhaps the writing and pacing can get a little bit messy in some places, on god if it isn't just tremendously fun to watch. It really takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with its crazy ass plot. And not only is the music really great and pretty, but the dancing is beautiful as well. Shibuki Jun was known for her dancing and I'm glad they really tailored this show for her as it was her final show. There's a really beautiful dance sequence ("river of time") where Shibuki Jun just goes off with her interpretive dancing. It's really mesmerizing. Having the story take place throughout different time periods as well as having dance be an important part (in a way that makes sense and helps move along the story too) to showcase Shibuki Jun's skills was a great feat on the writer's part.

As for the story, what can I say, I'm obsessed. And every other goth gay I know absolutely loves this show lmao (what if we were both immortal vampires and we had a homoerotic rivalry that lasts for a lifetime...). It starts off a little slow at the beginning but it starts to pick up and it's like we're absolutely flying from there. I think it's pretty good at keeping you engaged throughout (it does help that the story literally changes time periods). This show would've been perfect for me if it hadn't been for literally the last 3 seconds of this show that implies... something? If you know you know. I'd like to write a longer proper review and writeup of this show someday, but for now, just know that I recommend this one. It's a bit long but strap in cuz it is undeniably a ride.

Translator's Notes:

I wondered a bit how I'd go about translating 一族 (family, house, race/people) but I ended up alternating between "kind" and "clan", because I had The Poe Clan on my mind and that was what came to me naturally.

I want to apologize for having to translate a Jewish slur said by a scumbag N*zi officer in the show, but I had no way around it. If it makes you feel better they get punched in the face.