Black Butler II Season 1 Episode 5 Beacon Butler

Sebastian Michaelis, the butler of the Phantomhive household, receives a letter from the late Viscount of Druitt, an acquaintance of the young Earl Ciel Phantomhive. The letter contains an invitation to a prestigious party hosted by the Viscount's son, Edward Midford. Sebastian informs Ciel of the party and they both decide to attend, however, Ciel is having some reservations about the venture.

Meanwhile, an eccentric detective named Frederick Abberline is seen tailing the Phantomhive carriage. It is revealed that he is investigating the bizarre incidents that have occurred in the wake of the Noah's Ark Circus. Abberline stops the carriage and interrogates Ciel about his involvement in the occurrences, but Sebastian puts an end to the conversation.

At the party, Ciel reunites with his childhood friend, Elizabeth Midford, the sister of Edward. However, their reunion is plagued with tension as Elizabeth reveals that she is betrothed to her cousin and that the engagement has already been arranged by Elizabeth's overbearing mother, Frances. Ciel offers his sympathies and supports Elizabeth's decision to fight for her own happiness.

As the party progresses, the attendees witness an amazing performance by Edward and his group of performers. Suddenly, the lights go out and chaos ensues as several guests are attacked by an unseen assailant. Ciel deduces that the assailant is a member of the Noah's Ark Circus, who have infiltrated the party disguised as hired help.

The Phantomhive household, along with Abberline and Elizabeth, apprehend the attackers and reveal that they were hired by none other than Edward Midford. It is revealed that Edward harbors a deep hatred for his father and seeks to usurp him as head of the household by marrying Elizabeth. However, Elizabeth rejects Edward's proposal and stands by her loyalty to her family.

The episode concludes with Sebastian and Ciel returning home, both affected by the events of the party. Ciel is left questioning his place in the world and contemplating the sacrifices he must make to protect his loved ones. While Sebastian remains stoic as ever, his inner monologue reveals that he too is questioning the extent of his loyalty to Ciel and what it truly means to be a butler.

Overall, "Beacon Butler" is a tense and gripping episode that delves deeper into the relationships between the core characters and the themes of duty and sacrifice. The episode expertly balances its dark subject matter with moments of humor and levity, while its stunning animation and soundtrack heighten the drama to new heights.