Ep 5. Carnival Corpse

In the fifth episode of Deadman Wonderland season 1, titled Carnival Corpse, the series takes a darker turn as the characters are forced into a brutal fight to the death. The setting for the episode is the titular "Carnival Corpse" event, which is essentially a gladiator-style battle between Deadmen.

The episode begins with Ganta, our protagonist, being approached by a mysterious woman named Makina who tells him that he needs to fight in Carnival Corpse if he wants any chance of getting out of Deadman Wonderland alive. Ganta is hesitant to participate, but Makina tells him that he doesn't have a choice - if he doesn't fight, he will end up dead anyway.

The rest of the episode shows the various characters preparing for the fight. We see Crow, who was introduced in the previous episode, training in his cell and being approached by other Deadmen who try to intimidate him. Shiro, Ganta's friend, seems to be having some sort of crisis and spends most of the episode wandering around aimlessly.

But the real focus of the episode is on the actual Carnival Corpse event. The Deadmen are put into a large arena in front of a cheering crowd and forced to fight each other. The fights are brutal and bloody, with limbs being torn off and people being impaled on spikes. The action is intense and fast-paced, with the direction and choreography doing a great job of keeping the viewer engaged.

One of the most interesting aspects of the episode is how it explores the different personalities of the Deadmen. The fights are not just mindless violence - we see how the various characters approach the battles and how their personalities affect the way they fight. For example, while Crow is a skilled fighter, he is also quite hesitant and doesn't seem to enjoy the violence as much as some of the other Deadmen. Meanwhile, other characters like Minatsuki and Chaplin seem to revel in the brutality of the fights.

As the episode progresses, we start to see some alliances form between certain characters. Ganta, for example, teams up with some of the other Deadmen who are also hesitant to participate in the fights. This adds an interesting dynamic to the battles and allows for some unexpected moments.

Towards the end of the episode, things start to get even more intense. The Deadmen are forced to fight in pairs, which amps up the violence and intensity even more. At this point, it becomes clear that not everyone is going to make it out alive. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers wondering who will survive and what will happen next.

Overall, Carnival Corpse is an intense and engaging episode that really ramps up the violence and tension. The gladiator-style battles are a lot of fun to watch, and the characters are starting to become more fleshed out and interesting. It's definitely one of the highlights of the season so far, and sets the stage for what promises to be an even more exciting second half.