Ep 3. 5/22, Tempest

In Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo season 1 episode 3, titled "5/22, Tempest," the story continues with the young aristocrat Albert de Morcerf and his friend Franz arriving at the Count of Monte Cristo's mysterious palace for a summer party. However, as they enter the grand estate, they can feel an eerie sensation in the air. The Count greets his guests with a cryptic smile and leads them to a magnificent room for dinner.

As the night progresses, Albert and Franz learn more about their host, and the Count shares his admiration for Albert's father, Fernand de Morcerf. It soon becomes clear that the Count has some hidden intentions, as he begins to ask Albert about his father's involvement in a conspiracy to frame a loyal soldier, resulting in his paralysis and eventual death. Albert becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the Count's line of questioning, and the tension between the two characters builds.

Meanwhile, Franz wanders around the palace and stumbles upon a strange room filled with mechanically animated bird cages. A mysterious woman approaches him, and they begin to talk about the Count and his past. The woman warns Franz to be cautious around the Count and leaves him with a cryptic message before disappearing.

Back at the dinner table, the Count's true motives become clear as he reveals to Albert that his father was one of the men responsible for ruining the life of the soldier, Edmond Dantès, who is the Count's true identity. Albert is shocked and devastated to learn of his father's involvement in such a heinous act and confronts the Count about his revenge. The Count remains calm and collected, telling Albert that he has no interest in harming innocent people and that his plans of revenge are strictly reserved for the guilty parties. However, Albert finds it difficult to believe the Count's words.

As the night comes to an end, the characters retire to their rooms, and Albert is left to contemplate his newfound knowledge. He is unsure what to do with the information and begins to question the morality of his family's actions. Meanwhile, Franz finds himself drawn to the mysterious woman he met earlier and begins to suspect that she may know more about the Count's past than she is letting on.

Overall, Gankutsuou: The Count Of Monte Cristo season 1 episode 3 is an intense and suspenseful episode that delves deeper into the characters' motivations and the complicated web of relationships that surround them. The storytelling is incredibly detailed and immersive, and the animation style is stunning and unique. Fans of the classic tale of The Count of Monte Cristo will find plenty to love in this adaptation, while newcomers will be drawn in by the show's rich visuals and compelling narrative.