Ep 7. Seventh Killing Spirit

In Shiki season 1 episode 7, titled "Seventh Killing Spirit," tensions rise in the small village of Sotoba as more and more residents fall victim to the mysterious epidemic. The episode opens with the burial of Megumi Shimizu, a young girl who had succumbed to the disease in the previous episode. Her mother, grief-stricken, refuses to accept her death and claims that Megumi was killed by the Kirishiki family, the newcomers to the village who own a Western-style mansion on the hill.

Meanwhile, Ozaki, the village doctor, and Natsuno, a classmate of Megumi's, continue to investigate the cause of the epidemic. They discover that the victims, including Megumi, showed signs of low blood pressure and anemia, leading them to suspect that they were the target of vampire-like creatures. They even find evidence of bite marks on the bodies.

As Ozaki and Natsuno dig deeper, they encounter resistance from the Kirishiki family and their followers. The Kirishiki patriarch, Seishin, a local priest, refuses to acknowledge the existence of the supernatural and warns Ozaki to stop spreading rumors. Meanwhile, Tatsumi, the Kirishiki's loyal servant, continues to carry out his master's orders to turn more people into Shiki, the term for the vampire-like creatures.

The episode takes a darker turn when another burial is interrupted by a Shiki attack. The villagers, armed with makeshift weapons, fend off the intruders, but not without casualties. The tensions boil over as the villagers turn on each other, accusing some of being in league with the Kirishiki family. Panic spreads as more and more residents fall sick or die, and the line between human and Shiki becomes increasingly blurred.

The episode culminates in a shocking twist that sets up the rest of the season. Without giving away any spoilers, "Seventh Killing Spirit" leaves the audience with more questions than answers and a sense of unease about how the conflict in Sotoba will be resolved.

Overall, "Seventh Killing Spirit" is a gripping episode that ratchets up the tension and sets the stage for the rest of the series. The themes of paranoia, mistrust, and fear of the unknown are explored in depth, and the characters are forced to confront their own mortality and morality in the face of the epidemic. The episode also features stunning animation and a haunting score that elevates the horror elements of the story.