Rin Asougi (Mamiko Noto) works as a private investigator at Asougi Consulting along with Mimi (Rie Kugimiya). While investigating the disappearance of a cat, Rin meets Maeno (Nobuyuki Hiyama), who joins her at the detective agency. They are called upon to investigate a case involving a secretive research organisation experimenting on humans. Under the auspices of one Sayara Yamanobe (Rie Tanaka), they are attempting to uncover the secret of immortality, in the process producing an army of shambling zombies. Rin reveals that she and Mimi are actually immortal, having been touched by the Time Fruits from the tree Yggdrasil. Rin and Mimi are called upon to solve more cases, all the while fighting against the evil Apos (Akira Ishida) who seems hell-bent on destroying Rin. While women touched by time fruits become immortal, men who are touched become dark winged angels whose sole desire is to kill the immortal women. Apos is an intersex and as such possesses is a cross between the immortal and the demonic.
In six episodes the show manages to create an engaging and novel world, drawing on Norse mythology and Christian symbolism, with angels, seraphim and immortality all providing a colourful backdrop to the action. It is also interesting to see the episodes structured over a long time period, making the most of the protagonist’s immortal natures. We begin in 1990’s Shinjuku and end in 2055 Kyoto. This allows for the story to have different types of plot, with the earlier episodes being hard-boiled detective drama, albeit with plenty of comedic flourishes, to a more futurist science-fiction in later episodes, and fantasy in the final episode. It is a heady mix of various genres, foremost of which are graphic horror and erotic fantasy. The torture of women in the show is balanced by having the strong characters of Rin and Mimi at the fore. Rin and Mimi, due to their longevity, have almost preternatural intelligence, being much more than they appear on the surface. The villain Apos is deeply unlikeable and provides the perfect antagonist with his nefarious plot to destroy the immortals. The art style captures the dark streets of Tokyo with neon-lit streets and the golden sunsets over the city. There is great design work in the angels and some of the technologies seen in later episodes.
Mnemosyne is the Greek goddess of memory and the show plays with the concept of time and memory in relation to a sense of self. Rin and Mimi never alter as the years pass and the idea that a person is shaped by their experience is one that is of particular significance to them. The villain, Apos, survives by eating memories, particularly painful memories, and lives to see others suffer so that they can grow stronger by consuming their anguish. Later in the series, Rin loses her memory, and in doing so is almost able to escape from her fate. The show seems to suggest that memories can be both a benefit in reaffirming an individuals sense of self, but also a burden that ties a person to their fate.
It is explained that the Time Fruits produced by Yggdrasil have differing effects dependent on who is touched by them. Women become immortal and unable to be killed. Men become angels, supremely powerful but doomed to a very short life. The immortal women are drawn irresistibly to the men, unable to contain their lust, and the men are likewise drawn to devour the women. It is an interesting dichotomy, of absolute power or immortality, and perhaps plays on the notion of men as a powerful but destructive force, and women as a life-giving and sexualised force. The ideas of Eros and Thanatos as contrasting yet complimentary drives in human nature is one that is shown in all its gory detail here. Definitely a worthwhile watch for those interested in erotic horror with a philosophical bent.
