Umineko no Naku Koro ni - Ep. 7

This is turning out to be a great series with its changing story arcs and character types. This episode continues to prove this true.

In this episode, Battler is going against Beatrice to see who gives in first. Battler, not believing that Beatrice is who she says she is (a witch) goes head to head as they watch the family drama play out. There are several variations in this arc, Maria becomes maniacal very early in the episode. Beatrice has placed herself in the story now as well. Previously she was only a rumor. When she arrives she presents Maria with an invitation to the "Golden Land". She forcefully gives Marias mom a letter to read to all family members at dinner.

We don't get to hear the contents of the letter but I imagine it is the same letter read earlier in the series. George, who is in love with one of the house servants Shannon, proposes. As he told her in the previous episode, just place the ring on any finger and let that be your answer to me. In the first story arc, we do not find out her answer until after she has been brutally murdered. Her original answer was yes as shown by the ring on her left ring finger.

In this episode, Shannon has told Beatrice that she will not be controlled by her and she will decide her own destiny. When George proposed to her telling her to place the ring on the finger of choice as her decision, she immediately placed it on her left ring finger. Beatrice has vowed to kill both Shannon and George once Shannon said she will control her own destiny.

At the end of the episode, we see the family members acknowledging Beatrice for who she says she is. With this turn of events I wonder how Battler will do against Beatrice.

Thoughts:
I like this series. Great for twists and turns. It has me wondering just how it will end. The animation is nicely drawn. I particularly like how the family crest is presented on each of the family members clothing.

Characters -
Marias mom gets on my last nerve for how she treats her. That's just not how to treat a kid. Of course, Maria does use the sound "oooh, oooh" repeatedly when she is anxious about something. But still, to slap a poor kid silly??

George has to be one of my favorite characters thus far. Level headed and thinks things through. In the first arc where Shannon is murdered though, he goes half crazy for grief. A well played emotional scene. Georges mom though figured what had happened and was none to pleased that her soon had proposed to someone of Shannons status.
Battler is just stubborn... Yep, that's about it...

I like the voice actors they have chosen for the series. Being a Rie Kugimiya fan, I was pleased to see she was also part of the cast.