91 Days

Episode 3

In the last episode's post-credits stinger, Nero and Valbero confronted Avilio over a suspected role in Vanno's death. Fortunately, they don't know that he did it, so they give him an opportunity to prove (or as we know, manufacture) his innocence. Nero is willing to buy that Vanno and Serpente killed each other in a scuffle, but Avilio needs to produce Serpente's body. Since the body is missing, it looks like Avilio betrayed the Vanettis for the Orcos. So Avilio – who didn't move the body – goes on a corpse hunt. It turns out that Cerotto, the guy who helped them find Fango in the first place, followed them up to the graveyard. (You tailed two gangsters on an assassination mission out of curiosity? Really?) This genius came across the two corpses and sold Serpente's to the feds. Avilio finds this out rather easily after threatening to kill Cerotto, then goes to show the body to Nero. While there, they encounter Fango, who was sent on a recovery mission, but they use their wits to get away unscathed. The entire situation blows up Vanetti-Orco relations, and Nero, who sanctioned Vanno's vendetta, is exiled to avoid a death sentence. For his “help,” Avilio earns a position as Nero's companion in exile. As his revenge inches closer to fruition, Avilio maintains his façade of loyalty while privately jeering at his employers. What's up next for our “hero,” and how will an extended vacation with Nero complicate his grudge?

With this episode, 91 Days appears to have completed the first act in its intended mobster epic. Overall, I'm very satisfied with how it wrapped up. For the past two episodes, I've been worried that this show would fumble its immediate promise, but the successful execution of this first narrative peak has reassured me. Aesthetically, Studio Shuka is still doing fine, although they're working with limited resources. There are moments of wonkiness, and background characters can look less-than-stellar. However, I continue to be enraptured by the direction, specifically in its mimicry of live-action gangster films. Shots are complex and varied in a way that's far more difficult to accomplish in animation than live-action. There's some real effort behind this production. Anyway, the animation is good enough when it counts, particularly subtle character expression and quick action cuts. I'm pretty sure that this show is scripted to describe how characters move in detail, since gestures are so consistently present. 91 Days is largely people talking in rooms, and that's some of the hardest stuff to make compelling. It's a minor accomplishment that it doesn't all feel like talking heads. At least to my eye, 91 Days is a visually enrapturing experience.

As the narrative stands, Avilio has wormed his way out of the Mystery of Serpente's Disappearing Corpse and finds himself even more trusted by the Vanetti family. Nero Vanetti, the boss's eldest son, is target #2, but judging by how prominent he is in the show's promotional imagery, I doubt that he'll be eliminated as quickly as Vanno. I suspect that Avilio will first use his relationship with Nero to get closer to Don Vincent, the family head and most difficult target. This exile will likely spark the relationship (friendship?) that looks to complicate Avilio's ambitions and serve as the show's primary emotional thrust. There have been some hints that Avilio's image of Nero is becoming more complicated. He looks on meaningfully while the other man cries at Vanno's funeral. Avilio is still almost inscrutable in his singleminded drive, but I read his expression as bafflement that the man who killed his family can feel such emotion, as well as anger that they dare mourn their own when his family was so unceremoniously disposed of. I look forward to seeing what the next few episodes bring, and what emotional complications will be brought into Avilio's plot. Having established its world and tone, 91 Days now needs to bare some emotional innards.

Judging from the reactions that I've seen, people tend not to like Fango's character, but I think that he's an interesting element to the story. He's a gleefully sociopathic killer in a world where violence is generally seen as a necessary yet constant evil, so the other characters treat him like the aberration that he is. The Orco family is using him as a weapon, but even they can only barely control him. It's likely that he'll become a thorn in their side sooner or later. While the two characters are clearly soul siblings, he's unlike Baccano!'s Ladd Russo in one major regard: the show's tone is not on his side. More than anything, I think I give him a pass because I agree with 91 Days's assessment of humanity as not heartless, but certainly clannish, callous to those who aren't “their own,” and all too willing to rationalize actions that they know are wrong. These guys will murder children “if they have to,” but also go to substantial lengths to ensure that their own downed buddy gets a Christian funeral. The best version of 91 Days will dive into the psychological gymnastics that it takes to exist as an otherwise well-adjusted person in this type of environment. So far, I feel that there's a chance it may live up to the thematic depth of its primary cinematic inspiration, The Godfather. That excites me. I've shed some of my wariness regarding 91 Days, and I can't wait to see the next episode (aka twenty-minute chunk of this movie). Like Avilio's revenge, this show looks like a slow but oh-so-satisfying burn.

Grade: A-

91 Days is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Gabriella Ekens studies film and literature at a US university. Follow her on twitter.