Say it in Red | Episode 17: Umineko volume 2 - Turn of the Golden Witch

Say It In Red

Welcome Back to Rokkenjima.
We sincerely hope you're enjoying your stay, as the storm won't be letting up for quite some time. Now, let us continue.
This week, Sara, Runa, KT, and Raven finally reach that pivotal moment in dramatic storytelling: The Title Drop!
We continue our reading of Umineko no Naku Koro Ni with volume 2: Turn of the Golden Witch where Battler takes a nap, Maria gets to celebrate Halloween Early, and we learn once again that the Ushiromiya family isn't spending a dime on therapy. A new version of October 4th and 5th greet us with new twilights, new victims, and more Beatrice content than ever before! This time, Beatrice appears on the meta-layer to taunt battler and prod him after each murder, telling him to accept that these murders were done with magic. Battler refuses to accept magic, however, and also refuses to accuse either his family members or any of the servants of being the culprit. Still, people are dying at a rapid pace... Battler, is that strategy really going to help you in this situation?
Umineko no Naku Koro Ni is the second series of When They Cry games published by 07th expansion and written by Ryukishi07. It focuses on a series of mysterious murders carried out over the course of October 4th and 5th, 1986, on the island of Rokkenjima. With the cast already introduced and the setting established, we get to see more of the past and more of each character's inner world. We see Shannon, years ago as she goes on a date with George, speaks with Beatrice on the beach, hears that Love is impossible for Furniture, and seems to take drastic measures to challenge that fate. We see Kanon, watching anxiously as he believes the witch is beguiling his sister and tormenting them both with the promise of a love that will never truly be possible for furniture such as themselves. We see Rosa, abusing Maria violently and publicly on the train ride toward the family conference, and then we see Maria, clinging to Rosa afterwards and telling her that 'It's not Mama's fault, the Bad Witch was possessing her.' Now, with Battler as both participant and observer of these mysteries, the cycle begins again. The Golden Witch Beatrice challenges him to deny her magical explanations for the elaborate closed room murders or else surrender, accept witches, and kiss her feet as her new prized Furniture for all eternity.
Please remember that KT and Raven are still reading as you listen to this episode, and help us make sure that they don't get spoiled for any of the mysteries and questions they're working hard to understand!
As always, If you enjoy Say it in Red, you can follow our podcast at SayitinredPod on twitter, and please give us a rating and review wherever you listen!
Further Reading on Okinawa and the US Military's Impact on the island

• Fears Raised that war dead remains mixed in with Henoko Landfill
• Student nurse recalls horrors of Okinawa fighting
• Indigenous Okinawans are Fighting U.S. Imperialism
• The Suitcase Murder Tearing the U.S. and Japan Apart

Content Warnings for this Episode:
General warning for Murder, Violence, Death, Impalement, Shooting/Guns, Blood, and Gore.
00:11:00 to 00:17:00 - Discussion of Military occupation and related real life murders
00:11:00 - Discussion of a 20-something man dating a 14-15yo servant of his family
00:40:25 to 00:51:00 - Discussion of Child Abuse
01:25:00 - Disembowelment
02:43:45 - Cannibalism, forced Cannibalism, Vomiting, and Body Horror