Tokyo Ghoul (TV Mini Series) Supper (2014) User Reviews

Vampire roots further revealed

[Groverdox · 8/10 · 28 October 2023]

Remember how I said "Tokyo Ghoul" is basically a vampire show, but the vampires are called ghouls and instead of drinking blood, they eat flesh?

The creators of the manga are obviously keen students of vampire literature, as this fourth episode clearly bears out.

For one thing, vampirism has often been an obviously metaphor for homosexuality, going back to the first ever English-language vampire story, Polidori's "The Vampire". Vampires are typically young, fashionable and rich men whose stalking of flesh blood typically feels like a courtship dance.

Episode four of "Tokyo Ghoul" picks up where this leaves off with the introduction of a ghoul named Tsukiyama. A young, dapper, handsome and charming man who takes an immediate carnal (or visceral?) interest in Kaneki, and starts manipulating and planning ways to make Kaneki his.

But does he want to eat him/drink his blood, or have sex with him?

As with most vampire literature, it is deliberately ambiguous. It could really be either. Or, you know, both, because the vampire's embrace could also be said to be sexual.

Not sure if the same can be said for the ghoul's, though, so maybe that's where the vampire comparison ends.

Get this, though: episode four ends with scenes I thought were quite reminiscent of "Interview With a Vampire" and the ghastly, distressing scene where the young woman is stripped and murdered.

It's not quite that distressing, but it's a similar thing: an innocent young person tricked into having their expected demise used as entertainment for a bunch of society types.

I thought this episode was kind of slow until that last scene. I guess they lulled you into a false sense of security? And, as has been the case so far, the episode I just watched made me want to watch the next one ASAP.

As our knowledge of the ghoul community expands, so does the number of threats Kaneki may face.

[Amari-Sali · 9/10 · 3 August 2014]

With every ghoul introduced you are forced to wonder if they are friend or foe for, as we learned with Rize, the friendliest of ghouls can have the vilest intentions. But questions about who is on which side isn't the only thing "Supper" holds as an episode. There is also a continued exploration into ghoul culture, as well as Rize's past. Making for an episode which is a bit more twisted than the ones we have seen thus far, but because of that it makes the series a bit more interesting.

Topic 1: You have to Diversify – Toka & Kaneki

As mentioned an episode or so ago, Toka is in school and we even learn she has human friends! A slight surprise since Toka, thus far, seemingly just worked, studied, and acted as a 20th ward watchdog. But while we see a different side to her, Kaneki is shown a different side to Yomo. The side that matters for this topic though is Yomo as a trainer who, since Kaneki has no control over his kagune, tries to toughen Kaneki up for with doves around, and there also being the issue of other ghouls, he can't rely on waiting for Rize's survival instincts.

But being that Kaneki is like the majority of anime protagonist, thrust into a world they have no comprehension of, he only seem able to dodge to a strangely high degree. So, Yomo tells him that after work, for now on, he is to come to the basement and train. Possibly foreshadowing not just what we see later in this episode, but also perhaps him taking a more prominent role in the 20th ward. Be it helping Toka police the ward, fighting the doves or other ghouls, if not maybe him ultimately becoming leader of the ward if Yoshimara ever decides to retire.

Topic 2: The Community Expands - Kaneki

As noted in topic 1, Yomo training Kaneki is but just one side revealed of him. The other side deals with us being introduced to a new ghoul, Itori, who owns a bar which assumingly caters to humans like Yoshimara's Anteiku café. Though for this night it seems to just be a get together to meet this new half ghoul. Something Itori seems quite interested in, if just because how rare half-ghouls are. You see, as I pondered about last week, ghouls seem capable of producing other ghouls through birth, but it seems human and ghouls can't mix for a multitude of reasons not gone into that deeply. So finding a half-breed like Kaneki is rare for not just the novelty, but also because of how powerful they are supposed to be. Making Yomo's training even more important for imagine what could happen as other wards learn of Kaneki and perhaps fear his power, or want them for themselves. Something which becomes an issue for Kaneki upon trying to befriend Tsukiyama.

Topic 3: It Was All a Misunderstanding – Kaneki & Tsukiyama

Now, despite having a good friend in Hide, I can only assume Kaneki went along with Tsukiyama wanting to be friends because he seemed genuine. Though, from what I can tell, and Toka warns, Tsukuyama is anything but a genuine person. He is a gourmet ghoul, those of which only eat the best of human meat, and his interest in Kaneki is so uncomfortable to watch. Even to the point of wondering if Kaneki is naïve or stupid for Tsukiyama can barely contain himself when he is around Kaneki.

However, with Toka threatening Hide's life if he finds out he is a ghoul, and really no ghoul around who has similar interest as Kaneki, you can see why he wanted to give Tsukiyama a chance. Plus, Tsukiyama knew who Rize was and with Rize's organs, and a bit of her person, in Kaneki, you can understand why he would let Tsukiyama's troubling actions slide for he knows something Kaneki wants to.

But, once the cat is out of the bag you can see that all that was said between Yomo and Itori was foreshadowing, as well as what Toka said. For with Kaneki's smell which seems to enchant every last ghoul he comes across, he becomes too delectable for Tsukiyama, and other gourmet ghouls, to pass up. So they prep him to be slaughtered. Not realizing he was a half-breed whose powers were stronger than the brute of their executioner. Leaving us, in the end, seeing Tsukiyama try to save his relationship with Kaneki for with the discovery that Kaneki is a rare half-breed, oh! He decides he is worth too much for sharing.