Once Upon a Crime
Plot
In this lighthearted and whimsical comedy, the fairy tale world is turned on its head as Little Red Riding Hood becomes embroiled in a murder mystery at the royal ball. As Cinderella twirls across the dance floor, Little Red Riding Hood finds herself drawn to the charismatic Prince Henry, but their budding romance is interrupted by the discovery of a body - that of the prince's uncle, Lord Reginald. As the clock strikes nine, the evening's festivities are abruptly halted as the guests are left stunned and bewildered. With no clear motive or suspect in sight, the palace is thrown into chaos. Enter Little Red Riding Hood, whose sharp wit and keen instincts convince her to take on the case and solve the murder before midnight strikes. As she begins to investigate, Little Red Riding Hood finds herself navigating a web of intrigue and deception that threatens to destroy the royal family's reputation. With the help of her trusty companion, the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, who provides his own brand of dubious expertise, Little Red Riding Hood must use all her wits to unravel the tangled threads of evidence and identify the killer. But as she delves deeper into the mystery, Little Red Riding Hood finds herself torn between her duty to solve the crime and her growing feelings for Prince Henry. Can she keep her priorities straight and stay one step ahead of the culprit before time runs out? In this charming and clever caper, the fate of the royal family's reputation hangs precariously in the balance as Little Red Riding Hood takes on the case of a lifetime.
Reviews
Nevaeh
Okay, here's the English translation of your "Once Upon a Crime" ("Akazukin, Tabi no Tochu de Shitai to Deau") review, tailored to capture the original tone: More like "Little Red Riding Hood, Consulting Detective: The Royal Barber Shop Murder Case" (just kidding!). This is a bizarre European fairytale mashup, a thoroughly dark and subversive adaptation of the original Cinderella story. The costumes, makeup and overall attractiveness (of the actors) are the only remotely watchable elements. The mystery's reasoning relies entirely on smoke and mirrors, essentially information obfuscation, and the "aha!" moment is weakened as it’s telegraphed early when the pair decide to ditch the body to attend the ball. Kiritani Mirei as the occasional pretty-face sidekick can be eye-catching, but does Iwata Takanori *really* want to avoid some acting classes?
Brielle
The stepmother and sister both believe that "breasts" are the key to attracting men. Regardless of their motives, this characterization overly objectifies women and reeks of the male gaze, which is frankly laughable.
Eva
Neither a fairytale nor a mystery, just deeply disappointing. PS: East Asian girls in Western courtly attire really do look like Lolitas having a tea party 😂
Lydia
Gou-chan's portrayal of the prince carries a palpable sense of unspoken torment. For a moment, I genuinely thought he was about to drop a truth bomb at the ball, confessing, "Actually, I don't like women at all."
