Black Butler is as famous as it is for a reason. A preteen who promised his soul to a demon and spends most of his time solving crimes with the said demon. Who wouldn’t want to watch that?! It should come as no surprise that the series is filled with jaw-dropping revelations and even more heart-stopping cliffhangers! In this article, we’ll look at the top ten cliffhangers that kept viewers desperate for answers throughout the series, so keep reading to discover what they are!
About Black Butler
Black Butler is an anime series that premiered in 2008 after the release of its first Manga volume in 2007. It currently has 3 seasons, 43 episodes, and an animated film titled Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic. A fourth season is set to premiere in 2024.
The supernatural mystery series is set in Victorian-era London and follows a twelve-year-old heir, Ciel Phantomhive. After his parents were murdered in a mansion fire, he was abducted and—alone, tortured, and desperate—made a deal with the demon, Sebastian, who acts as his butler and loyal servant until the time comes for Ciel to die and gift Sebastian with his soul.
Together, the two attempt to figure out who caused the death of Ciel’s parents in order to exact revenge, plus explore conspiracies, solve mysteries, and deliver justice to criminals around London all the while.
In an action-packed series like this, cliffhangers are unavoidable! Are you a longtime fan reminiscing on the show or a new viewer trying to prepare yourself for the upcoming excitement? Keep reading to discover the top 10 cliffhangers that kept us hooked throughout Black Butler!
Warning: This Article Contains Spoilers!
10. Tomorrow
In season 3, Episode 6, His Butler, Liaison, the stakes are high as Ciel, and Sebastian leave the circus and the members of the circus realize it. Doll leaves to warn Joker while the others prepare for a vital mission. Meanwhile, Sebastian and William are both eerily certain that they will take care of their issue and that “All will be over tomorrow.” Well, tomorrow—or I should say, the next episode—couldn’t come fast enough!
9. Claude’s Invitation
In season 2, episode 4, ‘Terrorist Butler,’ Ciel and Sebastian spend their time trapped on a train as they endure a hostage situation along with a bunch of other passengers, but the biggest shock comes at the very end of the episode. Claude—who’d been in the dining car the whole time—presents Sebastian with an invitation to a costume ball at the Trancy estate and claims that Ciel will be able to exact his revenge there. This moment had me rushing to play the next episode as I waited to see if the moment Ciel would be able to get his revenge on his parents’ murderer would truly come!
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8. Angela Returns
Angela Blanc is first introduced in season 1, episode 7, ‘His Butler, Forlorn,’ as a kind maid with a friendly face who quite literally looks like an angel and who is also the victim of heinous abuse. This makes her appearance at the end of Episode 12, ‘His Butler, Forlorn,’ all the more shocking! A woman who was once seen as harmless was suddenly picking up a troublesome puppet and repeating the words that had been haunting our beloved main characters throughout the entirety of the episode. “Snuff out the unnecessary. Snuff out the unwanted. Snuff out the unclean.” It was easily one of the most shocking moments in the series thus far.
7. Grell and Sebastian’s First Battle
In season 1, Episode 5, ‘His Butler, Chance Encounter,’ Ciel and Sebastian are on the hunt for a serial killer, Jack The Ripper. They soon discover that the killer is Ciel’s beloved aunt, Madame Red, and her assistant—who turns out to be a grim reaper—Grell Sutcliff. The episode ends with Ciel ordering Sebastian to kill Grell and the butler and grim reaper prepare for what is sure to be a vigorous battle. But between a demonic butler and a reaper whose incredible powers we’ve barely scratched the surface of, it’s hard to tell who’ll come out on top!
6. Disobeying The Queen
In the chaotic second to last episode of the third season, Episode 9, ‘His Butler, Serene,’ the doctor from the circus reveals that the prosthetic limbs he develops are manufactured using the bones of the kidnapped children that Joker and the other circus members seized for him. When he kills yet another child, this time in front of Ciel, a highly emotional Ciel orders Sebastian to burn down the entire mansion, killing the captives as well—which directly goes against the Queen’s orders. There’s no doubt that the loyal butler will follow his master’s commands, but at what cost?
5. Claude Steals Ciel’s Soul
Season 2, Episode 6, ‘Bedewed Butler’ is one of the most intense episodes of the season, if not the whole series! It is revealed that Claude has somehow snatched Ciel’s soul before Sebastian, which raises the question of what that means for Ciel and Sebastian’s deal.
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4. Ciel Is Not The Same
[Still Season 2, Episode 6] As it turns out, Ciel’s soul alone wasn’t enough for Claude—Claude needed his body as well, but Sebastian managed to retrieve Ciel’s soul and steal his body before Claude could get to it. However, Sebastian realizes that something isn’t right and that Ciel still isn’t who he used to be, leaving viewers to wonder what’s changed about the young Phantomhive we’ve all grown to love and if his deal with Sebastian is still threatened by Claude’s attempt to steal his soul even if it was unsuccessful!
3. The Vow
[Still Season 2, Episode 6] The iconic episode leaves us with even more questions as it ends with both Ciel and Alois vowing to get revenge on one another. Claude and Sebastian make a deal with one another, deciding to make Alois the new target of Ciel’s revenge, while Alois’ previous disdain for Ciel reaches an all-time high. With tensions already through the roof between the two butlers and their respective masters, you have to wonder how much more fierce their battle is about to get!
2. Hannah’s Contract
In another one of season 2’s extraordinary episodes, Episode 11, ‘Crossroads Butler,’ Sebastian and Claude continue their battle for Ciel’s soul and try to make their way out of a labyrinth to get to him. Meanwhile, Ciel’s body has been taken over by a now-dead Alois’s soul, and through Ciel’s body, Alois forms a contract with Hannah—a woman who is very attached to him. The butlers race to get to Ciel’s body before the agreement can be made, but they’re too late. The episode ends with Hannah telling the butlers that she has contracted with Alois as well as Ciel—leaving us to wonder if Ciel’s soul is truly out of the ravenous butlers’ hands for good now.
1. The Room
In season 3, Episode 7, ‘His Butler, Careful Tending,’ one of the most surprising moments of the entire series comes! Ciel and Sebastian arrive at the Kelvin estate prepared to confront the baron, who has Joker put on a brutal performance for their guests before showing them to the cellar. Ciel is left stupefied and devastated when he discovers that the cellar looks identical to the room where he was tortured after the death of his parents—and where he’d first met Sebastian years before.
Final Thoughts
The Black Butler anime is a fantastic choice for those who love dark fantasy or dark comedy with supernatural elements! It’s also great for those who like to see a wide range of story arcs with different characters in different settings—and it’s certainly perfect for anyone who likes morally grey or plain devilish characters! If you haven’t already seen it, don’t worry; There are plenty more cliffhangers, twists, and turns to leave you clinging to the edge of your seat.
Already watched it? Which of these cliffhangers was your favorite? Let us know in the comment section! As always, thanks for reading. Stay Gritty, Gamers!
