Uzumaki Episode 1 Review: Kirie Uncovers the Spiral Curse Impacting Shuichi’s Father and Azami

The first episode of Uzumaki was launched online on September 29, 2024. This episode partially adapted the initial three chapters of the series, although it omitted some critical details. It explored the eerie narrative of Kirei and Shuichi as Kirei became increasingly aware of the disturbing occurrences unfolding in her home village, Kurouzu.

In this episode, viewers were introduced to the protagonists’ parents, revealing how Shuichi’s family fell victim to the devastating spiral curse. Shuichi’s father resorted to suicide in a bid to achieve the spiral, while his mother spiraled into mental instability. Additionally, Azami succumbed to the spiral’s influence at the episode’s conclusion as she desperately attempted to captivate Shuichi.

Disclaimer: This article may contain potential spoilers for Uzumaki episode 1.

Uzumaki Episode 1: The Spiral Curse Takes Over Kurouzu Village

Uzumaki Episode 1: Kirei and the Curse of Kurouzu Village

Kirei witnessing the glimpse of the spiral curse (Image via Drive and Akatsuki)

The series kicked off with Kirei heading to the train station to meet her boyfriend, Shuichi, who was returning from a high school trip. While strolling through the village, Shuichi inquired whether Kirei had encountered any bizarre occurrences, particularly those related to spirals.

Shuichi shared unsettling news about his father, Toshio Saitou, detailing how the spiral curse had completely engulfed him. Kirei struggled to believe Shuichi’s claims, prompting him to assert that she would understand once she observed the situation for herself. The narrative then transitioned to Kirei’s school, where Azami questioned her about Shuichi while displaying a crescent scar on her forehead.

Upon returning home, Kirei’s father requested her to deliver a sculptural piece to Shuichi’s house, as requested by his father. However, when Kirei arrived, Toshio rebuffed the gift, claiming he could create spirals himself. He then twisted his tongue into a spiral shape, which frightened Kirei, causing her to flee.

Uzumaki Episode 1: Toshio Saitou and the Spiral Curse

Toshio Saitou after achieving the spiral (Image via Drive and Akatsuki)

After Kirei’s hasty exit from Shuichi’s house, Toshio received a custom package from a cooper, ordered by Shuichi’s father. The next day, the tragic news of Toshio Saitou’s death was revealed, with family members attributing it to a fall down the stairs.

However, when Kirei inquired about it, Shuichi disclosed the shocking truth: Toshio had died while attempting to transform into a spiral by fracturing his bones and encasing himself in a wooden tub. After his cremation, ominous black clouds spiraled into the sky, forming Toshio’s face, which left Shuichi’s mother in a state of trauma.

Shuichi's mother traumatized after her husband's death (Image via Drive and Akatsuki) — Shuichi’s mother traumatized after her husband’s death (Image via Drive and Akatsuki)

Following this tragedy, Shuichi’s mother was hospitalized, with everything resembling a spiral deliberately kept from her due to her belief that her husband was calling her from the spiral realm.

This included concealing hands (due to fingerprint patterns) and hair (because of tied hair formations) from her view. Nevertheless, Shuichi revealed to Kirei that at night, his mother was cutting off her own fingerprints with scissors, indicating her deteriorating mental state and potential for future harm.

Uzumaki Episode 1: Azami Kurotani and the Spiral Curse

Azami Kurotani as seen in the anime (Image via Drive and Akatsuki)

Earlier in Uzumaki episode 1, Kirei, along with her friend Azami, went to pick up Shuichi from the train station. Upon seeing Azami, Shuichi felt uneasy and fled, stating that she embodied the spiral itself. Later in the episode, Azami revealed that her crescent scar had transformed into a spiral.

Azami, after rejecting the advances of a follower, instructed him to summon Kirei to a park in the future. Following Shuichi’s father’s death, Azami’s forehead scar worsened, taking over much of her face.

Azami Kurotani's spiral consuming a boy alive (Image via Drive and Akatsuki) — Azami Kurotani’s spiral consuming a boy alive (Image via Drive and Akatsuki)

The following day, as Kirei headed to the park, she encountered Azami, whose scar had completely overtaken her face. Azami entered the park, where a follower demanded recompense for calling Kirei. In response, Azami denied needing anyone and dismissed them. However, when the follower struck her, it revealed that her forehead scar had consumed her face entirely. The scar then sucked in the boy, also pulling Kirei into its grasp, leaving only her impression on the ground. This left Kirei shocked, realizing this was merely the beginning of the horrors to come.

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