Episode 17

* Episode
* Title Card
* End Card

## Episode Guide

**"Potential Suspects"** (犯 (はん) 人 (にん) 候 (こう) 補 (ほ) , *Han'nin Kōho*?) is the seventeenth episode of the *Shadows House* anime series and the fourth episode of the second season. It aired on July 30, 2022.

## Summary

Oliver confirms that the phantom came from the soot pipes, as the door to the soot-crushing station was left open. Gil and Eve of the First-Aid Team report on the casualties, and the Star Bearers decide to focus on Kate while pinning the blame on the Belle twins. They also choose to keep the incident a secret from Edward to protect their positions.

Barbara announces to the gathered children that Mirabelle and Isabelle are to clean the soot pipes as punishment, which may end in one or both of their dolls breaking from suffering soot sickness multiple times, due to the pipes being full of scorches. The children are forbidden from discussing the incident and they're all dismissed, except for Kate. She is interrogated, much to her anger, as she refutes the claims pointing toward her guilt, and declares that she would be sure to solve the case if she were a member of the Star Bearers. Barbara chooses to ignore that Kate has insulted the Star Bearers, and allows Kate to investigate the incident and find the true culprit, a test which will now be required in order for her to prove her innocence and gain recognition from Barbara.

Kate heads to the washing room with Emilico to check on Mia and finds Rosemary tied to a bed with water forced down her throat to treat her soot sickness, to the horror of Emilico. Kate comforts her doll, and the two decide to fill in Mia's map by exploring the Children's Wing. Outside, they are joined by John and Shaun and reach the manor's third-floor balcony. Emilico spots an old cabin and the group goes to check it out. John's attempts to force the door open end with the front of the cabin falling, revealing the Research Team behind it, to Oliver and Kate's shock.

## Plot

The Star Bearers check the soot pipes, and Oliver confirms the door to the soot crushing station was left open, allowing scorches to escape. Susanna scolds Susie for entrusting the coffee bottles to the Belle twins, then Barbara and Barbie for being absent for the incident. Gil and Eve from the First-Aid Team enter with a report of casualties, explaining that Rosemary's severe soot sickness is still being treated. Barbara decides not to report the incident to Edward as the Star Bearers won't be able to maintain their positions. The pairs decide to reconsider Edward's advice: "Be wary of Kate".

The children are gathered into a room where Barbara announces that Mirabelle and Isabelle are the culprits of the incident and are to be sent to clean the soot pipes as punishment. While it is embarrassing for the shadow, the doll risks breaking from suffering soot sickness multiple times, due to the pipes being full of scorches. The children are forbidden from speaking of the incident and dismissed, except for Kate. The Star Bearers interrogate Kate, which angers her, calling them naïve, declaring she would be able to solve the case if she were them. Barbara chooses to ignore the fact Kate insulted the Star Bearers, saying that while Kate won't be granted special permissions, she is allowed to investigate the incident and find the true culprit, which will earn her recognition from Barbara. After Kate leaves, the Star Bearers note the soot stalactites Kate left on the ceiling, a mark that she has high soot quantity, making it harder for her to be disposed of.

Left alone in her room, Kate thinks of possible suspects before asking Emilico for her notebook. The two head to the washing room, where living dolls are treated, to check on Mia for a lead. Evelyn and Eve allow Kate to check on the treated dolls. Emilico finds Mia, who has largely recovered, before heading to the next room after hearing Rosemary. They watch as Rosemary, tied to a bed, has water forced down her throat. Evelyn explains that Rosemary still isn't in a condition to speak. Kate comforts Emilico after leaving and notes that Mia hasn't changed despite the absence of coffee for the week. The two decide to make a floor plan of the Children's Wing, and meet John and Shaun outside, who slides down a pipe from their window. Shaun tells Kate of the robed figure he saw, and the group goes on to explore. Climbing up to the third-floor balcony of the manor, the group takes in the view, and Emilico notices an old cabin. Going down to check it out, John attempts to force the rusted door to open but causes the entire front of the cabin to fall, missing Emilico, Kate, and Shaun having lined up to the window frame, except for John. The group is met with the Research Team, shocking both Kate and Oliver, who has Olly rush over to Emilico.

## Characters

1. Barbara
2. Barbie (No Lines)
3. Benjamin
4. Ben (No Lines)
5. Susanna
6. Susie (No Lines)
7. Oliver
8. Olly (No Lines)
9. Gil
10. Eve
11. Edward
12. Kate
13. Emilico
14. Douglas
15. Doug (No Lines)
16. James
17. Jim (No Lines)
18. Lyndsay (Cameo)
19. Lyndsay's Doll (Cameo)
20. Gilbert
21. Isabelle
22. Mirabelle
23. Belle Twins
24. Evelyn
25. George
26. George's Face (No Lines)
27. Nicholas
28. Nicholas' Face (No Lines)
29. Robert
30. Robert's Face (No Lines)
31. John
32. Shaun
33. Mia
34. Maryrose (No Lines)
35. Anna (No Lines)
36. Nancy (No Lines)
37. Lydia (No Lines)
38. Liddy (No Lines)
39. Jeremiah (No Lines)
40. Jeremy (No Lines)

## Trivia

* The scene where Emilico is held by Shaun on the manor balcony is a reference to a scene from James Cameron's *Titanic*, where the main characters do a similar pose.
* When the wall of the Research Team's cabin falls down and misses Kate, Emilico, and Shaun, it is a reference to Buster Keaton's most famous stunt in a similar situation from the silent film *Steamboat Bill Jr*.