Diabolik Lovers dives headfirst into the dark side of vampire fantasy. This anime series chronicles the experiences of human girl Yui as she finds herself at the mercy of six sadistic vampire brothers within a secluded gothic mansion. Judging by the events of the first episode, Yui is in for a dangerous and deeply unsettling stay.
Summary of Episode 1: Yui‘s Arrival and "Welcoming"
Yui Komori is a 16-year old orphan who transfers to a new school and must reside with a mysterious family as directed by her estranged father prior to his death. She arrives by carriage at an imposing Western-style mansion in the dead of night, surrounded by a sprawling, lifeless garden.
The foreboding Diabolik Lovers mansion where Yui faces a terrifying first night.
After disembarking, Yui has a chilling encounter with the apparent lord of the manor—Shu Sakamaki. Shu callously greets Yui while lounging lazily on a red Victorian fainting couch and proceeds to insult, threaten and ultimately lick the terrified girl without her consent.
Rescued by the Sakamaki family butler from Shu‘s violation of personal space, Yui is properly welcomed to the mansion by five additional brothers :
- Reiji – The disciplinarian who establishes rules and Administers punishments
- Laito – A flirtatious playboy who enjoys invading Yui‘s Space
- Kanato – A creepy boy who carries around a disturbing Teddy bear he talks to
- Ayato – Arrogant, Possessive and quickly declares Yui as his property
- Subaru – Angry, violent and seems to despise Yui From first sight
Over the course of her first night, Yui quickly realizes her hosts are actually vampires with stunningly little regard for human life or dignity. Each brother makes some advance or inappropriate come-on, cementing the predatory nature of the relationships at play.
Kanato goes so far as threatening to murder Yui as punishment for an innocuous comment about his beloved teddy bear. Meanwhile, Sadistic Ayato bites Yui violently on the neck to claim her as food, stealing her first kiss against her will.
Reiji decrees that Yui has been brought here to be the brothers‘ literal prey and source of entertainment and blood. However, she is not to be killed, hinting at far worse things potentially in store for the overmatched schoolgirl captive. By episode‘s end, Yui fully understands she faces a precarious existence at the mercy of powerful immortal monsters.
Predatory vampire Ayato claims Yui as his personal food source and stolen kiss.
Controversial Themes Abound
For a mainstream anime series, Diabolik Lovers wades into uncomfortable territory right away. Sensitive viewers should be advised—essentially every taboo is explored through the relationships presented in just this first episode alone.
Sexual Violence and Complete Disregard For Consent – Several of the brothers, especially lecherous Laito, view Yui as a sexual plaything free for the taking without any need for permission. Shu forces himself upon her by licking her cheek. Ayato later declares her his property through assault, bites her violently on the neck and steals her first kiss against her will.
Extreme Power Dynamics – As a human captive devoid of allies or hope of escape, Yui has no power or agency in the shadowy mansion. She is totally at the cruel mercy and twisted whims of six immortal vampire overlords who can drain her to death or torment her without consequence on a whim. Even when she tries to demonstrate independence or flee, Yui is quickly overpowered and reminded of her "place" as a toy by her domineering captors.
Casual Dehumanization and Disregard For Human Life – Having lived for centuries drinking blood and regarding humans as food, the Sakamaki brothers barely acknowledge Yui as anything beyond a source of amusement, entertainment or sustenance. Reiji outright states that livestock get better treatment than what is in store for Yui under their unrestricted control. Like sociopaths devoid of empathy, they struggle to regard their vulnerable hostage as anything beyond prey. Murder and assault is treated casually. For immortal demons who survive by preying upon humans for blood, keeping individual donors alive seems optional and wholly disposable.
Constant Inappropriate Behaviors as Psychological Torture – Nearly all interactions from the brothers towards Yui are deeply inappropriate and unsettling, violating ethical standards or basic decency. Whether harassment, invasion of privacy and consent or outright assault, each vampire takes liberties with physical and verbal actions that leave Yui—a vulnerable minor—feeling unsafe, disrespected and terrified. A vulnerable high school girl has found herself at the mercy of dangerous otherworldly captors without hope of external intervention. They seem interested only in emotionally tormenting her for amusement.
Make no mistake, Diabolik Lovers is controversial media which is deeply problematic for some audiences given this brazen presentation of taboo themes around desire, violent power dynamics and human exploitation for entertainment. The fact that abusive behaviors are framed as romantic or titillating will understandably draw criticism from many angles. However, there‘s also no denying that forbidden relationships hold an allure—even the extremely twisted non-consensual variety presented here.
Vampire Lore Turned On its Head
Beyond objectionable themes, Diabolik Lovers also represents an inversion of standard vampire tropes and weaknesses which further stacks the deck against hapless heroine Yui. In episode 1, the arrogant Ayato directly mocks the notion that creatures like him need fear "foolish things" like crosses, holy water or garlic. There‘s no shrinking away from sunlight either.
Ayato mocks a would-be human vampire hunter, indicating his kind no longer fears traditional limitations and defenses.
Clearly, the Sakamaki clan has spent enough time interacting with humans to realize their supernatural advantages render them immune to familiar vampire defenses described in folklore and media. Without these familiar weaknesses for Yui to exploit as leverage, her position becomes exponentially more tenuous.
Additionally, the brothers have successfully integrated into human institutions like school despite being centuries-old parahuman demons themselves. Their presence suggests vampires in this fictional world already occupy powerful footholds of influence across society. Humans are an endangered herd species ripe for exploitation.
Exploring The Appeal of Sinister Suitors and Predators
Now, you may justifiably wonder…who is the intended audience meant to entertain fantasies of imaginining themselves in poor Yui‘s place? What kind of viewer sees themselves vicariously in a prey animal surrounded by cruel and controlling vampire captors as a titillating scenario?
Diabolik Lovers appeals most directly to viewers enamored with forbidden erotic themes of desire, power imbalance, submission and danger when it comes to romance. The vampire anti-heroes represent the ultimate aloof, mysterious and alluring partners that prize and covet human lovers above all else…while exposing them to mortal peril in the process.
This series inverts the typical dynamic seen in vampire fiction of a brooding, noble immortal yearning for an elusive ideal mortal woman companion. Here, volatile predators have instead claimed ownership over an innocent dove—Yui—to suit their own selfish appetites and mercurial whims through overtly forceful and non-consensual means of subjugation.
So when Ayato proclaims Yui is "my prey…and mine alone," before stealing her first kiss through a violent bite to the neck, viewers gain clear insight into the specific style of forbidden fantasy romantic dynamics and relationships that await across future episodes.
To its target demographic, there is significant psychological appeal in handsome, domineering suitors expressing intense desire and covetous interest exclusively in a single girl—even if these troubled characters cross ethical lines to act upon those impulses against her will for their own gratification.
Even listless Shu violates social boundaries by forcefully licking captive visitor Yui upon first meeting.
Conclusion: Highly Problematic Premise, But Compelling Character Dynamics
Make no mistake about it: everything about the premise presented in Diabolik Lovers should be considered highly problematic and controversial due to brazen themes celebrating manipulated intimacy against consent as titillation. Depictions of abusive behaviors framed as steamy romance are subjectively unconscionable.
However…also undeniably intriguing to its target audience is the potential character dynamics teased across these first 24 harrowing minutes. What fate lies in store for virtuous human lamb Yui now surrounded by beasts in disguise—her six new vampire masters/tormentors/love interests?
Yui Komori embarks upon a psychologically precarious journey of manipulation, blood loss and existential danger at the hands of six magnetic immortal sadists resenting the emotional shackles of their own predatory existences. As episodic installments continue, this leaves viewers to ponder so many lurid questions:
- Will any of the brothers develop genuine care or protective feelings for Yui over time, or is she doomed to remain objectified prey?
- What backstories led these vampires towards such cruelty and moral bankruptcy when it comes to human lives?
- Does Yui stand any chance of escapes…or is submission as a blood slave and vessel for emotional torment her only means for survival?
This tantalizing tension—along with stunning gothic animation visuals bringing an foreboding mansion filled with beautiful monster boys to life—is certain to keep the most masochistic viewers coming back for more…even if seeing the next phase of Yui‘s involuntary descent into vampiric hell raises uncomfortable questions about their own ethics and entertainment preferences best left unexamined too closely.