The Fable – Season 1 Episode 21 Recap & Review

The ABCs of Villainy

Episode 21 of The Fable begins with Yoko pointing Suzuki’s hand-gun at Suzuki. Yoko tells Suzuki he doesn’t stand a chance against her. Suzuki teases Yoko and believes she never killed someone before. He argues why his opinion of Yoko is correct. Yoko tells Suzuki she’ll opt for a different method to take Suzuki down. 

Yoko says she’ll defeat Suzuki within six seconds. She and Suzuki fight within that timeframe. Yoko defeats Suzuki. Fable enters Yoko’s home and Suzuki tells Fable that Yoko is a strong combatant. Yoko informs Fable about what happened and Fable interrogates Suzuki about his actions. 

Suzuki connects Fable with Hinako’s accident from four years ago and realizes he’s the real Fable. Fable tells Suzuki he will eliminate him for talking about his identity. He tells Suzuki that he wants him to release Kainuma. Suzuki finds it strange that Fable wants Kainuma back after what he tried to do to Misaki. 

Fable argues Misaki will be fine since he’s protecting her. He tells Suzuki he should send Kainuma to the hospital. Fable argues it wouldn’t mess with his plans. Suzuki argues he can’t do that. Meanwhile, Isaki searches for Kainuma. He calls Suzuki. The call is on speaker. Suzuki wants Isaki to bring Kainuma to him. 

Isaki tells Suzuki that Kainuma got away, fell off a cliff, and died. Suzuki tells Isaki to bury Kainuma’s body. Isaki shares his concerns with that plan. Fable ends the call, gets up, and walks toward Suzuki. He tells Suzuki he didn’t want anyone to die. Fable frees Suzuki and tells him to get going. 

Suzuki exits the home and renters it seconds later. He wonders why Fable let him go. Fable and Yoko respond to Suzuki’s questions and Suzuki leaves. Fable wonders what’s wrong with Suzuki. Yoko tells Fable they stomped on his pride with their responses. Fable and Yoko discuss Kainuma. Yoko argues that Kainuma deserved his fate. 

Fable understands but he didn’t want anyone in his life to die. He isn’t sad but he is disappointed. Then, Fable returns home. Fable pulls out a note Prez gave him. The note contains Hinako’s phone number. Fable calls Hinako. Hinako tries talking to Fable on an intimate level but Fable’s distracted by the Jackal TV show he’s watching. 

Meanwhile, Rei eavesdrops on Hinako’s conversation via a device. Rei wonders why Fable is still alive. Suzuki returns and Rei confronts Suzuki about the bruise on his lip. Suzuki ignores that and tells Rei Kainuma died. Rei isn’t interested in Kainuma and demands Suzuki explain what happened to his lip. 

Suzuki tells Rei who Fable is and tells Rei that Yoko hurt him. He tells Rei that Yoko and Fable are partners, not siblings. Rei’s excited and plans to make Fable their enemy, much to Suzuki’s shock. Rei refuses to elaborate and Suzuki points his firearm at him. Suzuki wants Rei to explain why Rei wants to make Fable their enemy. 

Rei understands but wants Suzuki to state his reasons first. Suzuki lists his reasons and says if Rei refuses to elaborate, he’ll end Rei’s life. Suzuki knows he’s no match for Fable alone, so he’ll find himself a partner. After hearing Suzuki share his piece, Rei confirms why he views Fable as his enemy. 

Rei says Fable slit his younger brother’s (Kawahira) throat during his mission four years ago. He confirms he kept Hina by his side because she’s the only one he knows that has a connection with Fable. After hearing Rei out, Suzuki says he’ll continue working with Rei. However, Suzuki says he doesn’t trust Rei. 

Suzuki and Rei develop their Fable murder scheme. They don’t want to get Isaki involved and plan to perform the murder as a duo. The two pitch a few ideas but don’t land on a concrete strategy. Rei suggests Suzuki rest for the night. Later, Prez picks Misaki up from her home. The two discuss Kainuma and Fable. 

Then, we see Fable waiting for Hinako at the park. Fable departs from the park and Rei notices Fable. Rei enters Suzuki’s room and informs him about Fable’s activities. Rei shows Suzuki a bag filled with grenades and hand-guns. The two discuss three plans. Suzuki insists they capture Misaki since she has close ties to Fable and Yoko. 

Suzuki argues Fable may lower his guard if Misaki’s life is on the line. Rei insists they use Hinako instead. The episode ends with Rei telling Suzuki he wants to rid himself of Hinako.

The Episode Review

Well, leave it to Rei to make Hinako’s life more insufferable. Much like Misaki, Hinako doesn’t deserve the poor hand she’s been dealt with. It’s depressing considering Hinako was starting to find peace with Fable at her side. Hopefully, Hinako will uncover the truth about Rei’s plans before Rei and Suzuki get to her. 

At the same time, it’ll be weird if Suzuki doesn’t hold any objections to Rei’s Hinako scheme. Suzuki and Hinako seemed like a buddy-buddy pair. It’d make Suzuki’s first confrontation with Fable at the park obsolete if he chose to side with Rei’s plans here. We’re optimistic Suzuki will confront Rei about abandoning that Hinako scheme. 

Yoko is another character worth discussing here. She displayed excellent hitwoman skills in this chapter. Again, it’d been a blast seeing Yoko perform similar feats in past episodes. While it’d lower the “wow factor” behind Yoko’s six-second fight with Suzuki, it’d make matters feel more genuine and less contrived. Nonetheless, we’re optimistic this won’t be the last we see of Yoko’s hitwoman skills.

Overall, The Fable continues to offer a fun experience. There were some lows this season, but this arc’s shaping up to be an unforgettable one!