The brilliance of Episode 717 lies not in its solution (held for Part 2), but in its construction of the impossible. 1. The Return of Classical Gothic Horror Detective Conan has dabbled in horror aesthetics before (the Mountain Villa Bandaged Man case is a classic), but Episode 717 leans into kwaidan –style folklore. The imagery of a demon firing a fire arrow through the night sky, and the victim being discovered alone in a room that was a “sealed capsule,” creates a palpable sense of dread. The sound design—the crackle of flames, the twang of a phantom bowstring—is top-tier.
Locked-room mysteries are the soul of golden-age detective fiction. Here, the challenge is twofold: How was the room sealed from the inside? And how did a flaming arrow strike a man with surgical precision without setting the entire room ablaze? Conan’s inner monologue as he inspects the ceiling, the floorboards, and the victim’s clothing is a masterclass in noticing the one weird detail —a small, melted piece of metal that doesn’t belong. Detective Conan Episode 717
Why not a perfect score? The episode leans heavily on a cliffhanger that feels slightly abrupt. And seasoned viewers will likely guess the “trick” behind the fire arrow’s delivery system before the reveal (hint: think about timing and metal fatigue ). But the journey is still immensely satisfying. The brilliance of Episode 717 lies not in
Episode 717, "The Demon of Hades' Fire Arrow (Part 1)" (also known as The Demon of Hades' Fire Arrow ), is exactly that. Directed by the talented Yasuichiro Yamamoto and penned by the series’ veteran scriptwriter Junichi Miyashita, this episode kicks off a two-part filler arc that feels anything but disposable. The story begins when Conan, Ran, and Kogoro visit the Kurata family estate—a traditional Japanese mansion built around a legend. A local folktale speaks of a “Demon of Hades” who unleashes flaming arrows from the sky to punish the wicked. Within hours, this myth becomes terrifyingly real. The imagery of a demon firing a fire
Have you seen Episode 717? What was your theory about the locked-room trick before the solution was revealed?