The Crime of Justice: Why Moriarty the Patriot Makes You Rethink Morality (SPOILERS)
“A criminal is merely a product of his environment. Change the environment, and you eliminate the crime.”
— William James Moriarty
Ever found yourself rooting for the villain? (a big fat YES for me) Not the petty kind, but the masterfully calculated, disturbingly logical type who makes you question the very definition of good and evil? The anime Moriarty the Patriot doesn’t just ask you to understand its antihero—it dares you to agree with him.
In this world, Victorian England isn’t the charming backdrop we know from Sherlock Holmes stories. It’s a dark, hierarchical society where the nobility steps on the poor and the law serves only those born into the right bloodline. And in the middle of that injustice, one man rises—not to save the system, but to burn it down (not me listening to 'Let the world burn' by Chris Grey while writing this 😏)
William James Moriarty (or Lord of Crime) isn’t your average criminal mastermind. He’s not interested in riches, revenge, or chaos. What he wants is something far more radical: a complete societal overhaul, and he’s willing to commit the perfect crimes to expose the system’s flaws. To him, crime is not disorder—it’s a tool of justice. Watching him plan and execute intricate schemes, you almost forget you're watching someone commit murder… because somehow, it feels right. (plus he looks hot while doing it hehe)
That’s the genius of this anime. It doesn’t feed you a hero to cheer for. Instead, it gives you a man who commits atrocities for a cause you might just support. A vigilante born not out of trauma, but out of choice. Moriarty is both the surgeon and the disease, carefully dissecting the body of corrupt society to cure it.
“Catch me if you can, mister Holmes.”
— William James Moriarty
But, of course, no Moriarty is complete without a Holmes. Sherlock in this version isn’t the cold genius we’re used to—he’s deeply human, challenged emotionally and intellectually by William’s ideals. Their rivalry becomes less about catching the criminal and more about confronting the gray areas of morality. Who’s truly right: the man who upholds a broken system, or the one who destroys it to build a new one?
Their cat-and-mouse game feels like a philosophical debate dressed as a thriller. Each episode pulls you into a moral dilemma, and instead of easy answers, it leaves you with more questions.
It’s easy to see the parallels to today’s world—wealth inequality, systemic corruption, the frustration of those silenced by institutions that are supposed to protect them. Moriarty’s ideology might be extreme, but the problems he points out are real. That’s what makes his story so compelling. It’s not just a fantasy—it’s a dark reflection.
You might not agree with Moriarty’s methods, but you’ll definitely understand his motives. And sometimes, understanding is even more dangerous than agreeing.
Click here to watch the most perfect opening you've ever seen for this anime (warning: a bit of blood and guns)
