TV-Series
Description
Bard, frequently called Bard by those at the Phantomhive manor, serves as the household’s official chef. An American in his mid-thirties, he was recruited by the butler Sebastian Michaelis during a military campaign in Egypt. Before joining the Phantomhive staff, Bard was a soldier, and the heavy psychological scars from his wartime experiences have profoundly shaped his unusual approach to daily life.
In his role as a chef, Bard is a spectacular failure, but his failure stems from a deeply unconventional philosophy. He operates under the belief that cooking is an art and that art is, by its very nature, an explosion. Consequently, he habitually discards traditional cooking methods in favor of using flamethrowers, dynamite, and other military-grade explosives to prepare meals. The results are predictably disastrous, with Sebastian estimating that eighty percent of what Bard produces is nothing but ash, and the remaining twenty percent qualifies as a hazardous substance. Despite his catastrophic track record, Bard approaches his duties with intense earnestness and a nervous energy, always striving to impress his master and the superhuman butler who constantly cleans up his messes.
Beyond his culinary disasters, Bard is a man of action and a fierce protector of the Phantomhive estate. He is a heavy smoker who is rarely seen without a cigarette, and he often wears aviator goggles around his neck as part of his distinctive attire. As the oldest member of the servant trio that includes Finnian the gardener and Mey-Rin the maid, he naturally assumes the role of their leader, especially when Ciel and Sebastian are away. He takes his duty to guard the manor with deadly seriousness, and his military background resurfaces during moments of crisis. When the manor is attacked, Bard sheds his guise of a bumbling cook and reveals his true nature as a seasoned soldier, wielding machine guns and heavy weaponry with lethal efficiency. His protective instincts extend fiercely to all members of the Phantomhive household, and he harbors a particular disdain for anyone who would threaten them.
Bard maintains a complex relationship with the demon butler, Sebastian. He is both envious of and inspired by Sebastian’s flawless competence, viewing him as a rival and a personal enemy in the kitchen. Yet he also respects him profoundly, understanding that Sebastian’s skills are far beyond human reach. His connection to the young earl, Ciel Phantomhive, is one of unwavering loyalty, though Bard, given his age and life experience, sometimes struggles to fully comprehend the stoic and driven child he serves.
The most significant development for Bard occurs when his hidden past is finally brought to light. Originally a peaceful farmer with a wife named Joanna and a young son, he lived a quiet life until a village attack resulted in the brutal deaths of his family. The trauma shattered his psyche, transforming him into a vengeful soldier who threw himself into war. He eventually came to realize that he was part of an invasion, trapped in a personal hell where he had to kill or be killed. In his lowest moment, driven to the brink of starvation and contemplating cannibalism, he was saved by Sebastian, who offered him sustenance and a new purpose. The contract was simple: Sebastian needed a murderer accustomed to killing, and Bard needed an escape from the battlefield. However, Bard had never properly learned to cook, and his belief that simply filling a stomach was enough led to constant friction. Only after being disciplined by Sebastian did he agree to take his training seriously. When his skills as a soldier were later needed to defend the manor from intruders, his brutal efficiency was recognized, securing his official position in the household.
Bard’s notable abilities are a stark dichotomy. In the kitchen, he possesses a singular talent for destruction, turning ingredients into charcoal and toxic waste with alarming speed. However, when the manor is threatened, he demonstrates his true strengths: expert marksmanship, proficiency with heavy artillery and explosives, and the cool-headed tactical thinking of a seasoned combat veteran. He is a man who found a home not by learning to create, but by learning to direct his talent for annihilation toward the protection of his new family.
In his role as a chef, Bard is a spectacular failure, but his failure stems from a deeply unconventional philosophy. He operates under the belief that cooking is an art and that art is, by its very nature, an explosion. Consequently, he habitually discards traditional cooking methods in favor of using flamethrowers, dynamite, and other military-grade explosives to prepare meals. The results are predictably disastrous, with Sebastian estimating that eighty percent of what Bard produces is nothing but ash, and the remaining twenty percent qualifies as a hazardous substance. Despite his catastrophic track record, Bard approaches his duties with intense earnestness and a nervous energy, always striving to impress his master and the superhuman butler who constantly cleans up his messes.
Beyond his culinary disasters, Bard is a man of action and a fierce protector of the Phantomhive estate. He is a heavy smoker who is rarely seen without a cigarette, and he often wears aviator goggles around his neck as part of his distinctive attire. As the oldest member of the servant trio that includes Finnian the gardener and Mey-Rin the maid, he naturally assumes the role of their leader, especially when Ciel and Sebastian are away. He takes his duty to guard the manor with deadly seriousness, and his military background resurfaces during moments of crisis. When the manor is attacked, Bard sheds his guise of a bumbling cook and reveals his true nature as a seasoned soldier, wielding machine guns and heavy weaponry with lethal efficiency. His protective instincts extend fiercely to all members of the Phantomhive household, and he harbors a particular disdain for anyone who would threaten them.
Bard maintains a complex relationship with the demon butler, Sebastian. He is both envious of and inspired by Sebastian’s flawless competence, viewing him as a rival and a personal enemy in the kitchen. Yet he also respects him profoundly, understanding that Sebastian’s skills are far beyond human reach. His connection to the young earl, Ciel Phantomhive, is one of unwavering loyalty, though Bard, given his age and life experience, sometimes struggles to fully comprehend the stoic and driven child he serves.
The most significant development for Bard occurs when his hidden past is finally brought to light. Originally a peaceful farmer with a wife named Joanna and a young son, he lived a quiet life until a village attack resulted in the brutal deaths of his family. The trauma shattered his psyche, transforming him into a vengeful soldier who threw himself into war. He eventually came to realize that he was part of an invasion, trapped in a personal hell where he had to kill or be killed. In his lowest moment, driven to the brink of starvation and contemplating cannibalism, he was saved by Sebastian, who offered him sustenance and a new purpose. The contract was simple: Sebastian needed a murderer accustomed to killing, and Bard needed an escape from the battlefield. However, Bard had never properly learned to cook, and his belief that simply filling a stomach was enough led to constant friction. Only after being disciplined by Sebastian did he agree to take his training seriously. When his skills as a soldier were later needed to defend the manor from intruders, his brutal efficiency was recognized, securing his official position in the household.
Bard’s notable abilities are a stark dichotomy. In the kitchen, he possesses a singular talent for destruction, turning ingredients into charcoal and toxic waste with alarming speed. However, when the manor is threatened, he demonstrates his true strengths: expert marksmanship, proficiency with heavy artillery and explosives, and the cool-headed tactical thinking of a seasoned combat veteran. He is a man who found a home not by learning to create, but by learning to direct his talent for annihilation toward the protection of his new family.