The Elusive Samurai – Season 1 Episode 10 Recap & Review

A Perverted Kid and Disturbances of Holy Power

Episode 10 of The Elusive Samurai begins with Tokiyuki and the Suwa people praying for the soldiers who lost their lives. Yorishige pulls Tokiyuki aside, thanks Tokiyuki for his help, and vows to have guards stationed at this village to protect it. Yorishige tells Tokiyuki that his people will guide this village’s orphans to the Suwa Grand Shrine. 

Then, Yorishige tells Tokiyuki about his future-sight problems. Yorishige wants Tokiyuki to keep this between them. He informs Tokiyuki about the source of his powers. Tokiyuki visits Ayako and Kojiro and asks them for an eel. Tokiyuki brings the eel to Yorishige because he needs it to regain his powers. 

Yorishige recalls eating eels as one of the ways he regained his abilities. Unfortunately, this plan fails. Yorishige has Tokiyuki go on a fetch quest. After Tokiyuki gathers the items from some Suwa residents, he heads to an undisclosed part of the Suwa Grand Shrine. 

Tokiyuki builds a shrine maiden doll. Yorishige plans to perform a doll ritual to regain his powers. Moritaka and Tokiyuki’s allies observe Tokiyuki from afar. They think Tokiyuki plans to perform sensual acts on the doll. Tokiyuki returns to Yorishige’s quarters and yells at him.

Yorishige asks Tokiyuki to get him water in a specific environment. He argues this water could help him regain his abilities. Tokiyuki stumbles upon Shizuku at his destination. She finishes her Kagura Dance and explains why she did it. She says she danced with a few entities Tokiyuki can’t see. 

Shizuku tells Tokiyuki to close his eyes. She kisses Tokiyuki and tells him to open his eyes. Tokiyuki sees many golden creatures. Shizuku refers to these creatures as Divine Beasts and we receive some insight about their history from the narrator and Yorishige. Shizuku helps Tokiyuki gather the water and Tokiyuki reflects on what he experienced. 

Meanwhile, Takauji greets his brother Tadayoshi. Takauji wants Tadayoshi to head to Kamakura so he can strengthen Takauji’s defenses there. He argues the remaining Hojo survivors will begin a revolt. Tadayoshi praises Takauji’s intuition. 

Takauji praises Tadayoshi for his remarkable intellect. The narrator chimes in and tells the audience these two share a close connection. Takauji shows Tadayoshi his Buddha drawing. Before Tadayoshi steps inside to see the drawing, he stops himself. Tadayoshi makes a deal with Takauji for the Buddha drawing.

Takauji departs and Tadayoshi states that Takauji has gotten stronger. Tadayoshi orders his men to burn everything inside besides the Buddha drawing. Meanwhile, Tokiyuki hands Yorishige the water. Tokiyuki questions Shizuku as a person and Yorishige says Shizuku will disclose the truth about her existence to him when she feels like it.

Yorishige gives Tokiyuki an in-depth breakdown of holy power. He states that if humans become more aware of the land, secret areas and figures will cease. Yorishige uses his powers to create a mini ice obstacle of some kind. He argues that people will believe that a god created it for now.

However, Yorishige argues future explorers will believe that a natural occurrence created this obstacle. He argues if humans become stronger, the gods and holy entities will disappear. Tokiyuki wonders if Yorishige will disappear. Yorishige’s powers return and he tells Tokiyuki that this is the final period where they can use divine powers.

He tells Tokiyuki to live his life to his life to the fullest. Tokiyuki tells Yorishige to clean up after himself. Yorishige uses Tokiyuki’s shrine maiden doll to punish himself. The episode ends with Ayako and the others observing Yorishige from afar.

The Episode Review

Although this chapter featured Tokiyuki performing errand duties, he gained wonderful knowledge about his world’s magical aspects during his task. From Divine Beasts to holy power, it’s great seeing The Elusive Samurai delve into its world’s magical elements more. 

Additionally, many fans will find Yorishige’s discussion of their current period interesting. While it’s unfortunate their powers won’t last forever, it’s great that this episode took the time to explain them. That aside, this episode introduced fans to Takauji’s brother, Tadayoshi. 

It’s fantastic that the chapter showcased the differences between the two brothers. Yet, like other episodes that featured Takauji, this one hints at Takauji having a demonic presence. Hopefully, we’ll gain more insight into how Takauji obtained this peculiar power source. 

As for the chapter’s comedy, it was fine. Some folks may like the humor present in this series while others will not. Seeing Tokiyuki and Yorishige throw snowballs at each other was a pleasant sight though. This was a nice way to reassure audiences and Tokiyuki himself that Yorishige is worth trusting. 

But all in all, this was an enjoyable episode of The Elusive Samurai.