The Elusive Samurai – Season 1 Episode 9 Recap & Review

My Buddha

Episode 9 of The Elusive Samurai begins with a flashback. In it, Fubuki tells Tokiyuki how to wield and use a sword elusively. Then, we return to the present timeline. Tokiyuki uses the technique he learned from Fubuki to slice Shokan’s wrist. Shokan’s impressed but vows to murder Tokiyuki before he loses consciousness. 

Tokiyuki smiles and this disturbs Shokan. Meanwhile, Kojiro and Ayako fight one of Shokan’s comrades. Shokan’s comrade overwhelms the two, talks down on Ayako, and tells them what Shokan taught him when he recruited him. Shokan’s comrade talks poorly of Yorishige and Kojiro informs him that they serve a new leader now. 

Shizuku arrives, talks fondly of Yorishige, and compares Yorishige to Shokan’s comrade. She’s using a device to spit paper-like projectiles at Shokan’s comrade. Motivated, Kojiro rushes at Shokan’s comrade and wounds him. Ayako uses the opportunity to behead Shokan’s comrade. Meanwhile, Tokiyuki and Shokan continue fighting. 

Shokan’s having a tough time landing an attack on Tokyuki due to his elusive tactics. At the same time, Fubuki and Furan continue their duel. Fubuki acknowledges Furan’s interesting swordsmanship and Furan shares how he developed his technique. Fubuki analyzes Furan’s technique further and realizes Furan doesn’t understand how to use it effectively. 

Furan rushes at Fubuki and Fubuki slits Furan’s throat. Then, we return to following Tokiyuki and Shokan’s duel. Shokan can’t hit Tokiyuki. He fears he’ll die at this rate due to blood loss. Then, we enter a flashback. In it, we receive details about Shokan’s past and how his father wanted him to serve his brother. 

Shokan’s not happy because that means he won’t have a territory to call his own. This encouraged him to travel to numerous places to steal a territory. He discusses other things he did and his journey’s hardships. Shokan sees Buddha within Tokiyuki and admits defeat. He falls to the ground. Kojiro, Ayako, and Fubuki arrive and congratulate Tokiyuki for defeating Shokan. 

After that, Sadamune arrives with reinforcements. Sadamune, Ayako, and Kojiro argue with each other. While that’s happening, Fubuki ponders his team’s next move. Then, Genba, Yorishige, and Suwa’s main army arrive. This encourages Sadamune to gather Shokan’s forces to flee the scene. 

Yorishige hugs Tokiyuki. He’s glad Tokiyuki survived. At the same time, Sadamune and his men carry Shokan somewhere and we learn Shokan’s barely alive. Although Shokan went against Sadamune’s orders, Sadamune tells Shokan he’ll grant him a small territory. Sadamune wants Shokan to prepare for their inevitable battle with Suwa’s army. 

Meanwhile, Tokiyuki tells Yorishige he wants him to pay Fubuki for his services. Tokiyuki wants Fubuki to be one of his retainers. Fubuki refuses because he wants to serve Yorishige since he’s a lord. Yorishige and Tokiyuki tell Fubuki the truth about Tokiyuki’s family. Tokiyuki apologizes to Fubuki for withholding this information. 

Fubuki accepts Tokiyuki’s offer but tells him his millet fee will be expensive. The episode ends with Shizuku, Kojiro, Tokiyuki, and Fubuki discussing Suwa Grand Shrine’s millet and rice.

The Episode Review

Off the bat, the visuals and animation were more fluid and appealing compared to the imagery we received in episode 8. Fans will love seeing the characters move on screen, especially during our heroes’ battles with their enemies. Tokiyuki’s fight, or lack thereof, with Shokan, looked the most impressive. 

Cloverworks Studios captured Tokiyuki’s speed and Shokan’s concerns brilliantly. While the battles themselves weren’t all that impressive narratively, visually, most of them were spectacles for the eye. Hopefully, future battles will provide more push and pull, as some outcomes felt convenient and underwhelming.

Fights aside, it was great seeing Yorishige and Tokiyuki share an intimate moment on screen. Yorishige’s character is a bit of a mixed bag due to his silly nature. That said, it’s refreshing to see him implemented in serious scenes, even if they’re brief. The episode also gave fans a look into Shokan’s past. 

It’s great that he didn’t bite the dust like Furan and his other comrade. That shows that the author has plans for Shokan. But all in all, this was an enjoyable chapter of The Elusive Samurai.