History Awesome / SamuraiChamploo

** Mugen nearly drowns after a friend betrays him, and survives with barely enough strength to drag himself to shore. After Jin fills him in, he uses his sword as a cane to hobble up to two of the conspirators and kill one of them effortlessly (three strokes of his sword in as many seconds), leaving the other, his childhood friend Kohza (possibly the only person who ever cared about him, and vice-versa) to live the rest of her life alone. She begs him to kill her, but he keeps limping away. End episode. ''Wow''. Accompanied by the SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic.
*** Context makes this even more awesome: Kohza and the conspirator BatmanGambit'd Jin into killing her brother, just so said conspirator would be the only one who knew the location of the treasure (which Mugen originally helped steal). Which means that after risking his life to steal the gold, Mugen gave up ''any chance of ever finding the treasure'' in order to take revenge on his former comrades.
*** To really drive this moment home. Mugen didn't even deliver any final insults to the betrayers, his cold DeathGlare said more than he ever could.

** Heck, what about the first episode? We see her in a shop, then in the next scene she looks like she's [[{{gainaxing}} gained several cup sizes]]. Only, we discover she's packing explosives? DidntSeeThatComing.

** The fact that Mugen [[spoiler:dies ''at least'' three times in the course of the series is utterly awesome. Every time, he passes into Nirai Kanai, the afterlife of the Ryukyuan religion. He then tells the Futuchi, basically the Japanese grim reapers, that [[ItIsNotYourTime he's not ready]], at least once ''[[RageAgainstTheHeavens demanding]]'' [[RageAgainstTheHeavens that they return him to the living world]]. Yes. Mugen basically [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu tells]] TheGrimReaper [[ScrewDestiny to bite off]]]].
** Mugen nearly drowns after a friend betrays him, and survives with barely enough strength to drag himself to shore. [[spoiler:After Jin fills him in, he uses his sword as a cane to hobble up to two of the conspirators and kill one of them effortlessly (three strokes of his sword in as many seconds), leaving the other, his childhood friend Kohza (possibly the only person who ever cared about him, and vice-versa) to live the rest of her life alone. She begs him to kill her, but he keeps limping away. End episode.]] ''Wow''. Accompanied by the SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic.
*** Context makes this even more awesome: [[spoiler: Kohza and the conspirator BatmanGambit'd Jin into killing her brother, just so said conspirator would be the only one who knew the location of the treasure (which Mugen originally helped steal). Which means that after risking his life to steal the gold, Mugen gave up ''any chance of ever finding the treasure'' in order to take revenge on his former comrades.]]

** The second fight scene with Mugen and [[spoiler:Sara]]. His opponent has truly awesome moves (like a lance that ''cuts the rain'') and could easily have killed Mugen but [[spoiler:she threw the fight when she realized her government handlers had killed her son long ago]]. The last scene ties it all together.
** Let's not forget how Mugen deals with Umanosuke, the assassin with the scythe on a chain: [[spoiler:Mugen gets really close to him, and after he [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throws his sword]] into the ground ''behind the guy'', Mugen avoids Umanosuke's sword, ''[[GroinAttack bites his crotch]]'', and then combines his sword, sheath, and his own body to catch the chain and boomerang it back to ''behead'' Umanosuke]]. It may be the first time in the series he's really ''thought'' about strategy.

** His final battle against Kariya Kagetoki, in which [[spoiler:he deliberately allows himself to be ''[[DeliberateInjuryGambit impaled]]'', which bring Kariya in close enough for Jin to draw his wakizashi and stab him back.]] He is also [[FanService shirtless with his long hair down]] throughout the scene, which, according to the [[FanGirl fangirls]], helps. It also helps that he's using the Ultimate Technique of his dojo ''exactly'' the way it was intended.

** Jin's fights with [[spoiler:Yukimaru]] are also crowningly awesome. The first one ends with him leaping off a waterfall because he's reluctant to kill an old friend -- Yukimaru is the only opponent he's ever tried to talk down. Their second meeting ends in [[spoiler:Yukimaru]]'s death with only the slightest movement of Jin's sword.

** While it's also a TearJerker, the skill involved when Jin kills [[spoiler:Master Mariya in self defense]] is truly impressive. He's ''asleep'' when the assassin enters the room but wakes immediately and it's over in less than 10 seconds. [[spoiler:AND THAT WAS THE MAN WHO TAUGHT HIM.]]

** Or even the very reason that she makes the entire journey with two virtual strangers just so she could [[spoiler:find her father and 'slug him one' on her dead mother's behalf]]?
** Plus she [[spoiler: lied about]] that coin flip.

** [[GenericGraffiti Graffiti]]. HipHop. [[PostModernism Post-Modern]] [[AlternateHistory commentary]]. [[DanceBattler Breakdancing]]. {{Pirate}}s. [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Samurai]]. [[GratuitousNinja Ninja]]. [[KatanasAreJustBetter Katanas]]. [[RevolversAreJustBetter Revolvers]]. [[HeroicComedicSociopath Lovable sociopaths]]. Flying squirrels. [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue Open]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey ended]] [[WildMassGuessing conspiracies]]. [[{{Koan}} Zen]] {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}}. [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours Kung-fu]] [[KiManipulation sorcery]]. [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies Zombies]]. [[StonerFlick Ganja]]. [[{{Crossdresser}} Crossdressing]]. [[{{BFG}} Portable cannons]]. [[SceneryPorn Breathtaking scenery]]. [[{{SchizoTech}} Steel plated sandals]]. [[CrazyAwesome Eccentric characters]]. [[RuleOfCool And much much more]].

** [[GenericGraffiti Graffiti]]. HipHop. [[PostModernism Post-Modern]] [[AlternateHistory commentary]]. [[DanceBattler Breakdancing]]. {{Pirate}}s. [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Samurai]]. [[GratuitousNinja Ninja]]. [[KatanasAreJustBetter Katanas]]. [[RevolversAreJustBetter Revolvers]]. [[HeroicComedicSociopath Lovable sociopaths]]. Flying squirrels. [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue Open]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey ended]] [[WildMassGuessing conspiracies]]. [[{{Koan}} Zen]] {{UsefulNotes/Buddhism}}. [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours Kung-fu]] [[KiAttacks sorcery]]. [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies Zombies]]. [[StonerFlick Ganja]]. [[{{Crossdresser}} Crossdressing]]. [[{{BFG}} Portable cannons]]. [[SceneryPorn Breathtaking scenery]]. [[{{SchizoTech}} Steel plated sandals]]. [[CrazyAwesome Eccentric characters]]. [[RuleOfCool And much much more]].

** [[GenericGraffiti Graffiti]]. HipHop. [[PostModernism Post-Modern]] [[AlternateHistory commentary]]. [[DanceBattler Breakdancing]]. {{Pirate}}s. [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Samurai]]. [[GratuitousNinja Ninja]]. [[KatanasAreJustBetter Katanas]]. [[RevolversAreJustBetter Revolvers]]. [[HeroicComedicSociopath Lovable sociopaths]]. Flying squirrels. [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue Open]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey ended]] [[WildMassGuessing conspiracies]]. [[{{Koan}} Zen]] {{Buddhism}}. [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours Kung-fu]] [[KiAttacks sorcery]]. [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies Zombies]]. [[StonerFlick Ganja]]. [[{{Crossdresser}} Crossdressing]]. [[{{BFG}} Portable cannons]]. [[SceneryPorn Breathtaking scenery]]. [[{{SchizoTech}} Steel plated sandals]]. [[CrazyAwesome Eccentric characters]]. [[RuleOfCool And much much more]].

** The fact that Mugen [[spoiler:dies ''at least'' three times in the course of the series is utterly awesome. Every time, he passes into Nirai Kanai, the afterlife of the Ryukyuan religion. He then tells the Futuchi, basically the Japanese grim reapers, that he's not ready, at least once ''demanding'' that they return him to the living world. Yes. Mugen basically tells the Grim Reaper to bite off.]]

** [[GenericGraffiti Graffiti]]. HipHop. [[PostModernism Post-Modern]] [[AlternateHistory commentary]]. [[DanceBattler Breakdancing]]. {{Pirate}}s. [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Samurai]]. [[GratuitousNinja Ninja]]. [[KatanasAreJustBetter Katanas]]. [[RevolversAreJustBetter Revolvers]]. [[HeroicComedicSociopath Lovable sociopaths]]. [[EverythingsNuttierWithSquirrels Flying squirrels]]. [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue Open]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey ended]] [[WildMassGuessing conspiracies]]. [[{{Koan}} Zen]] {{Buddhism}}. [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours Kung-fu]] [[KiAttacks sorcery]]. [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies Zombies]]. [[StonerFlick Ganja]]. [[{{Crossdresser}} Crossdressing]]. [[{{BFG}} Portable cannons]]. [[SceneryPorn Breathtaking scenery]]. [[{{SchizoTech}} Steel plated sandals]]. [[CrazyAwesome Eccentric characters]]. [[RuleOfCool And much much more]].

** From episode 1, "[[CharacterEstablishingMomentOne... One... One... ONE MILLION DUMPLINGS!!!]]"

** From episode 1, [[CharacterEstablishingMoment"One... One... One... ONE MILLION DUMPLINGS!!!"]]

** From episode 1, [[CharacterEstablishingMoment "One... One... One... ONE MILLION DUMPLINGS!!!"]]

** Several characters in the series (including Jin's EvilCounterpart and Jin himself) even comment on just how feisty and determined she really is. In fact, ''SamuraiChamploo'' would be non-existent as a series if it wasn't for her!

** [[GenericGraffiti Graffiti]] . [[HipHop Hip-Hop]] . [[PostModernism Post-Modern]] [[AlternateHistory commentary]]. [[DanceBattler Breakdancing]]. [[{{Pirate}} Pirates]]. [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Samurai]]. [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja Ninja]]. [[KatanasAreJustBetter Katanas]] .[[RevolversAreJustBetter Revolvers]]. [[HeroicComedicSociopath Lovable sociopaths]]. [[EverythingsNuttierWithSquirrels Flying squirrels]]. [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue Open]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey ended]] [[WildMassGuessing conspiracies]]. [[{{Koan}} Zen]] {{Buddhism}}. [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours Kung-fu]] [[KiAttacks sorcery]]. [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies Zombies]]. [[StonerFlick Ganja]]. [[{{Crossdresser}} Crossdressing]]. [[{{BFG}} Portable cannons]]. [[SceneryPorn Breathtaking scenery]]. [[{{SchizoTech}} Steel plated sandals]]. [[CrazyAwesome Eccentric characters]]. [[RuleOfCool And much much more]].

** Mugen nearly drowns after a friend betrays him, and survives with barely enough strength to drag himself to shore. [[spoiler:After Jin fills him in, he uses his sword as a cane to hobble up to two of the conspirators and kill one of them effortlessly (three strokes of his sword in as many seconds), leaving the other, his childhood friend Kohza (possibly the only person who ever cared about him, and vice-versa) to live the rest of her life alone. She begs him to kill her, but he keeps limping away. End episode.]] ''Wow''. Accompanied by the CrowningMusicOfAwesome.

** Jin's fights with [[spoiler:Yukimaru]] are also crowningly awesome. The first one ends with him leaping off a waterfall because he's reluctant to kill an old friend -- Yukimaru is the only opponent he's ever tried to talk down. Their second meeting ends in Yukimaru's death with only the slightest movement of Jin's sword.

* Mugen generally has too much badass to count but one instance sticks out: when promised sex with a hot ninja girl if he helps her (but doesn't get anyway) he [[FoeTossingCharge defeats an entire room full of armed guards]] ''while unarmed and half-naked'', and in the dub even shouts something like "I want my nookie!" What's more, Yatsuha, the ninja, ended up falling in love with him, and swore to herself that she would find him again someday (as her partner questioned her taste in men).
* The fact that Mugen [[spoiler:dies at least three times, at minimum, utterly awesome. Every time, he passes into Nirai Kanai, the afterlife of the Ryukyuan religion. He then tells the Futuchi, basically the Japanese grim reapers that he's not ready, at least once demanding that he be returned. Yes. Mugen basically tells the Grim Reaper to bite off.]]
** In a much more poignant example, Mugen nearly drowned after a friend betrayed him, and survived as if by a miracle, with barely enough strength to walk. [[spoiler:After Jin appraised him of the situation, he used his sword as a cane, hobbled up to two of the conspirators, killing one of them, effortlessly, with three strokes of his sword in as many seconds, leaving the other, his childhood friend Kohza (possibly the only person who ever cared about him, and vice-versa) to live the rest of her life alone. She begs him to kill her, but he keeps limping away. End episode.]] ''Wow''. The music playing during this scene really drives home what kind of person Mugen is, at least at that moment.
*** Context makes this even more awesome; [[spoiler: Kohza and the conspirator BatmanGambit'd Jin into killing her brother, just so said conspirator would be the only one who knew where the treasure Mugen helped steal was. Which means that after risking his life, or at least another prison term, to steal the gold, Mugen gave up ''any chance of ever finding the treasure''.]]
* The second fight scene with Mugen and [[spoiler:Sara]]. While his opponent does have awesome maneuvers i.e. the staff ''cutting through a downpour of rain exposing open air''. Never mind the fact that [[spoiler: Sara could have killed him but she held back]].
** It increases in awesomeness when it is revealed [[spoiler: Sara's son has been dead for a long time and the government killed him]]. The last scene ties it all together.
* Jin's final battle against Kariya Kagetoki, in which [[spoiler:he intentionally shows a brief opening, allows himself to be ''[[DeliberateInjuryGambit impaled]]'', and, while his opponent is close, Jin strikes, killing Kariya and only barely surviving himself.]] He is also [[FanService shirtless with his long hair down]] throughout the scene, which, according to the [[FanGirl fangirls]], helps. It also helps that he's using the Ultimate Technique of his dojo ''exactly'' the way it was intended.

* Jin's fights with [[spoiler:Yukimaru]] are also crowningly awesome, the first one ending with him leaping off a waterfall to avoid killing an old friend, the second in death with only the slightest movement of his sword.
* Jin effortlessly trouncing at least six sword-wielding thugs unarmed is pretty awesome.
* Though not a hero, Kariya Kagetoki's first fight with Mugen and Jin is unbelievable. Significant challenges to either had been extremely rare, but when they team up to fight Kagetoki, they turn out to be hopelessly outclassed.
** The assassin [[spoiler:Sara]], whom Kariya appears to have trained, is badass enough to crack a bridge with the ki surrounding [[spoiler:her]] lance...while ''blind''.
* Let's not forget how Mugen deals with Umanosuke, the assassin with the scythe on a chain: [[spoiler:Mugen gets really close to him, and after he [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throws his sword]] into the ground ''behind the guy'', Mugen avoid Umanosuke's sword, puts the guy in a hold (including grabbing [[GroinAttack his pants]] with ''his teeth'') then uses a combination of his sword, sheath, and his own body to catch the chain and send the scythe flying right back at his attacker who it ''beheads'']]. That may be the first time in the series he really ''thought'' about an attack.

* Any fight scene from the final three episodes deserves special mention.

** [[GenericGraffiti Graffiti]] . [[HipHop Hip-Hop]] . [[PostModernism Post-Modern]] [[AlternateHistory commentary]]. [[DanceBattler Breakdancing]]. [[{{Pirate}} Pirates]]. [[EverythingsBetterWithSamurai Samurai]]. [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja Ninja]]. [[KatanasAreJustBetter Katanas]] .[[RevolversAreJustBetter Revolvers]]. [[HeroicSociopath Lovable sociopaths]]. [[EverythingsNuttierWithSquirrels Flying squirrels]]. [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue Open]] [[WillTheyOrWontThey ended]] [[WildMassGuessing conspiracies]]. [[{{Koan}} Zen]] {{Buddhism}}. [[MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours Kung-fu]] [[KiAttacks sorcery]]. [[EverythingsDeaderWithZombies Zombies]]. [[StonerFlick Ganja]]. [[{{Crossdresser}} Crossdressing]]. [[{{BFG}} Portable cannons]]. [[SceneryPorn Breathtaking scenery]]. [[{{SchizoTech}} Steel plated sandals]]. [[CrazyAwesome Eccentric characters]]. [[RuleOfCool And much much more]].

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<<|CrowningMoment/{{Anime}}|>>

* The second fight scene with Mugen and [[spoiler:Sara]]. While his opponent does have awesome manuevers i.e. the staff ''cutting through a downpour of rain exposing open air'', Mugen's final move is so expertly animated that it sent a shiver up this troper's spine. Never mind the fact that [[spoiler: Sara could have killed him but she held back]].

** Her encounter with the various pots she bumps into in the fourth episode eventually leads up to some of the most impressive... uh, dicemanship, this troper has ever witnessed. I know this because the stunt even draws fourth a genuine (if momentary) expression of astonishment from [[TheStoic the resident stoic.]]

* Mugen learns how to read. Doubles as CMoF

** Or even the very reason that she makes the entire journey with two virtual strangers just so she could [[spoiler:find her father and 'slug him one' on her mother's behalf]]?

** Several characters in the series (including Jin's EvilCounterpart and Jin himself) even comment on just how feisty and determined she really is. In fact, SamuraiChamploo would be non-existent as a series if it wasn't for her!
** Not to mention she provides the only {{recap episode}} I have ever seen that was worth watching.

* Mugen actually has quite a few awesome moments. This troper found the fact that he [[spoiler:dies at least three times, at minimum, utterly awesome. Every time, he passes into Nirai Kanai, the afterlife of the Ryukyuan religion. He then tells the Futuchi, basically the Japanese grim reapers that he's not ready, at least once demanding that he be returned. Yes. Mugen basically tells the Grim Reaper to bite off.]]

* Mugen from ''SamuraiChamploo'' generally has too much badass to count but one instance sticks out: when promised sex with a hot ninja girl if he helps her (but doesn't get anyway) he [[FoeTossingCharge defeats an entire room full of armed guards]] ''while unarmed and half-naked'', and in the dub even shouts something like "I want my nookie!" What's more, Yatsuha, the ninja, ended up falling in love with him, and swore to herself that she would find him again someday (as her partner questioned her taste in men).

* Any fight scene from the final three episodes deserves special mention.
* Baseball. That is all.

* Let's not forget how Mugen deals with Umanosuke, the assassin with the scythe on a chain: [[spoiler:Mugen gets really close to him, and after he [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWords throws his sword]] into the ground ''behind the guy'', Mugen avoid Umanosuke's sword, puts the guy in a hold (including grabbing [[GroinAttack his pants]] with ''his teeth'') then uses a combination of his sword, sheath, and his own body to catch the chain and send the scythe flying right back at his attacker who it ''beheads'']]. That may be the first time in the series he really ''thought'' about an attack.

* Mugen from ''SamuraiChamploo'' generally has too much badass to count but one instance sticks out: when promised sex with a hot ninja girl if he helps her (but doesn't get anyway) he [[FoeTossingCharge defeats an entire room full of armed guards]] ''while unarmed and half-naked'', and in the dub even shouts something like "I want my nookie!" What's more, Yatsuha, the ninja, ended up falling in love with him, and swore to herself that she would find him again someday (as her parter questioned her taste in men).

* Jin's final battle against Kariya Kagetoki, in which [[spoiler:he intentionally shows a brief opening, allows himself to be ''[[IHaveTwoKidneys impaled]]'', and, while his opponent is close, Jin strikes, killing Kariya and only barely surviving himself.]] He is also [[FanService shirtless with his long hair down]] throughout the scene, which, according to the [[FanGirl fangirls]], helps. It also helps that he's using the Ultimate Technique of his dojo ''exactly'' the way it was intended.