History Recap / BlueEyeSamuraiS01E02AnUnexpectedElement

* DrumsOfWar: An accidental version when Mizu hears the drums start for the ceremony and figures she might as well go and look. As she stands up, a thrown sword impales the tree where her head had been a moment before. The drumming continues throughout the battle on the cliff.

* AmbiguousSituation: While meditating, Mizu has a vision of herself charging into a room and slaying a white man reclining on a couch. She then opens her eyes and touches the KillTally on her arm, making it clear this is a memory. Her victim had an androgynous look and a StrongFamilyResemblance to Mizu. Has Mizu killed her father already, or is she just protecting her own self-loathing on the memory?

** When having Mizu cornered, the Four Fangs ''pelt'' her with their swords, having enough of them to spare, to throw her off-balance and maybe even simply throw down the cliff. One of those swords gives her a nasty cut that further hinders her ability to face the group head-on.

* WaterWakeup: After she falls off the cliff, the seawater fortunately revives Mizu before Chiaki can arrive to finish him off.
* WickedCultured: The Irishman loathes the Japanese arts that he's mastered, as it only reminds him that he has the time to master them thanks to his enforced confinement.

* WorthyOpponent: Averted; after killing the other Fangs, Chiaki decides Mizu might be worthy enough to use The Broken Blade on, but he doesn't take well to being killed by a mere half-breed.

* Foreshadowing: The leader of the Four Fangs has the same laugh as Bloodsoaked Chiaki from Mizu's flashbacks, giving a hint to his identity before he takes off the mask.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: One of the Four Fangs has the same laugh as Bloodsoaked Chiaki from Mizu's flashbacks, giving a hint to his identity before he takes off the mask.

* BadassUnintentional: Ringo effortlessly knocks down a pair of sumo wrestlers while [[DeliciousDistraction barging between them on his way to a noodle shop]], to the crowd's amusement.

Back in Kyoto, Taigen has lost his status and betrothal to Akemi due to his topknot being sliced off, so he tracks Mizu to Mihonoseki, intending to challenge her to a duel to regain his honor. Meanwhile, Akemi is now engaged to the shogun's son. Unhappy about having to blacken her teeth and marry a man she's never met, she runs away, with her retainer Seki inviting himself along.

** Ringo promises never to reveal Mizu's gender--not under torture, even if they made him eat ''(shudder)'' eggplant!
** He also wants to know if white people have skin that burns in the sun, can see in the dark, and even drink milk from animals!

* MeditationPowerup: Mizu is practicing on trees, imaging them as enemies, but her ImagineSpot comes to an abrupt end when her sword is stopped by a two-feet-thick tree trunk. After immersing herself in the ocean and meditating while standing on one hand, she then [[AbsurdlySharpBlade cuts through the trunk with a single stroke]]. After she leaves Taigen tries to match this ability, but can't.

* WickedCultured: The white man loathes the Japanese arts that he's mastered, as it only reminds him that he has the time to master them thanks to his enforced confinement.

* NoOneHereButUsBirds: A literal version when Mizu senses someone watching her, but it just turns out to be a bird. We then see Taigen watching from a nearby tree.

* NoOneHearButUsBirds: A literal version when Mizu senses someone watching her, but it just turns out to be a bird. We then see Taigen watching from a nearby tree.

* MeditationPowerup: Mizu is practicing on trees, imaging them as enemies, but her ImagineSpot comes to an abrupt end when her sword is stopped by a two-feet-thick tree trunk. After immersing herself in the ocean and meditating while standing on one hand, she then [[AbsurdlySharpBlade cuts through the trunk with a single stroke.

* {{Sarashi}}: As a child Mizu is shown adopting this to hide her gender, as well as strengthening her body against blows after Chiaki mocks the 'boy' for his weakness.