Dororo (2019)

Okay but then how is that one demon keeping him from getting his remaining parts back?

I'm guessing said demon is somehow stealing the parts as "compensation" for being denied Hyakkimaru's head.

With that antlion demon we saw that if a demon takes a part they have to trade another.

Well, that fight was pretty lit. Once the minions were disarmed, it wasn't long until Hyakhyak would have won, but then another "even if we become demons" edgelord comes in to save the day. Yay...

At least we did get a Cool Horse.

I did not expect a Pokémon crossover◊, but I'll take it.

"He's your right hand and I'm your left hand." Guess which arm each of them lost…

I wonder how Mutsu's apparent illness will affect the climax…

Edited by Lyendith on Jun 3rd 2019 at 11:38:43 AM

Man, Mutsu and Hyogo have a real knack for not dying in episodes where I expect them to die.

Yeah that's right Hyakki, go get back what is yours! Just try not to loose yourself!

Best part of the ep though, Rapidash getting revenge on that one asshole.

Well...that explains where his missing parts went.

So Mutsu really was a gal… I thought she was just a feminine dude for some reason…

Welp, that's a twist I didn't see coming. Though it sure is convenient that each of them had lost exactly one body part Hyakki was missing.

That has to be the most brutal case of "adding insult to injury" i've ever seen.

I fully expected Hyakki's remaining parts to replace the siblings' and Tahomaru's eye, but the other slash on Tahomaru's face turning into a third eye is clever and adds some great creepiness to the whole thing.

What I don't get is how Tahomaru (plus Mutsu and Hyogo) can justify going after the brother his parents denied even the right to live when they sold him to the demons - and not for prosperity, but because Daigo thought if his land perishes he will never be remembered, or at least not the way he wants to be. They as good as killed an infant for greed and ambition, and yet it's Hyakkimaru to blame for wanting to live and wanting his human body back?

Like I said, Daigo never did it for prosperity, and frankly, if you have to trade with demons for it, it was never going to last.

Edited by akanesarumara on Jun 16th 2019 at 4:38:02 PM

His rationale is that if Hyakkimaru lives, Daigo's land will die from the drought, famine and epidemics. It's not about honor or greed. Of course the land will probably die regardless, eventually…

For Tahomaru maybe, but greed and ambition was why Daigo threw his son to the demons. And nobody calls him out on it, really. His wife brings it up once and is shut down. Tahomaru tries to bring it up once but then Daigo makes him into Daddy's Little Villain and enjoys it. Tahomaru also calls Hyakkimaru a demon just for wanting to live. And we're supposed to let Daigo get away with it and see Hyakkimaru as the one in the wrong?

Edited by akanesarumara on Jun 16th 2019 at 4:49:03 PM

Plus Tahomaru may have started out wanting to protect his lands but the last few episodes make it clear that he now just wants revenge for being defeated after growing up untouchable.

More of how angry he is that Mutsu and Hyogo got fucked up

Episode 23… almost over. ;__;

Hyogo and Mutsu bite the dust for good this time, and god Hyogo's death is gory. Ô__Ô Hyakki gets his arms back and it doesn't seem to hinder his movements too much.

The rest of the ep is split between beautifully choerographed fighting and philosophical musings about what it means to be human… The latter felt a bit heavy-handed honestly, but I can look past. I still can't help but cheer for Hyakki a little, even if it can only end in tragedy.

Now I guess either Dororo or Nui/Oku/whatever her name is, are gonna be in mortal danger and Hyakki will have to choose between saving them and getting his eyes back.

PS: While I like Dororo's VA, she clearly struggles when she has to raise her voice and be angry. She's still young (14 I think?) so she has plenty of time to improve, but it can be a bit distracting in some scenes.

Edited by Lyendith on Jun 17th 2019 at 5:36:08 PM

Someone is so gonna die next episode...

Yeah, the philosophy felt too on the nose, especially as part of it was delivered by a child of what, nine at the most?

On the bright side, vengeful demon!horse goes out like a boss. I will (kinda) miss you angry Rapidash...

It’s blatant but I accept it

The most uncomfortable criticism I found that I keep mulling over is the flaw on Hyakkimaru’s part in how little restraint or empathy he feels for potential and real victims of his rampage

It’s that dissonance resulting how we can easily root for Hyakki because of the sheer injustice that was done to him versus the other facets of the struggle the story tells.

Because I feel as if the story isn’t quite going golden mean between fuck them up Hyakkimaru and he needs to be sacrificed for the greater good. It’s as if it leans more to having a resolution of peace instead of tragic justice.

I appreciate having the story’s core concepts succinctly summed up and according to how the characters would tell it.

I honestly don’t know or want to know how this will end but I feel that the story is getting closer with its questioning to a final answer or maybe not.

Too bad for Hyakki that his swords didn't come equipped with actual hilts, unlike in Blood Will Tell.

Hyakkimaru sure isn't using that sword he's had at his hip the entire series for anything, is he? I kinda figured the idea there was that he'd still have a weapon once he got his arms back, but apparently not.

That shortsword wouldn't be the best weapon for him to use anyway, hilt or no hilt.

Edited by M84 on Jun 17th 2019 at 11:58:50 PM

If the last demon was supposed to have taken Hyakki's head, that is, should have killed him right then, doesn't that mean that the deal would have been void? The demons probably would have used Hyakki's death as an excuse to weasel out of the deal and not give a damn thing in return.

Edited by akanesarumara on Jun 19th 2019 at 4:00:42 PM

Nah, the deal was always just supposed to be a typical Human Sacrifice. Asura not being able to get the head is what made the whole thing super weird.

Still kinda surprised nobody thought the demons would worm their way out of the deal as soon as possible. As far as I could tell nobody thought of that - and the land starting to go downhill only once Hyakkimaru got parts back seems to reinforce that (obviously a demon who is dead is not going to be able to help out).