Line #43 Recap/BlueEyeSamuraiS01E03AFixedNumberOfPaths


1	The episode begins with a flashback to Mizu as a baby. Two men have been ordered to kill her, to the horror of a nearby woman, but one of them is reluctant and says that he can't harm a child. When the other man goes to kill baby Mizu, the first man intervenes, kills his compatriot, then thrusts Mizu ([[BloodSplatteredInnocents now covered in the blood of her would-be killer]]) at the woman and tells her to take the child and leave.
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3	The episode then resumes where the prior one left off; Mizu has collapsed from her wounds and blood loss at Taigen's feet, who debates whether to finish her off but decides not to after a brief struggle with himself. Ringo arrives, and Taigen suggests bringing Mizu to a nearby shrine so her wounds can be tended to there. Mizu has a series of feverish flashbacks, mostly involving her childhood, fire, her mother, and repeated warnings that the "bad men" would find her if she ever showed her face to others.
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5	At Heiji Shindo's stronghold on Tanabe Island, the news about the deaths of the Four Fangs is not well-received. In a fit of rage the white man working with Shindo kills the messenger and orders Shindo to take care of the matter, as he mentions being occupied with their plans to control the shogunate.
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7	At the shrine Ringo makes medicine from various herbs and mushrooms to heal Mizu and sews up Mizu's wounds, while Taigen sets up a contract to fight Mizu in a duel that will have witnesses and be legal. An enormous hulk of a man named Okiyama who wields an equally enormous club approaches the shrine, acting as a messenger from Heiji Shindo, and delivers an invitation from Shindo for a meeting and a talk. Despite Taigen loudly protesting that the invitation is an ambush and Mizu being so injured she can barely mount a horse, Mizu, Taigen, Ringo, and Okiyama set off for the site where Shindo is supposedly waiting for them.
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9	Akemi and Seki's journey is not going well; brigands attack them on the road, driving off or killing their palanquin bearers and robbing Akemi of her money. She responds by asking a farmer passing by on his cart to take them to Mihonoseki and pays him with a golden hairpin, but while she sleeps in the back of his cart, he takes them in the opposite direction of their destination, leaving her even worse off than she was. Akemi briefly seems ready to give up, but learning that it was Seki who brought her father the prospect of breaking the engagement to Taigen and marrying her to the shogun's son reignites her stubborn refusal to give up and go home. Instead she goes into a nearby tavern, tricks a local flesh trader named Goro into believing that she is a courtesan looking for a new place of employment, and they set off together for Mihonoseki. Seki is forced to watch her leave.
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11	When Mizu, Taigen, Ringo, and Okiyama reach their destination, Taigen refuses to leave Mizu's side and accompanies her to meet Heiji Shindo. They pass through a ''very'' narrow ravine, and when they finally make it to the other side of the ravine, Heiji Shindo invites them to tea at a fancy site he has set up. Although there are a few pleasantries exchanged, the mood is very tense; Mizu and Taigen could attack Shindo at any moment, while he "jokes" about having hundreds of archers stationed out of sight on the cliffs above them, ready to begin shooting at a signal. Shindo also reveals the name of the white man he's working with for the first time: Abijah Fowler.
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13	Shindo first offers to buy off Mizu, and when she refuses, he offers to help her in her quest for revenge, revealing that he privately despises Fowler and wishes him dead. Shindo shows her a barrel of sake, one of ten he has purchased while away from the castle, and offers to smuggle her into the castle inside the barrel, getting her past the defenses of the castle and giving her a much better chance at reaching and killing Fowler. Mizu notes that the sake smells strangely bad for [[ManOfWealthAndTaste men of wealth and taste]] like Shindo and Fowler, which Shindo addresses by saying this particular barrel is cheap sake they serve to prostitutes who visit the castle.
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15	Shindo tries to force Mizu to accept and get in the barrel, as now he has revealed too much for her to refuse, she either has to accept or he signals the archers he "joked" about earlier to fire and kill Mizu and Taigen. All bets are off when Shindo grabs Mizu's arm, as she quickly draws her sword and cuts off his hand. For a few seconds it seems like Shindo was bluffing about the archers... and then a great volley of arrows starts flying from the cliffs around them. Heiji Shindo runs off while Mizu and Taigen take cover, then head for the ravine while the archers reload. They make it most of the way through the ravine, but when Taigen is injured it seems like certain death for them. Fortunately Ringo rides into the ravine on one of the horses, while using the saddle from another one to protect himself from arrows. With Mizu and Taigen clinging to the sides of the horse, all three manage to make it away safely.
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17	The trio are jubilant and exhilarated to be alive afterward, congratulating and complimenting each other. Mizu reveals that she thinks she has a way into the castle, thanks to the prostitutes that Shindo mentioned. Taigen appreciates her cleverness, but says it's too bad they have to fight their duel tomorrow, so Mizu will never get to carry out her revenge on Fowler. Mizu promptly knocks him out by hitting him with the handle of the broken sword, then leaves it behind as a gift, along with a note offering to duel Taigen in the autumn, after she has finished carrying out her revenge.
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19	Unfortunately for Taigen, Okiyama appears, captures him, and then brings him back to the castle on Tanabe Island, where Heiji Shindo and Fowler intend to torture Taigen into telling them everything he knows about Mizu so they can prepare themselves for her.
20	----
21	!!Tropes for this episode include:
22	* AndThenWhat: Heiji promises to get Mizu within a sword-length of Fowler, but getting out of the castle alive afterwards is her problem.
23	* AmbiguousSituation: Was Heiji Shindo's offer to smuggle Mizu into the castle genuine, or was she being LuredIntoATrap? He doesn't mask his loathing for Fowler, yet delivers Taigen to Fowler in exactly the same fashion he proposed, sealed in a barrel unable to defend himself.
24	* AnnoyingArrows: While the archers are treated as a very deadly threat, Mizu and Taigen only get hit with one arrow each, and both are minor wounds that are almost totally disregarded.
25	* ArrowGram: An arrow with a red ribbon attached lets Okiyama know it's time to bash Ringo to death with his club. Fortunately Ringo didn't wait for Okiyama to show his bad intentions, poisoning him in advance.
26	* AttackTheInjury: During a bit of sparring and wrestling, Taigen deliberately strikes Mizu in one of her wounds.
27	* BackupBluff: Taigen believes that Shindo is doing this when he claims to have 500 archers on the cliffs, since there is no sign of them. He's wrong.
28	* BaitAndSwitch: Both Taigen and Heiji Shindo make remarks that seem to imply that they've caught onto the fact that Mizu is a woman, but both of their remarks are actually meant differently.
29	** Taigen's comment implies that Mizu is a man with a TeenyWeenie.
30	** When Heiji Shindo make it back to his castle he essentially says to Fowler "The man after you is no man... he's a demon."
31	* BelligerentSexualTension: Mizu's eyes widen when she locks eyes with Taigen while fighting at close quarters. If there's any doubt as to the FoeRomanceSubtext, we get a flashback to this moment in the following episode in a scene specifically related to Mizu's sexual desires.
32	* BrokenPedestal: Akemi for her mentor Seki, after realising he was behind her arranged marriage to the shogun and is only accompanying her in the expectation that she will give up and go home.
33	* BuyThemOff: This is Shindo's first offer to Mizu; [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryō 50,000 gold ryō]] and a lordship courtesy of the Shogun.
34	* CareerEndingInjury: Shindo's condition for the bribe and lordship that he offers Mizu is that she must cut off her thumb, ending her ability to wield a sword forever. He then displays [[CreepySouvenir a box with a small collection of thumbs]].
35	* ChekhovsGun:
36	** When Fowler briefly flies into a rage, the animation calls attention to him cutting through the stem of a flower as well as the table the vase of flowers is sitting upon, and later pinning that same flower to Heiji Shindo's clothes. At her meeting with Shindo, Mizu comments on the flower and says that the way the stem was cut is the work of an expert swordsman. This foreshadows how later in the season Fowler will prove to be one of the few people who can engage in close quarters combat with Mizu for any length of time and survive.
37	** Taigen is seen practicing with Master Eiji's broken blade, and Ringo makes the comment that it suits him well. Later, when retreating from the meeting with Heiji Shindo, Taigen saves Mizu's life several times by swatting arrows with the broken sword, which can be swung in the tight quarters of the ravine far better than would be the case with a full length sword.
38	** Early in the episode Ringo warns Taigen about eating a mushroom because it's poisonous. Later on Ringo makes a meal for Okiyama with that mushroom inside, and the effects hit Okiyama just before he can kill Ringo.
39	** Seemingly subverted when it comes to the vision Mizu has of her mother smoking opium in feverish flashbacks. When the camera lingers on the spark within the pipe and then their hut burning down, it seems to say that the spark caused the fire. However, later on we see lit torches being held by men, strongly implying they're responsible for the fire and that the spark in the opium pipe was just a RedHerring. However, the fact that Mizu's mother was an opium addict will come back up in a big way in Episode 6...
40	* EntertaininglyWrong: After seeing Taigen warn Mizu of potential traps and dangers over and over again, Heiji Shindo seems to come to the conclusion that Taigen is a friend or ally of Mizu's, and that he can supply Shindo and Fowler with information on Mizu. As the audience knows, Taigen is (thus far) an ally of convenience at the very most and has virtually no information to give them.
41	* FeverDreamEpisode: ''Very'' downplayed, as Mizu's fever only last the first few minutes of the episode, although her flashbacks and dreams do give some clues and insight into her past.
42	* FireForgedFriends: Though not quite friends at this stage, the atmosphere between Mizu, Taigen and Ringo noticeably improves after they save each other during Heiji's ambush. This includes Taigen cheering Ringo and calling him great, Mizu genuinely praising Taigen's skill, and Taigen having a more amicable attitude towards Mizu, including magnanimously offering to give her Master Eiji's broken blade, an item that would be considered a rare and valuable treasure. (Doubly so for a swordsman.)
43	* ForkFencing: Mizu says she can beat Taigen with any weapon, so they fight with chopsticks. However such is their mutual antagonism they quickly descend to simply beating each other up.
44	* FromBadToWorse: Every step of Akemi's attempt to journey to Mihonoseki to reunite with Taigen runs into peril, and Seki tries to use that to convince her to turn around. Her luck finally improves when she tricks Goro into escorting her to Mihonoseki.
45	* FunnyBackgroundEvent:
46	** While Mizu, Taigen, and Okiyama ride straight along the road, Ringo is so delighted at being able to ride a horse that he can be seen steering it back and forth, right and left, while the other three simply ride straight together.
47	** At certain points while Shindo and Mizu are talking, Taigen is appreciating the taste of the food, and he smirks slightly in approval when Mizu turns down Shindo's attempt to buy her off.
48	* HiddenDepths: Taigen spontaneously recites some poetry when the group passes a mountain on the way to meet Heiji Shindo, and also opens up a bit about his childhood, abusive father, and why his status as a swordsman is so important to him, as it was the only way to escape the miserable life he'd watched his father live.
49	* HiddenDisdainReveal: Heiji Shindo absolutely loathes Fowler, but normally has to hide it. During his meeting with Mizu and Taigen, he gets a rare chance to express his true feelings.
50	* HollywoodHealing: Unless the broth that Ringo cooked is magical, there's no way Mizu should have recovered as quickly as she does.
51	* HonorBeforeReason: Mizu thinks Taigen not killing her when he had the chance is a case of this and chides him for it, summing it up by saying that as she sees it what Taigen really wants is not revenge, but to be celebrated and applauded by others.
52	* IfIWantedYouDead: Taigen first knows Mizu is back on her feet when she puts a sword to his throat while he's in the middle of writing up their contract to a legal duel. Taigen points out he could have easily killed her when she was unconscious, asks her how long she needs before she can fight him properly, and when she says two days, he gives her three days instead. Mizu is unimpressed, saying that if he really does want revenge he should have just killed her when he had the opportunity and gotten it over with.
53	* ImmediateSelfContradiction: Heiji Shindo reacts to Mizu's accusation of sheltering a white man in Japan by referencing the Shogun's law against westerners in Japan, and saying "No one would break the law." He struggles to keep a straight face and just a second or two later admits to working with Fowler and tells Mizu Fowler's name.
54	* ImprovisedArmour:
55	** Mizu makes note of the fine ironwork on Heiji's family-sized tetsubin and takes a moment to appreciate it. The enormous (albeit heavy) lid comes in handy as a shield when they're ambushed by Heiji's archers.
56	** Ringo apparently strips the saddle from one of the horses and ties it onto his back to protect himself from the RainOfArrows when he goes to save Mizu and Taigen.
57	* MadeOfIron: Okiyama survives being poisoned (although it's possible he didn't take enough of a dose to kill him, especially considering his massive size, although the fact that he spontaneously vomits blood makes that excuse a bit dubious) and being kicked off a cliffside and is apparently no worse for wear when he shows up and captures Taigen.
58	* TheManBehindTheMan: Heiji tells Mizu that a request from himself and Fowler will make the Shogun appoint her as a lord. He casually adds that most things that the Shogun does is done at their request.
59	* NiceToTheWaiter: Taigen takes a shine to Ringo, complimenting him for his loyalty and abilities, and promising Ringo that he'll find a place for Ringo in the kitchens Taigen imagines he will have in his grand dreams of the future.
60	* NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine: Both Mizu and Taigen expect an ambush when they reach Heiji Shindo's location, and come charging out of the gully ready to fight. Instead Shindo greets them politely and invites them to share tea. Shindo is also ready to order their deaths in an instant.
61	* ObviousTrap: Taigen repeatedly insists that accepting Heiji's invitation to tea is insane as they're walking into an ambush. It turns out there really is tea, and Heiji's desire to negotiate is sincere, but there's also an ambush waiting should the negotiations break down.
62	* AnOfferYouCantRefuse: After he gets tired of Mizu's questions, Heiji Shindo leaves her with the options of either getting in the barrel to try to carry out the hit on Fowler or dying. [[TakeAThirdOption Mizu cuts off his hand and escapes from the death trap instead]].
63	* OhCrap: After Mizu cuts off his hand, not only is Heiji Shindo terrified of her, he's also scared because now he's in danger of getting shot by his own men as well. As soon as Mizu releases her grip on him, he flees as fast as he can while making tiny noises of fear.
64	* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Taigen insists on a rematch with Mizu in public, even drawing up a contract, because it's the only way to restore his reputation. He's even willing to walk into an ObviousTrap to ensure that no-one else kills her first.
65	* OutGambitted: Heiji tries tricking Mizu into a ''sake'' barrel (though whether it was a trick to kill her is left ambiguous), but Mizu refuses. It turns out that she had no intent of cooperating with Heiji to get to Fowler, and instead was intent on trying to find some other weakness that she could exploit. Learning that Fowler has regular access to prostitutes who must have their own secret method to get to him (since he cannot show his face anywhere in Japan except for the castle on Tanabe Island) gives her a valuable lead.
66	* PretenderDiss: Ringo (probably unintentionally) does one of these to Taigen, stating that he could never serve Taigen because ever since encountering Mizu, Ringo has seen his purpose as serving/helping someone great. Taigen catches onto the implications and tries to protest that he is great.
67	* TheQuietOne: Okiyama communicates mostly through grunts and similar noises. When he actually speaks Ringo is dumbfounded and blurts out "You talk" in surprise.
68	* RainOfArrows: Heiji claims to have 500 archers waiting in ambush should violence ensue. Turns out he's not bluffing, and Mizu and Taigen have to run for a narrow gully using a large iron tetsubin lid as a shield. Even then it's clear they'll never make it out of the gully alive until Ringo turns up for a BigDamnHeroes.
69	* RetiredBadass: When confronted by multiple bandits all around him, the elderly Seki calmly notes that it's been a long time since he killed someone and he wonders if he remembers how to do it. He says this after having quickly drawn his blade and leaving the point only a short distance from the throat of one of the bandits.
70	* RewatchBonus: The first time watching the episode, the actions of Mizu's mother seem like overprotectiveness (and being ProperlyParanoid), and her opium use a minor tragedy in her and Mizu's life. When one rewatches the episode after seeing the entire season (knowing first about Fowler's claim that the woman was not Mizu's mother at all but a maid being paid to protect Mizu, and second that the woman may have tried to sell Mizu out for opium money years later), the flashbacks have much deeper meaning and significance.
71	* SayingTooMuch:
72	** Mizu's goal all along in meeting Shindo is to let him talk until he lets slip something she can use against him and Fowler. He accidentally does so when he mentions the prostitutes who come to visit the island, giving Mizu somewhere to go to for more information without cooperating with Shindo.
73	--->'''Mizu:''' Men like him like to talk so much they eventually tell you how to destroy them.
74	** Seki points out the nearby tavern where flesh traders hang out, citing it as the fate that awaits Akemi outside her GildedCage if she doesn't return. Akemi promptly goes inside and poses as a high-class courtesan, so the flesh trader who buys her will take her where she wants to go.
75	* SecretKeeper: Ringo passes his first big test of how well he can protect Mizu's identity with flying colors. Despite obviously being emotionally distressed when he sees Mizu badly wounded, Ringo manages not to give away that Mizu is a woman, and makes sure to tend to Mizu in a way so that Taigen doesn't realize the truth.
76	* ShipTease: Mizu not only gets aroused fighting Taigen, [[TheLadysFavor she pinches his neck scarf to replace her own]].
77	* SugaryMalice: When Fowler tells Shindo to handle the situation with Mizu, he gives Shindo a whole collection of jolly compliments in a tone that would normally be reserved for a death threat.
78	-->'''Fowler:''' ''You'' solve the problem.\
79	'''Shindo:''' Is that an order? ''[chuckles]''\
80	'''Fowler:''' ''[practically growling]'' Ten years I've wait for this moment. Ten years of planning to make our control of the shogunate absolute... so if you might, my dear, dear friend, my trusted partner and clear equal, my right hand and both feet on land, fondest heart, spare a cup of concern towards our purpose and ''do it your fucking self''.
81	* TapOnTheHead: For all the abuse that characters in this show survive or completely shrug off, Mizu is still able to knock Taigen out for a prolonged period with a simple bump to the back of the head.
82	* TitleDrop: Seki tells Akemi that Japanese society of that time offers a "fixed number of paths" for a woman while attempting to convince her that engagement to the Shogun's son is the right decision.
83	* UnusualEuphemism: Subverted; it looks like this when Heiji tells his huge goon to prepare a "tea ceremony", but that's exactly what he's got planned.
84	* WorfHadTheFlu: Taigen tries to claim this as the reason Mizu defeated him, saying he was drunk and would have been able to defeat Mizu sober. When Mizu promptly gets the better of him both when they "fence" with chopsticks as though said chopsticks were knives and in a bit of hand-to-hand combat ''despite'' her serious and lingering wounds, it rather undermines the excuse. Taigen is still absolutely determined to meet and defeat Mizu in a duel, however, and seems to truly believe that he will win.

Context Recap / BlueEyeSamuraiS01E03AFixedNumberOfPaths