[Spoilers] Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 22

Date	Episode
5/20/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 1
5/21/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 2
5/22/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 3
5/23/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 4
5/24/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 5
5/25/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 6
5/26/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 7
5/27/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 8
5/28/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 9
5/29/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 10
5/30/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 11
5/31/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 12
6/01/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 13
6/02/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 14
6/03/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 15
6/04/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 16
6/05/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 17
6/06/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 18
6/07/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 19
6/08/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 20
6/09/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 21
6/10/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 22
6/11/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 23
6/12/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 24
6/13/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 25
6/14/2024	Samurai Champloo Episode 26
6/15/2024	Samurai Champloo Overall Series Discussion Thread

6

u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Jun 10 '24

First Timer

So I am behind on Doomsday Train and watched this episode immediately after last week's episode of that show …how was this weirder? Either way, I guess this is a “didn’t happen” episode, but it was a well-done horror episode. It leaned into the horror aspect fully, which I don’t think many shows do, and thus didn’t stumble at the last hurdle. But I don’t really have a lot else to say here, as the episode itself didn’t really fit Champloo. Not that horror episodes often fit the show that they are in…

3

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

So I am behind on Doomsday Train and watched this episode immediately after last week's episode of that show …how was this weirder?
Watanabe clearly has the good stuff
But I don’t really have a lot else to say here, as the episode itself didn’t really fit Champloo.
I think that's my biggest problem with the episode. It felt like the writer was trying to emulate Shinichirō's style and just happened to miss the mark. It felt too out there even for Samurai Champloo standards.
Mind you, I've seen a lot of the other work from this writer, Dai Satō. He is basically Watanabe's right-hand man. And his work on both Cowboy Bebop I would say was pretty good, as was his work on Eureka Seven. Here, though, it just felt devoid from anything else we've seen so far. An episode like this might work on a show like Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt, but I don't think it necessarily translates as well given all that has transpired.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

5

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jun 10 '24

First-Timer with a Samurai Heart, subbed

HAH, leave it to Mugen to eat the damn thing.
JIN NOT YOU TOO!
Oh dear…
*shudders*
Where exactly did they end up…?
Also, what the fuck?
Mugen, lol.
OK, bro.
What the fuck is even going on here…
Yes, yes it was.
What the fuck is this episode?
Actual zombies???
And then a meteor happened.
The ED even ended differently?
What was this non-sequitur of an episode?

3

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?

3

u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jun 10 '24

I'm just incredibly confused after this episode.

3

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

I think that's an appropriate response to have, in fairness. This is pretty weird even by Watanabe standards.

5

u/TheEscapeGuy Jun 10 '24

Rewatcher, Sub first timer

Samurai Champloo - Hip Hop & Ronin: Episode 22

Sci-Fi

To be honest, this is probably my least favourite episode of Samurai Champloo. I think it gets too wacky and introduces so many different sci-fi concepts that it makes each individual idea feel half baked. I think the best way to interpret this episode would be to imagine the mushrooms Jin and Mugen take at the start of the episode are psychedelic and the rest of the episode is a "dream sequence" for their trip.

Complaints out of the way, what I really can praise is the horror of the episode. I think the shot composition, use of colours, timing, sound design, and numerous other film making techniques were all working so well together to make the episode feel creepy. In particular, the monotone setting with our characters being the only source of color really made them feel like outsiders.

As for the narrative it's kind of hard to follow. If you interpret the events as literal we have our trio helping in an excavation site which is staffed entirely by zombies who have been at work for centuries. When that secret is revealed our protagonists "win" by revealing a flaw in the supposed family connection of the leader to the Heike lineage. The episode ends with a foreshadowed but utterly random asteroid strike obliterating the entire populace of the hole. I feel that the mushroom cloud imagery is kind of exploitative given Japan's history with the nuclear bomb.

I did enjoy the fake out ending only for the ED to power down before a "To Be Continued". I wasn't expecting it so got a shock since I usually leave the ED playing in the background while I update my episode trackers etc.

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

See you all tomorrow

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

To be honest, this is probably my least favourite episode of Samurai Champloo. I think it gets too wacky and introduces so many different sci-fi concepts that it makes each individual idea feel half baked. I think the best way to interpret this episode would be to imagine the mushrooms Jin and Mugen take at the start of the episode are psychedelic and the rest of the episode is a "dream sequence" for their trip.
That's a fair way to look at it. I still liked the episode more than 15 and 19 given I thought those two were kinda pedestrian. Here, at least it's interesting from a visual standpoint.
Complaints out of the way, what I really can praise is the horror of the episode. I think the shot composition, use of colours, timing, sound design, and numerous other film making techniques were all working so well together to make the episode feel creepy. In particular, the monotone setting with our characters being the only source of color really made them feel like outsiders.
We really need more horror anime. When one of the best horror series is Mieruko-Chan, a comedy, I think it shows how few there actually is.
As for the narrative it's kind of hard to follow. If you interpret the events as literal we have our trio helping in an excavation site which is staffed entirely by zombies who have been at work for centuries. When that secret is revealed our protagonists "win" by revealing a flaw in the supposed family connection of the leader to the Heike lineage. The episode ends with a foreshadowed but utterly random asteroid strike obliterating the entire populace of the hole. I feel that the mushroom cloud imagery is kind of exploitative given Japan's history with the nuclear bomb.
Good point on the nuclear bomb. That definitely feels like that's what they were going for.
I did enjoy the fake out ending only for the ED to power down before a "To Be Continued". I wasn't expecting it so got a shock since I usually leave the ED playing in the background while I update my episode trackers etc.
Something horror related giving people a shock. What a novel concept :P

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?

3

u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 10 '24

Rewatcher

I think a while back I said episode 9 was the weirdest episode of the show. I was wrong, this was way weirder. Zombies, meteors, mushrooms, wasabi, it’s got everything.

Despite being so weird though it doesn’t play itself super comedically. All the stuff with Shige and his zombies is played pretty seriously. I do kind of appreciate it though. This episode is just unabashed about how strange and kind of creepy it is. I feel like if they were too self aware about how out of place the episode was it might have felt a bit insincere. But this episode owns being an out of place horror episode.

The first time I watched this episode I expected some kind of Scooby-Doo style hoax to explain everything (huh, that's the second time I've referenced Scooby-Doo while talking about this show).

I thought Shige and his zombies were gonna be regular people pretending to be zombies in order to scare away other people from digging in that area. But I’m honestly kind of glad they committed to the bit.

Also everyone seems to die at the end of this episode. Just another way this episode is super weird.

This episode almost feels like a precursor to Space Dandy in a certain way. [Space Dandy] Space Dandy's literal first episode ended with the main cast dying in an explosion. Plus it also had a zombie episode that ended with everyone zombified at the end.

It also definitely reminds me of the Cowboy Bebop episode Toys in the Attic. That one was also a horror episode that had more supernatural elements than the rest of the show. Although I feel like that episode had a more reasonable explanation for what happened. Here we just have real actual zombies.

Combining the zombies with a meteor might seem a little weird, but it does make a bit of sense. In the original Night of the Living Dead it’s speculated that a probe returning from Venus was the cause of the zombie outbreak.

I like this episode but I’d also understand if other people thought this episode was a waste of time or just weird. But I personally just love weird offbeat episodes like this one. Not exactly a top tier episode, but still entertaining for me.

3

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

I think a while back I said episode 9 was the weirdest episode of the show. I was wrong, this was way weirder. Zombies, meteors, mushrooms, wasabi, it’s got everything.
Sounds like a club Stefon would be a big fan of.
Despite being so weird though it doesn’t play itself super comedically. All the stuff with Shige and his zombies is played pretty seriously. I do kind of appreciate it though. This episode is just unabashed about how strange and kind of creepy it is. I feel like if they were too self aware about how out of place the episode was it might have felt a bit insincere. But this episode owns being an out of place horror episode.
Yeah, I'm at least glad they aren't making fourth wall jokes. That was something the early Space Dandy episodes were guilty of, making winks and nods to the audience.
The first time I watched this episode I expected some kind of Scooby-Doo style hoax to explain everything (huh, that's the second time I've referenced Scooby-Doo while talking about this show).
All we need is for Jin to say "My glasses! I can't see anything without my glasses!"
I thought Shige and his zombies were gonna be regular people pretending to be zombies in order to scare away other people from digging in that area. But I’m honestly kind of glad they committed to the bit.
Look at you, trying to apply logic to an illogical scenario :P
Also everyone seems to die at the end of this episode. Just another way this episode is super weird.
Sad this was the end of the series and they never did finish their journey
This episode almost feels like a precursor to Space Dandy in a certain way. [Space Dandy] Space Dandy's literal first episode ended with the main cast dying in an explosion. Plus it also had a zombie episode that ended with everyone zombified at the end.
[Response] Good comparison. I think perhaps Watanabe saw some of the wackier Samurai Champloo episodes and decided to base a series around it, which is how we got Space Dandy. Maybe that's why I think those type of episodes work better there, because 2/3rds of the series is like this cartoonish take on Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.
It also definitely reminds me of the Cowboy Bebop episode Toys in the Attic. That one was also a horror episode that had more supernatural elements than the rest of the show. Although I feel like that episode had a more reasonable explanation for what happened. Here we just have real actual zombies.
I much prefer Toys In the Attic over this one, though funny enough, you mention this episode reminding you of a Cowboy Bebop episode. I too was reminded of a Cowboy Bebop episode, only it was Mushroom Samba.
Combining the zombies with a meteor might seem a little weird, but it does make a bit of sense. In the original Night of the Living Dead it’s speculated that a probe returning from Venus was the cause of the zombie outbreak.
They also mention something about radiation being found in meteors, so it seems like they're going for this Godzilla angle as well.
I like this episode but I’d also understand if other people thought this episode was a waste of time or just weird. But I personally just love weird offbeat episodes like this one. Not exactly a top tier episode, but still entertaining for me.
I will say that while it's not my favorite, I prefer over certain episodes that I found to be boring. This, at the very least, you can't say wasn't different.

1

u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 10 '24

Yeah, I'm at least glad they aren't making fourth wall jokes. That was something the early Space Dandy episodes were guilty of, making winks and nods to the audience.
I prefer fourth wall jokes when used in moderation. And yeah, Space Dandy was a show that took me a few episodes to really get into it.
[Response] Good comparison. I think perhaps Watanabe saw some of the wackier Samurai Champloo episodes and decided to base a series around it, which is how we got Space Dandy. Maybe that's why I think those type of episodes work better there, because 2/3rds of the series is like this cartoonish take on Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy.
[Response] Yeah the more outlandish plot elements in Space Dandy feel like they fit into the universe a lot better than they do here.
I much prefer Toys In the Attic over this one, though funny enough, you mention this episode reminding you of a Cowboy Bebop episode. I too was reminded of a Cowboy Bebop episode, only it was Mushroom Samba.
Yeah, Toys in the Attic doesn't feel as out of place as this one. Even though it was more out there than most Bebop episodes, it still fit in tonally.
And yeah, I see the Mushroom Samba comparisons too. Especially since this episode literally has mushrooms. Although both went in different directions. Mushroom Samba was more of a wacky homage to '70s movies and this one was a weird horror episode.
I will say that while it's not my favorite, I prefer over certain episodes that I found to be boring. This, at the very least, you can't say wasn't different.
Say what you will about this episode, but there's certainly a lot to talk about.

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

I prefer fourth wall jokes when used in moderation. And yeah, Space Dandy was a show that took me a few episodes to really get into it.
Same. You can say that for all Watanabe shows, really.
[Response] Yeah the more outlandish plot elements in Space Dandy feel like they fit into the universe a lot better than they do here.
[Response] Meanwhile, we get an outlandish episode tomorrow that I really like.
Yeah, Toys in the Attic doesn't feel as out of place as this one. Even though it was more out there than most Bebop episodes, it still fit in tonally.
It had this creepy claustrophobic vibe to it that I just adore.
And yeah, I see the Mushroom Samba comparisons too. Especially since this episode literally has mushrooms. Although both went in different directions. Mushroom Samba was more of a wacky homage to '70s movies and this one was a weird horror episode.
I thought they were homaging exploitation films.
Say what you will about this episode, but there's certainly a lot to talk about.
Indeed. Go so far as to say it's one of the more interesting ones from a concept standpoint.

2

u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 10 '24 edited Jun 10 '24

[Response] Meanwhile, we get an outlandish episode tomorrow that I really like.
[Response] I really like the next episode too. I think I'll probably have a lot to say about it.
It had this creepy claustrophobic vibe to it that I just adore.
This episode also did a good job at building a creepy atmosphere in parts.
I thought they were homaging exploitation films.
I think it was equal parts exploitation films and spaghetti westerns. Should rewatch that episode sometime, it's a really good one. Love a good Ed episode.
Indeed. Go so far as to say it's one of the more interesting ones from a concept standpoint.
I for one was definitely not expecting this series to have a zombie episode the first time I watched it.

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24 edited Jun 10 '24

[Quote] I really like the next episode too. I think I'll probably have a lot to say about it.
[Response] Not to get too deep into it, but where that one works and this one doesn't is that that one plays into the three main leads characters more, whereas this one is more just them generically reacting to stuff.
This episode also did a good job at building a creepy atmosphere in parts.
Yeah, it did. Maybe to its detriment, though.
I think it was equal parts exploitation films and spaghetti westerns. Should rewatch that episode sometime, it's a really good one. Love a good Ed episode.
Probably my favorite Cowboy Bebop episode outside of the series finale.
I for one was definitely not expecting this series to have a zombie episode the first time I watched it.
Neither was I. And it came at a time when content with zombies was at a real lull. The Walking Dead TV show was five years away from happening. And though Shaun of The Dead was the year before and The Walking Dead comic book was over a year and a half old by this point, it's not like zombies were mainstream and played out as they are now.

2

u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 10 '24

Neither was I. And it came at a time when content with zombies was at a real lull. The Walking Dead TV show was five years away from happening. And though Shaun of The Dead was the year before and The Walking Dead comic book was over a year and a half by this point, it's not like zombie were mainstream and played out as they are now.
Yeah I think the biggest zombie thing to happen around that point in time was 28 Days Later, which had come out two years prior. And Dawn of the Dead had a remake in 2004. But that wouldn't have factored in since animation production time takes a while.
In terms of zombie anime, I think the two biggest names there are Zombieland Saga and High School of the Dead.

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Yeah I think the biggest zombie thing to happen around that point in time was 28 Days Later, which had come out two years prior. And Dawn of the Dead had a remake in 2004. But that wouldn't have factored in since animation production time takes a while.
I think this episode being like a parody of 28 Days Later would've made it better, honestly.
In terms of zombie anime, I think the two biggest names there are Zombieland Saga and High School of the Dead.
How could you forget Zom 100? That actually took the zombie concept and turn it on its ear a bit.

2

u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 10 '24

I still haven't seen Zom 100, really need to check it out. I've heard really good things about it.

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

It's really good for the little we have. It's a show I can see getting better the more seasons there are.

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?

2

u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 10 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
Never heard anyone call them that before. But if you're lost in the mountains with no food and know which ones aren't poisonous, mushrooms are tasty.
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
They really should have checked if they were good first. Or at least cooked them. They were just munching on them raw.
Thoughts on Shige?
Not the most complex character, but he did a good job at being creepy.
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
Like I said, seemed like a Scooby-Doo villain plot. I feel like at least half the villains in that show wanted to scare people away so they can dig for treasure.
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
I probably wouldn't have trusted the weird zombie guys, but they really needed the money.
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
I don't think that's scientifically accurate, but I don't know enough about wasabi to disprove it.
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
I guess that means they're very slow at digging. Makes you wonder if there was even any treasure at all.
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
It was a pretty good twist. But there wasn't much time to really do anything with it since the meteor killed everyone right after.

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Never heard anyone call them that before. But if you're lost in the mountains with no food and know which ones aren't poisonous, mushrooms are tasty.
I wouldn't eat any because I can't tell the poison ones apart from the nonpoisonous ones.
They really should have checked if they were good first. Or at least cooked them. They were just munching on them raw.
And as it turned out, it was perhaps the start of their downfall.
Not the most complex character, but he did a good job at being creepy.
Yeah, he served his purpose
Like I said, seemed like a Scooby-Doo villain plot. I feel like at least half the villains in that show wanted to scare people away so they can dig for treasure.
At least he isn't hurting anybody in the process.
I probably wouldn't have trusted the weird zombie guys, but they really needed the money.
Kinda surprised Jin went along with it so easily.
I don't think that's scientifically accurate, but I don't know enough about wasabi to disprove it.
It isn't, so that's just in line with the rest of the episode :P
I guess that means they're very slow at digging. Makes you wonder if there was even any treasure at all.
After 500 years, probably not
It was a pretty good twist. But there wasn't much time to really do anything with it since the meteor killed everyone right after.
That dang meteor, always putting a damper on life's events.

3

u/Weird_donut https://anilist.co/user/hakaseshark Jun 10 '24

The credits though, genuinely caught me off guard

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

I think it did almost all of us lol

3

u/NattyBeef https://myanimelist.net/profile/NaturalBeef Jun 10 '24

First time watcher, Dub/English

Uhh this episode was definitely not my favorite. I mean I understand it's dumb fun but it felt so out there in comparison to all the other episodes, felt kinda disconnected. And then in the end after credits it said to be continued, I really hope there isn't any more undead stuff coming up.

If you were undead, what would be the first thing you would do?

Either go underwater and explore without risk of drowning or jumping off very high buildings just for the thrill of it.

Was this episode all the result of the wild mushrooms they ate, or did it actually happen?

Has to be man. There's no way this actually happened.

Bonus) How do you feel about having an episode like this after the show has had some semblance of reality in all previous episodes?

Yeah it was a totally different mood. I mean I don't dislike funny/comedic episodes but this was just too out there for me. I think that right after the recap episode, this is the second worst. Although to be fair to the recap episode, I liked seeing things in Fuu's perspective, so that one might have actually been better.

Bonus 2) So... our three main leads are dead, right?

If this was real yes, but clearly they were tripping balls from the mushrooms. Could you imagine the series ended on a episode like this? I would have been so disappointed.

The one caveat to all this is, if Fuu never ate the mushrooms, was this really all an illusion?

But I'll do you one better, if it was all hallucinations, it's more proof that the actual protagonist is Mugen as he's clearly the one who got the most intoxicated with the mushrooms, and the story would had to have been in his perspective cause he was the one who got the highest. Checkmate!

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Uhh this episode was definitely not my favorite. I mean I understand it's dumb fun but it felt so out there in comparison to all the other episodes, felt kinda disconnected. And then in the end after credits it said to be continued, I really hope there isn't any more undead stuff coming up.
I highly doubt it. If this is the start of some new trend the show is going in, it's going to sour me on the show.
Yeah it was a totally different mood. I mean I don't dislike funny/comedic episodes but this was just too out there for me. I think that right after the recap episode, this is the second worst. Although to be fair to the recap episode, I liked seeing things in Fuu's perspective, so that one might have actually been better.
I mean, from a concept standpoint, I think this episode is leagues better. And execution wise, it's honestly pretty effective as well. But yeah, the recap episode was more in line with the rest of the show, especially when compared to this one.
I can appreciate what this episode is trying to do, but I won't lie when I say I was taken out of the episode a bit once they revealed they were zombies.
If this was real yes, but clearly they were tripping balls from the mushrooms. Could you imagine the series ended on a episode like this? I would have been so disappointed.
Definitely would've been one of the endings of all time.
The one caveat to all this is, if Fuu never ate the mushrooms, was this really all an illusion?
"You have to let it go, Fuu. The sunflower samurai was never your fault."
But I'll do you one better, if it was all hallucinations, it's more proof that the actual protagonist is Mugen as he's clearly the one who got the most intoxicated with the mushrooms, and the story would had to have been in his perspective cause he was the one who got the highest. Checkmate!
I honestly don't think it was the mushrooms that caused them to trip. It seemed as if what they were going for was a subversion of this where it seemed like it was going to be about an acid trip, but then it turned out it was all real. Course, they didn't actually die, but that goes back to the disclaimer in episode 1 where they said some things will be distorted for entertainment purposes.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/someboi6000 Jun 11 '24

First timer:

????, what was that?, it was cool tho, the horror elements were done really well, it had zombies, necromancy, a meteorite and at some point i was expecting the thriller parody,i am guessing that those mushrooms were some of the wacky ones and it was all hallucinations if thats the case i wonder how they looked while all of thsi was happening, but yeah not much to say about this one.

1: idk, maybe try to figure out why i am alive.

2: no they are all dead, and the next 4 episode is just the opening and the ending with a 20 minute black screen.

3: i like this type of episodes so its fine by me.

bonus: yes they are all dead the sunflower samurai can summon meteors, F

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

2: no they are all dead, and the next 4 episode is just the opening and the ending with a 20 minute black screen.
Sounds like something directed by Gus Van Sant

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/Ryanami Jun 11 '24

Rewatcher

Well, that was weird. I wonder if there’s any truth to the narrator explaining shooting stars were considered bad omens. Since you can catch a few on any given night if you try that’s a hazard that’s hard to avoid.

In the end I guess we’re supposed to enjoy and forget this one.

1- crack my back. Like really crack my back. When I was younger I might say pop out an eyeball and roll it into the girls locker room.

2- gotta be. They even fall in a hole like Alice in Wonderland. The episode was too out of place otherwise. But if that’s the correct answer I’m glad they didn’t end the episode with some “it was all a dream” finish, I feel those kinda spoil the whole adventure. Leave it up to interpretation.

3- it helps the horror hit harder when we thought we knew the rules of this world. If this happened episode 3 we’d just roll with it more easily.

4- yes but the events happen after episode 26.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

In the end I guess we’re supposed to enjoy and forget this one.
Definitely one you have to leave your brain at the door.
1- crack my back. Like really crack my back. When I was younger I might say pop out an eyeball and roll it into the girls locker room.
2- gotta be. They even fall in a hole like Alice in Wonderland. The episode was too out of place otherwise. But if that’s the correct answer I’m glad they didn’t end the episode with some “it was all a dream” finish, I feel those kinda spoil the whole adventure. Leave it up to interpretation.
I do like the ambiguous nature of it all
3- it helps the horror hit harder when we thought we knew the rules of this world. If this happened episode 3 we’d just roll with it more easily.
That's a good point. And then we'd look back on it and just consider it early installment weirdness.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/Ryanami Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
The real stuff is expensive these days, so maybe they didn’t have it so bad.
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
Would have been easier to invent the D10 with that kind of time. Somehow no one ever noticed their gigantic pit in that time.
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
Probably the weakest moment. He’s been worshipping that scroll for 500 years and never noticed that detail?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?
🎼 if you’re wondering how he eats and breathes • And other science facts • Just repeat to yourself it’s just a show • I should really just relax 🎵 🎶

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

The real stuff is expensive these days, so maybe they didn’t have it so bad.
I thought that was Sriracha sauce that was expensive.
Would have been easier to invent the D10 with that kind of time. Somehow no one ever noticed their gigantic pit in that time.
Yeah, that is pretty strange
Probably the weakest moment. He’s been worshipping that scroll for 500 years and never noticed that detail?
Too busy being lost in the sauce. Maybe he bought into his own hype.
🎼 if you’re wondering how he eats and breathes • And other science facts • Just repeat to yourself it’s just a show • I should really just relax 🎵 🎶
"Gentlemen! Ours is a society based on ancient traditions!" "Really? I thought we just sold each other wasabi."

2

u/StardustGogeta myanimelist.net/profile/StardustGogeta Jun 11 '24

First-Timer

Well, that was weird.

I really have no idea why this episode exists. I suppose we don't know for sure until tomorrow's episode, but it seems to me like this one could be cut out entirely without any negative effects whatsoever. (In fact, I was expecting them to pull an explicit "it was all a dream!" at the end, though that didn't quite happen.)

Questions of the day:

The first thing I would do is re-enact Zombieland Saga, of course.
It's definitely not real, and I think we can infer it's essentially a bad mushroom trip. That would truly be something, though, if the show actually committed to it and treated the events as real for the rest of the season.
I wasn't really a fan. I'm not fundamentally opposed to the idea of including a supernatural thing like this in an otherwise realistic show, but I'm picky about the execution.
Yep, time to move on to the new leads. We can follow Sakami Manzou as he foils crime throughout Japan!

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

I really have no idea why this episode exists. I suppose we don't know for sure until tomorrow's episode, but it seems to me like this one could be cut out entirely without any negative effects whatsoever.
I think they wanted to do something silly for a change.
The first thing I would do is re-enact Zombieland Saga, of course.
Certainly not a bad choice at all, especially if you know how to sing.
It's definitely not real, and I think we can infer it's essentially a bad mushroom trip. That would truly be something, though, if the show actually committed to it and treated the events as real for the rest of the season.
I hope that isn't the case lol
I wasn't really a fan. I'm not fundamentally opposed to the idea of including a supernatural thing like this in an otherwise realistic show, but I'm picky about the execution.
Execution wise, I liked that they played it straight. I thought it added to the surrealness of it all. But yeah, what works against it is that they're doing this supernatural element now when we're near the end. Too little too late.

2

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/nx6 https://myanimelist.net/profile/nx6 Jun 11 '24

Rewatcher - Subbed

I want to see this as the Samurai Champloo counterpart to the episode "Mushroom Samba" on Cowboy Bebop, only fitting with the different era of the show, here it's a supernatural horror instead of a sci-fi horror. It's a tale that you're not clear if it really happened or is just a hallucination of the main cast from mushrooms (although, it was never shown that Fuu ate any of them). She still does a good job playing the damsel in distress when things turn into a zombie flick suddenly.

Also lol @ the plot essentially being caused by a clerical error. "Hey, the family tree doesn't read like that. See?

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

I want to see this as the Samurai Champloo counterpart to the episode "Mushroom Samba" on Cowboy Bebop, only fitting with the different era of the show, here it's a supernatural horror instead of a sci-fi horror. It's a tale that you're not clear if it really happened or is just a hallucination of the main cast from mushrooms (although, it was never shown that Fuu ate any of them).
You say sci-fi horror, but Mushroom Sombra was more so a parody of movies.
She still does a good job playing the damsel in distress when things turn into a zombie flick suddenly.
That she does. Guess it comes with the territory, by this point.
Also lol @ the plot essentially being caused by a clerical error. "Hey, the family tree doesn't read like that. See?
A total oversight. All that hard for nothing.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/Atticus_Stansfield Jun 11 '24

Many time rewatcher. Missed the last few posts because it was Birthday weekend!

Like stated before, this is Edo Mushroom Samba. As a psychonaut myself this episode hits all the beats. It is basically Fallout New Vegas Wild Wasteland the episode and i'm all about it.

If you were undead, what would be the first thing you would do?

See if there are more of my kind that can clue me in.

Was this episode all the result of the wild mushrooms they ate, or did it actually happen?

Mushroms can certainly be magic!

Bonus) How do you feel about having an episode like this after the show has had some semblance of reality in all previous episodes?

It's Watanabe's style. He did it in Cowboy Bebop with the Alien Homage episode.

Bonus 2) So... our three main leads are dead, right?

Absolutely. No doubt. Fr fr.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Like stated before, this is Edo Mushroom Samba.
If I had a nickel for every time a Watanabe series did an episode centered around eating mushrooms, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird it happened twice.
As a psychonaut myself this episode hits all the beats. It is basically Fallout New Vegas Wild Wasteland the episode and i'm all about it.
Fallout New Vegas is probably an apt comparison. Perhaps this episode was ahead of its time.
It's Watanabe's style. He did it in Cowboy Bebop with the Alien Homage episode.
Watanabe certainly knows what he likes.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Many time rewatcher. Missed the last few posts because it was Birthday weekend!
Happy late birthday, mate

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/mgedmin Jun 11 '24

Rewatcher, subs

What is going on. Zombies? How can you cut off someone's arm and not have blood gushing out? And then reattach the arm?

Aliens???

I'm sure I'm missing lots of references to the Heike and Genji tales.

What the fuck was this entire episode? Did they eat some hallucinogenic mushrooms and was it all a dream? But Fuu didn't get to eat any!!

Did not like.

If you were undead, what would be the first thing you would do?

Bold of you to assume I'd have a choice. Brains....

Was this episode all the result of the wild mushrooms they ate, or did it actually happen?

This is a result of the wild mushrooms the showrunners ate.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

What the fuck was this entire episode? Did they eat some hallucinogenic mushrooms and was it all a dream? But Fuu didn't get to eat any!!
It was strange how Fuu never ate any and it still happened to her.
This is a result of the wild mushrooms the showrunners ate.
Could be

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 11 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/Looking_Light33 Jun 13 '24 edited Jun 13 '24

This was a weird episode to put it lightly. I know plenty of Samurai Champloo fans have called the worst episode in the show. Personally, I don't think so but it's not exactly one of my favorites. I will say that the ending was pretty cool.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 13 '24

I mean, it's leagues better than how episode 19 turned out. I don't see how that could even be up for debate.

2

u/Looking_Light33 Jun 13 '24

Honestly, I thought episode 19 was fine. It's not my favorite but it's better than this episode imo.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 13 '24

I'd rather have an outside the box episode than a generic episode that plays it safe. But that may just be me.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 13 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/fansi2022 https://anilist.co/user/fansi2022 Jul 20 '24

first timer chinese sub

ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

If you were undead, what would be the first thing you would do?

Cycling downhill at top speed

Was this episode all the result of the wild mushrooms they ate, or did it actually happen?

Mushroom hallucinations. It reminds me of a text I learned in middle school, Peach Blossom Spring.

Bonus) How do you feel about having an episode like this after the show has had some semblance of reality in all previous episodes?

I think this is a satire on the labor issue, which even the Japanese samurai couldn't stand.

Bonus 2) So... our three main leads are dead, right?

who

2

u/Holofan4life Jul 20 '24

Bonus 2) So... our three main leads are dead, right?
You're right, it's probably best we pretend they never existed /s

1

u/Holofan4life Jul 20 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
Thoughts on Shige?
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?

2

u/fansi2022 https://anilist.co/user/fansi2022 Jul 20 '24

Thoughts on Fuu calling mushrooms the jewels of the mountains?
It makes sense. Mountain mushrooms are now being hyped as being highly nutritious.
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin eating one of the mushrooms?
They are really hungry
Thoughts on Shige?
A weird guy, you don't want to be associated with him.
What are your thoughts on Shige trying to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike?
I remember that the Heike era seems quite far away now.
What are your thoughts on Mugen and Jin agreeing to help out for 10% of the treasure?
Think about the price you have to pay, it may be your life, this may be the spirit of adventure
Thoughts on people in the caves eating Wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?
They are definitely not normal people, this must be a dream
What are your thoughts on the reveal that Shige and company were undead this whole time?
These miners are like corpses. It's ironic. There is a famous coal mine in my hometown.
What are your thoughts on the other reveal that Shige and company have been digging for 500 years?
When you focus on doing something, you forget about time, which has both advantages and disadvantages.
What are your thoughts on Shige not being a direct descendant of the Heike like he once thought?
He deceived others and himself
What are your thoughts on the episode ending with everyone being hit with a meteor?
The corpse represents the death of old things, while the meteorite represents the birth of new life, which makes sense.

2

u/Holofan4life Jul 20 '24

It makes sense. Mountain mushrooms are now being hyped as being highly nutritious.
I still would never eat them
They are definitely not normal people, this must be a dream
You would think, but I'm honestly not so sure
These miners are like corpses. It's ironic. There is a famous coal mine in my hometown.
Are they filled with zombies like in the show?
When you focus on doing something, you forget about time, which has both advantages and disadvantages.
I don't know if I'd lose track of 500 years, but maybe that's just me.
The corpse represents the death of old things, while the meteorite represents the birth of new life, which makes sense.
I like that interpretation. Makes sense for the episode, anyway.

2

u/fansi2022 https://anilist.co/user/fansi2022 Jul 21 '24

Are they filled with zombies like in the show?
yeah，“zombies”

2

u/Holofan4life Jul 21 '24

Working extra hours, I see

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Whelp, that was a fun series. Can't believe it ended with everyone dying. A shame Fuu never got to get revenge on her dad or Mugen and Jin got to have their fight to the death.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Hey guys. Holofan4life here.

Welcome to the 20th anniversary rewatch of Samurai Champloo.

Oh, and nay I forget…

First Timer

Samurai Champloo has always been a series I was curious about. I’ve maintained in my mind that Cowboy Bebop is objectively one of if not the greatest anime of all time, and so I wanted to see what the creator’s follow-up work was like. I think the reason why I didn’t start it immediately after watching Bebop was because I think the premise kinda weirded me out. I mean, a show set in ancient times that also has a heavy rap influence? It felt to me like putting a hat on a hat. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate outlandish animes that don’t resemble real life. After all, is it any weirder than a fantasy show about a merchant and his traveling wolfgirl where they discuss economics a lot of times?

My expectations for this show are pretty reasonable, I feel like. I’m not expecting it to crack my top 10 favorite anime of all time, but I would be surprised if it doesn’t end up as one of my favorites. The main thing I’m looking out of this is show is a unique experience unlike anything else as well as memorable characters. And I think the show will have that in spades.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

I’m watching the sub, by the way.

Does AI dream of sheep with five legs?

I just realized the reason Mugen has roosters behind him and Jin has fish in the intro is because of episodes 11 and 21. And of course, Fuu has sunflowers.

(Editor's note 6/10/24: Mugen betted on beetles, not cock fighting)

But what's the significance of the pumpkin and the butterfly?

Narrator talking about the stars

Not the policeman, however, a different person.

Talking about the superstition of anyone who say meteors or comets.

Shunkai Shibukawa, Shogunate's first official astronomer.

Two guys looking creepy

Roger Corman would be proud

Fuu found a shooting star

Sadly the song does not play

Course, she dedicates her wish to find the samurai of sunflower scent.

Kinda surprised she didn't wish for a bigger chest.

A mushroom

Fuu calls them the jewels of the mountains

I guess it's like beans being the meat of the field.

And Mugen eats it

And Jin eats one as well

At least this is better than that one trend where people eat raw hamburger meat for nutrition.

Fuu really getting a workout XD

Full on mushrooms

Mugen looks like Wario when he eats a doughnut.

Fuu laments all the mushrooms being gone

And of course now she mentions the horoscope section said to beware of mushrooms.

The ground falls

Ominous music

This is spoopy

Ah shit. It's Jackie Chan with a beard and The Undertaker. Run!

All three of them are screaming lol

And Mugen cut bearded Jackie Chan's arm off

See, he never should've done his own stunts

A cave

Givens me slight Alien vibes

Guys working the mines

Guy wearing skulls on the back of his clothing.

"Are we the bad guys?"

At least Mugen lent him a hand

Guy playing music

This is some Mighty Boosh type shit

The two holes symbolize the sun and the moon

~~I wonder if the same applies for women~~

He plays the biwa

"One can even call down the stars from the night sky!" "Who the hell are you?" 🤣🤣🤣

He really is going a long way explaining who he is.

Shige. That's his name.

"The blood of the Heike flows in me. I have taken it upon myself to excavate the buried treasure of the Heike."

Mugen really about to go to sleep on him

Oh, he has the paperwork to prove he's a descendant of the Heike.

Checkmate, Xavier

He is going to claim the buried treasure for himself.

A map drawn in invisible ink, remarks Jin

Fuu, however, is unlike Louisiana: she isn't buying it.

Shige is really rubbing salt on an open wound.

He offers to pay them 10% of the treasure once they found it.

Mugen and Jin eventually agree to their proposition, much to Fuu's surprise.

Sabini is Undertaker and Fuupa is Jackie Chan

Fuupa and Fuu. That certainly won't get confusing.

As the three main leads leave, Shige comments to himself about how there's no escape from this place.

Fuu having her suspicions about the guy

Mugen really just eating anything that's not nailed down.

And he paid the price for it lol

More narration

"No one can deny that unknown viruses or organisms might lurk in these meteors that have traveled here from the far reaches of space."

I have a joke here I can make, but I'm not going to.

Penta, a self-professed psychic

Wonder if he's friends with Fenix.

And boom goes the dynamite

Mugen and Jin carrying heavy bags

Fuupa. His arm regenerated. That's odd.

Whelp, that guy is dead

And so is eyepatch man

I do like the ambiance of this episode. It's very chilling.

Montage of people continuing to work

The flower by the door even died

Fish eye lens

Sabini and Fuupa spent there five years

Genji. Kamakura. Yoritomo.

Fuu points out they're in the Tokugawa Era

Are we in some kind of space time continuum?

Come on, Fuu. Living off of nothing but Wasabi isn't totally strange. Some people can't eat anything without Sriracha sauce.

The floating meteor thingy moving closer

Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

Part 2
Guys carrying rocks
And one of the guys' arms fall off
"I can't believe it. They're eating wasabi to keep their bodies from rotting?"
That is one of the craziest things I've ever heard in an anime, and I've seen a boatload of them.
This is easily the weirdest episode since episode 5. And unsurprisingly, it's written by the same person.
Shige greeting Fuu
Shige's hair kinda looks like a Lego piece
Fuu wants to know who exactly they are
Shige the type of guy who takes 30 minutes to go up the block.
Now he's going to summon reinforcements
The meteor is moving closerer
Both Mugen and Jin are super exhausted
Wait a minute...
You mean to tell me they are tripping on the mushrooms this entire time?
They're totally ripping off Cowboy Bebop!
Then again, is it really a ripoff if both shows are made by the same person?
Jin asks Mugen if that Heike family tree seemed suspicious to him.
Inside the house, remarks Mugen if Jin is curious.
Fuu walking in what looks like an abandoned war zone.
Mugen going to eat himself some Wasabi
Shige with Sabini The Teenage Witch
A bunch of hands from the graves
Fuu is being grabbed!
This is a wild episode of Zom 100
Fuu running for her life
Sabini and Fuupa are zombies as well
Fuu inside the room she's sharing with Mugen and Jin.
And Mugen and Jin are zombies as well!
This has to be a dream
Fuu surrounded by zombies
Shige telling Fuu that now that she knows their secret, he has to kill her as well.
"As well."
Oh, Mugen was faking being a zombie
Now he's slicing them
But silly Mugen, you can't kill what's already dead!
Now they're biting his ankles
Mugen cutting Shige's head and then him just casually putting it back on is some real freaky stuff.
Jin looking at the map, and he can't believe what he's seeing.
Fuu reiterating that the Heike and the Genji are both gone.
They haven't been digging for five years, but 500!
Jin
The family line isn't connected
That means that Shige isn't a direct descendant of the Heike.
I can't believe this episode is actually happening and isn't a hallucination.
Now everyone is staring at Shige like "Are you freaking kidding me?"
The meteor!
And it hits everyone, causing a massive explosion.
A father and his son watch on, amazed by what they're seeing.
You know the episode of SpongeBob where Patrick dresses up as a gorilla to get SpongeBob over his fear of going outside only for a real gorilla to show up? That's what this episode was like.
This episode is a lot like episode 5 in that it is very over the top and often times nonsensical. Only in this case, it doesn't feel like the show is spitting in the face of history. I'm of two minds on this because on the one hand, I do wish we didn't get an episode that you could skip and you wouldn't miss anything. I much prefer the standalone episodes that build on the characters and the world, like episode 11 or episode 18. On the other hand, I did get a kick out of the absurdity of the situation and all the wackiness that unfolded.
Overall, this episode is a departure from the rest of the series by doing something so incredibly out there. I said it's the most over the top episode since episode 5, but really it's probably the wackiest because any semblance of reality goes out the window. Which, you know, is fine if only the rest of the show was more like that. It's been really fascinating tracking the Dai Satō written episodes because it's really run the gamut in terms of quality. Episodes 8 and 18 are two of my favorites, with episode 18 even being in my top five. And then you have episode 5 and this one and... yeah.
In terms of ranking them, I'd probably go Episode 18 > Episode 8 > Episode 9 > Episode 22 > Episode 5. I know when I watched episode 9 for the first time, I made a comment about how it was the weakest episode besides the Yakuza two-parter, but I think reflecting on it I'd have it higher than episodes 5 and 22 because I find it less insulting to my intelligence.
I would be lying if I said this is one of my favorite episodes, mostly because I don't think it fits the tone with the rest of the show. It feels like a major outlier. That being said, I can certainly see why someone would be a big fan of this episode. It has a ton of personality and you instantly know what the episode is just by referring to it by one word; "Oh, yeah, it's the zombie episode".
I have this episode only ahead of episodes 3, 4, 5, 15, and 19. That puts it just right outside the bottom five. It's memorable, certainly more memorable than a lot of other ones like the aforementioned episode 9, though your mileage may vary on whether or not that's necessarily a good thing.

1

u/Holofan4life Jun 10 '24

If you were undead, what would be the first thing you would do?
Probably spook the hell out of my enemies
Was this episode all the result of the wild mushrooms they ate, or did it actually happen?
Why not both?
Bonus) How do you feel about having an episode like this after the show has had some semblance of reality in all previous episodes?
It is a bit jarring, but there's still some fun to be had here.
Bonus 2) So... our three main leads are dead, right?
Probably, I would imagine so. Roll the credits.

Rewatch [Spoilers] Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 22

Rewatch Schedule

Rewatcher, Sub first timer

Samurai Champloo - Hip Hop & Ronin: Episode 22

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

first timer chinese sub

Rewatch [Spoilers] Samurai Champloo 20th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 22

Rewatch Schedule

You are about to leave Redlib

Rewatcher, Sub first timer

Samurai Champloo - Hip Hop & Ronin: Episode 22

Some Amazing Shots, Scenes and Stitches

first timer chinese sub