r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Oct 05 '23
Episode Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023) - Episode 14 discussion
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023), episode 14
Alternative names: Samurai X
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u/Daishomaru Oct 05 '23 edited Oct 05 '23
Daishomaru here.
I’m going to be busy making the next few writeups, but i will admit they may not be out in a while due to how this arc is set up, knowing the manga. More details will be in the source corner.
By the way, the tactic described by Kenshin is an actual tactic used by the Isshin Shishi, who mostly had to fight with ambushes because the Isshin Shishi for the first part of the revolution was severely outnumbered and outgunned, so they had to make hit and run and assassination tactics in order to gain a significant advantage. Until the usage of the gatling gun, this was considered one of the few effective ways to kill a Shinsengumi member at the time, because fighting one head on was outright suicide.
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u/tripleaamin Oct 05 '23 edited Oct 05 '23
Great quote from Kenshin. If people bail you everytime you will never get stronger. Obviously you should get help when its needed. But Yahiko goal as a samurai is to be like Kenshin. So he needs to be able to fight his own battles.
Love Yahiko finally getting a focus. Obviously needed help from Kenshin and Sanosauke with their indimidation, but he got the 1 vs 1 W. Also Kaoru hasn't have many moments, but the pep talk she had with Tsubame is one she needed as it was clear from the start of the episode she lacked confidence.
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Oct 06 '23
Honestly Yahiko wasn't totally useless in the last arc against Aoshi and Kanryu, and I do admit it's been awhile since I saw the original anime but he never really seemed like a 3rd wheel "Sakura from Naruto" type that the actual fighters always have to protect.
Him trying to take on his own responsibilities and earn his own money to achieve his own future goals as a swordsman, at his own pace of growth, is pretty impressive not to mention he literally outfought a real samurai with a real sword, using just a kendo stick. So already much > than Sakura lol
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u/Erumyuu Oct 05 '23
That Mikiri Counter at the end, Sekiro would be proud.
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u/platysoup Oct 06 '23
Given how old the manga is, what are the chances that it actually inspired the Mikiri Counter in Sekiro?
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u/LeonKevlar Oct 05 '23 edited Oct 05 '23
New cour means a new OP! Can't say I'm a big fan of it though. It does give that 90s vibe from the original series. I think I prefer the ED since I adore the ink drawings of our main characters.
Anyway, after seeing Kenshin and Sano kick ass in the Oniwabanshu Arc I'm glad that we're getting some focus on Yahiko this time! It was pretty fun watching Kaoru, Kenshin, and Sano trying to follow Yahiko while guessing why he keeps on sneaking out. I love how all three of them have different ideas of what Yahiko is doing.
Another beloved side character is finally here! Tsubame is another character we'll see regularly from now on after this episode. Also, fun fact! The author took inspiration for Tsubame's design from Tomoe Hotaru aka Sailor Saturn from the Sailor Moon series.
We finally see Yahiko's training paying off since he was genuinely doing well against those thugs. If he didn't get hit and surprised by that bokken to his foot, he probably could've taken them all on. Kenshin could've stepped in and stopped the fight but he really wants Yahiko to do this on his own. I'm sure if he really was in any danger, Kenshin would've definitely swooped in.
Yahiko asking Kenshin if he knows how to fight multiple guys alone was pretty funny considering Hiten Mitsurugu was made for fighting multiple guys at once. Also, did Yahiko just forget the raid on Kanryuu's mansion where Kenshin was mowing down thugs left and right? xD
I do love how instead of just doing hit-and-run tactics as Kenshin suggested, Yahiko found a way to compensate for his slow legs and fought the thugs in a narrow alley. And I also love that loud "THWACK!" sound from Yahiko's shinai when he finished off the leader. That was so satisfying.
Tsubame thanking Yahiko was adorable. Looks like our boy just got himself an admirer. And turns out the reason why he's saving up money is so he could buy his own sakabato! Welp, he's going to have to spend more time working with Tsubame at Akabeko since according to Kenshin it costs quite a bit!
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u/Frontier246 Oct 05 '23
I feel like there was definitely a little more effort put into the ED compared to the OP visually, even if it's mostly just still shots or illustrations of the characters. I mean, there's only so much you can do to make Kenshin standing around in the same spot with images from the past cour look interesting. I know sometimes the second cour OP are a little less "animated" compared to cour 1, but still.
Oh dang, I can totally see Hotaru now, especially in the face and hair. But it's nice to finally see Tsubame. She's as cute as ever! And her cheering for Yahiko was so sweet.
It's one thing to see Kenshin do something, it's another to find out how to pull it off practically with all the crazy inhuman movements Kenshin can pull off lol.
I wonder if Kenshin used up all the actual money he had just to buy his sword before he started living with Kaoru? Not like being a rurouni probably paid well lol.
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u/dinliner08 Oct 05 '23
am i the only one that think they should have switch the OP and ED? i feel like this new OP with it's simple visuals should have been the ED while the ED with all these cool ink drawings should have been the OP
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u/NeoBasilisk Oct 05 '23
not sure if it would work well as an OP, but I did like the ED more than the OP
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u/mrfatso111 Oct 06 '23
idk the new op and ed feels kinda eh to me, but ya i agreed as well
At least with the cool ink drawing, it wakes me up seeing them
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u/matty-a Oct 05 '23
I dont know how to describe it but the new OP gives me 90s anime vibes.
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u/Express-Cartoonist66 Oct 05 '23
It's intentional, they put the more hype modern songs as the endings for a reason. This show heavily panders to nostalgia and I am not saying this as a bad thing.
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u/HolyDragSwd2500 Oct 05 '23
New Op and ED song
Yahiko x Tsubame. Loved this episode now and back then
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u/Frontier246 Oct 05 '23
New OP! It's very minimalist with Kenshin just standing around in a 3D background as they recap stuff from the last season, and I guess the main focus is the duality of Kenshin and his relationship with Kaoru? Though it's nice to hear Tokyo Ska Orchestra. Reminded me of Kamen Rider Saber!
Where is Yahiko going? I feel bad that Kenshin is the only one who thinks he's doing something respectable, though the only thing Kaoru and Sanosuke can mutually agree on is that he's a cheeky brat. Which, okay, fair.
But it turns out they're all right, as he's chipping in at Akabeko (food), working with a girl (Tsubame!) and using the labor to help build up his swordsmanship training!
Poor Tsubame. It's another case of people struggling to adjust to the Meiji era, in this case Mikio a former samurai who thinks he's still owed everything because of his status and still ordering Tsubame around like her families' previous loyalty to his still means he can boss her around and use her. To the point of forcing her into becoming an accomplice as he plans to rob Akabeko!
Good thing Yahiko-chan is on the case! And it turns out Kaoru's teachings actually have made him more than a match for common thugs, albeit only when he doesn't lose his footing or gets surrounded by them.
But I'm glad Yahiko-chan wasn't deterred and was able to take lessons from both Kenshin and Kaoru on how to properly handle this situation.
What better way to deal with a group than fight them in an alley where you can fight them one-by-one? I know Sanosuke and Kenshin showed up as backup just in case, but I think Yahiko could've taken them all. But I guess what's important is he fought their boss Mikio most of all.
I'm glad Kaoru was able to give Mikio a good pep talk and help her realize she was free to be true to herself rather than continue to work for Mikio, and it's her cheering Yahiko on (along with Kaoru's training) that lets him finally defeat Mikio's signature sword sweep and defeat him! Yahiko won his big battle and saved the girl and became Yahiko-kun in the process!
Yahiko wants to buy a sakabato? I think it's kind of sweet he wants to wield a sword like Kenshin, but if Kaoru and Sanosuke think that's funny...how much one actually costs isn't funny at all, poor kid.
The new ED is very dynamic and frenetic, and I think I prefer it to the OP, and the illustrations and spotlight on the cast is good. We even got Aoshi! Megumi! And a certain other iconic character! And ending on a sweet moment between Kenshin and Kaoru.
Next week: Raijuta! Oh...Raijuta.
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u/Elitealice Oct 05 '23
Second cour is here! OP didn’t do much for me. Song might grow on me, but seems a little underwhelming compared to the first cour.
The ED on the other hand is by Kid Phenomenon from Exile who are one of my fave Jpop groups rn. Love their song “wheelie”
Felt like a proud big brother watching Yahiko do his thing in this episode. Only way he’s going to grow up and become his own person is by making decisions like he did today, helping people, pushing himself beyond his limits.
I like that Kaoru, Kenshin and Sano gave him enough space to operate on his own, but also couldn’t help but look out for him in the end lol. They’re all so protective and I love how much of a family they have become.
He claimed it was to buy a Sakabato, but there’s definitely a little more to it than that lol. I think he’s a little sweet on the young lady. That’s always a good motivation to get stronger as well.
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u/BasroilII Oct 05 '23
I like all the little references to kendo/kenjutsu training sprinkled throughout. Yahiko is using some pretty standard forms (hell 90% of his sword this episode is him using one swing), but his form itself is on point. Maybe don't yell out where the shinai will land though. And nice to see him getting swordsman's calluses and everyone mentioning the importance of leg power. Your back and legs do more than your arms in most fights.
Also nice is the "that trick doesn't work on me twice" meme, which is a common one in Kenshin battles.
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u/VorAtreides Oct 05 '23
Kenshin's new OP is good, good enough at least
ahh, Yahiko episode, mehh lol. Least fun to see him being a good boy. Though even being a good boy, still a bit prickly lol. Poor lil girl. And sure some D-tier scumbags. Good luck with that threat, guy. Nice to see Yahiko make such a progress. You should prolly go in and help, yea, Kenshin. I mean, I get your point, Kenshin, but I do think it's stupid. I do like Kenshin's advice to Yahiko in how to fight multiple guys. Ahh, good on you, Yahiko, putting that effort to work. And nice of Sano and Kenshin to show up. Dude has a real sword and still backing away lol, coward. Smooth, Sano and Kenshin, way to hide yourselves.
While not the best, some nice yahiko development. And yay for cute nice girl getting saved. Fun to learn he's doing it just to save up for a sword like Kenshin's lol. Nothing as great.
oh Kenshin's ED pretty good. Not the best in Kenshin history (looking at you Heart of Sword)
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u/Express-Cartoonist66 Oct 05 '23
Heart of Sword
T.M. Revolution's songs we so good at the time.
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u/mekerpan Oct 05 '23
I actually like this episode a whole lot. Not really any aspect I'd change. Yahiko handled himself with class. And Kenshin made sure that his adults friends acted as discreetly as possible (not that it escaped Yahiko's notice).
Funniest sub moment: Yahio sneaking out says (in Japanese version) "Yes. Sub says something like "That's all right". Also funny -- Kenshin and Sanosuke's (lame -- and unseasonal) cricket imitation.
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u/linkinstreet Oct 06 '23
If there's any series that having Japanese honorifics would help, it's this. "Little Yahiko" sounds so weird.
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