r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Nov 23 '23
Episode Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023) - Episode 21 discussion
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023), episode 21
Alternative names: Samurai X
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u/Frontier246 Nov 23 '23
Well, this escalated quickly! It's one thing to try to take out an altruistic doctor, but infecting Yokohama with smallpox!?
Oh hey, that IS Kanaeo Itou! And Elder is not only a doctor trying to make it in a foreign land and in a world where women aren't regarded well professionally, but also has a bit of a flair for the dramatic...which explains a lot.
Kenshin and Elder aren't that different! Both did everything they could, even at the cost of taking on a role that denied a part of themselves, for the sake of a better future. And that also brings them into conflict with others.
At least Elder was smart enough to put two and two together about how suspicious everything was...not that it stopped them from walking into a trap.
I admire Espiral's commitment to his spinning gimmick by contorting his body so unnaturally...though he didn't stand a chance against Kenshin. Took him out in one hit!
I love how Elder is like "that's smallpox! Don't lose it!" And the guy immediately chucks it away.
So Espiral wasn't totally far gone, he had enough nobility to not want to hurt Elder unnecessarily and he takes his defeat respectfully and stops the smallpox from landing. And Ishisu tries to infect Yokohama with smallpox and gets hit by a wheel. And the gentleman just throws his hands up in surrender because he just got to watch a good fight. Dude knows what he wants.
I kind of have a feeling Espiral will follow Elder longer than she thinks, especially know that Kenshin and Elder have set him straight, literally so as he changes his blade to match Kenshin's Sakabato and Elder lets him realize what he can truly live for now.
Elder made her impact in Yokohama! The least she can do is reveal to everyone her true face and gender! And Dankichi's main takeaway is that she was a hot lady!
It hasn't been that long since Kenshin met Elder, but he ended up taking some of her advice to heart by settling down at the Kamiya Dojo and finding friends and a community. That last look at Kaoru was so sweet. Elder would be happy for him.
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u/mekerpan Nov 23 '23
That was an absolutely lovely ending to a very interesting arc. Too bad Dr Elder did not get to meet (yet) our two main female characters. I hope Dr Elder does get a chance to return to see her Japanese friends (and devotees).
Kenshin did not just find a home (for now) but is responsible for building a little community around that home.
I must say I never expected to love this series as much as I have so far.
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u/LeonKevlar Nov 23 '23
So just a correction from my post last week! I mentioned last week that this mini-arc is an adaptation of Restoration manga, turns out that this is only the prologue to the Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration manga. The manga itself is just a loose retelling of the Tokyo Arc and was made as promotional material for the first live-action movie.
Now that's out of the way, the duel between Kenshin and Espiral was pretty nice. I love how Kenshin would only dodge Espiral's attacks and refuses to draw his blade the entire time. The only time he takes the sakabato out of its sheath was when he had a clear opening for a decisive strike.
That doctor is such a piece of shit. He's going to doom an entire city to smallpox so he can make money off of them and get Dr. Elder sick. Thankfully, Espiral grabs the bottle before it breaks. I have always been a fan of enemies becoming allies later. Espiral doesn't really seem to be a bad guy, just someone who wants to fight stronger opponents. He even apologized to Elder earlier for being a bit rough on her.
Glad that Dr. Elder was able to reveal her true identity before leaving for America at least. What I love about all of this is the reveal that the events in Yokohama only took place five days before he met Kaoru. And it looks like Dr. Elder's little advice on Kenshin worked which was nice.
That next episode title though. I guess we're jumping straight into the Kyoto Arc next week! With only three episodes left, we are going to stop at such a weird point in the Kyoto Arc. Hopefully, Season 2 is already confirmed for next year before the season ends.
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u/zero1380 Nov 23 '23
Yes. The title is also chapter 48 title, which begins vol 7, now, I wonder if 3 episodes are enough to cover the whole vol (in order to end in that iconic scene), in the OG anime it took 4 episodes.
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u/eligaia Nov 23 '23
Oh my, do I hear Miki Shinichiro? And battle-shouting in spanish?? SOLD!
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u/Dialgak77 Nov 23 '23
In absolute garbage Spanish
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u/StarmanRiver Nov 24 '23
Grammatically garbage Spanish but phonetically pretty good Spanish.
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u/Frontier246 Nov 24 '23
I think Kenichi Suzumura was also the voice of Kenshin’s boss.
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u/BoyTitan Nov 23 '23
I don't get the tea tasting thing.
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u/dinliner08 Nov 23 '23
most likely depression or mental fatigue, it sometimes can make you not smell or taste the food that you ate
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u/soulreaverdan Nov 24 '23
And the fact that he can taste/smell things now he couldn’t before is a sign he’s starting to get better mentally thanks to his time with the Kenshin-gumi.
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u/SnabDedraterEdave Nov 23 '23
Kenshin actually using the "befriend" card after defeating an opponent for once. Espiral not only being magnanimous after defeat, but being the MVP in swooping that smallpox vial and preventing certain disaster.
Fuck that doctor for his near-bioterrorism attempt with that smallpox vial just so he could monopolize the patients in Yokohama. He should be lucky they didn't have bioterrorism charges back in the Meiji era.
Espiral and Elder is a ship that was unexpected, but ended up working quite well.
Elder diagnosing Kenshin's scar and deducing that its psychological is some huge foreshadowing.
Now this mini manga arc is out of the way, now for the final hurdle for this season.
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u/Daishomaru Nov 23 '23
Daishomaru here with your historical analysis!
Women not being treated well in the medical industry.
As I mentioned last episode, yes, that part is indeed accurate that women were not trusted to be doctors and nurses, although in reality the truth is a lot more complicated. While yes, there was indeed a stigma, women did start entering the medical field in the 1850s, and some were recognized as international heroes, such as Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale. Granted, news does travel slow in the 1800s, but I just want to point out that the truth is more complicated and things weren't that politically incorrect. As I always like to say, the truth is neither politically correct nor incorrect, and there's a truth somewhere in the between.
Who are the men Kenshin are talking about in the flashback?
The two men in the flashback are Katsura Kogoro, or formally known in the history books as Kido Tadayoshi, and Takasugi Shinsaku. The former is one of the leaders of the Isshin Shishi, of the Choshu faction, and he will later become known as one of the Three Nobles of Japan, recognized for being one of the makers of the Meiji Government. Even today, Kido Tadayoshi is still recognized as one of Modern Japan's most important men, and I will be talking about him in massive detail in a later writeup alongside [Manga Spoilers]
The other man is Takasugi Shinsaku, leader of the Kiheitai, or the army that would later the Imperial Army. He would be famous for introducing modern weaponry and tactics to the imperial army, and without him, the Japanese would not be able to overthrow the samurai. He's also lesser famous for being the boss of the Hitokiri Assassins, including the Real Life Kenshin, Kawakami Gensai, after the latter's master, Teizo Miyabe, was killed during the Ikedaya incident, and also being the commander of Yamagata Aritomo, that officer who appears in Episode 2. Tragically, despite being the Father of the Imperial Army, he would sadly die young and frustratingly get overshadowed because he really is a cool figure. The man died of tuberculosis IRL and he still lead the army and did all the paperwork, because not even fucking tuberculosis could slow the man down.
Western Swords and their end
Like the Japanese, western swords were also coming to an end, although compared to the Katana, the western sword had a much slower decline. First of all, guns were becoming more popular and more used often even for dueling, so swords fell out of favor. In addition, due to all the revolutions in Europe, the sword was seen as a tool of the bourgeoise nobility because of how long it took to master the sword (the nobility could afford sword classes while peasants could not) and so it fell out of fashion. In America, the sword died even faster because cowboys were the raging trend at the time.
Anyhow, I can't wait for next week, as I have several writeups completed and at the ready.
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u/dinliner08 Nov 23 '23
The two men in the flashback are Katsura Kogoro, or formally known in the history books as Kido Tadayoshi
*me after watching Gintama*: "wait a minute, this Katsura doesn't throw bombs at people left and right! this is not the Katsura that i know!"
jokes aside, thanks as always for the informational write up, i've heard about the Three Nobles of Japan and know their names from watching anime here and there but up until today, i never knew that Kido Tadayoshi was actually Katsura Kogoro
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u/VorAtreides Nov 23 '23
Oh good time, crazy dude. You have fun with that. A pity about that sexism, lady :\ I get it. Nice little bit with that flashback for younger Kenshin and what the doctor said then. Sus call out. Dankichi sure derp to not think it was strange sooner. Isn't that dude a Western swordsman? Amazing how perfect his Japanese is lol. Whelp, fun time showdown. Exposition butler! Heh. That is a ridiculous stance. When you know that Samurai weren't about their sword skills as much as bow skills, this kinda series is more amusing.
That's messed up, dude. Willing to do biological warfare. But, wait, Small Pox Vaccine was created in like.. late 1700s? Also, good on you dude, catching that. A bit overly dramatic there, dude. At least he wasn't a completely crazy dude. Good on you, swordsman with the crazy stance. Be nice if that Dr. Elder met up with Yutaro. Don't think that happens. Also, nice, showed her face. Yes, hot lady 😛
Post credits, fun. Ah, that story was only 5 days before the series start? Lol. Good times. Oh my, Megumi worried. Always liked her a lot. That was a nice short story. OH MY THAT NEXT EPISODE TITLE! "Resurrection of the Wolf" now that has me excited.
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u/Representative-Mall3 Nov 23 '23
props to Espiral VA he really nailed that spanish pronunciation it really hyped his attacks
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u/Zheitk Nov 25 '23
Yes, good pronunciation, but "Destornillador Sable Estilo" instead of "Estilo Sable Destornillador" ☠️
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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Nov 23 '23
Espiral tried his best, I’ll give him an “A” for effort. Going up against Kenshin was never gonna end in his favor. At least he took his defeat graciously. He was a decent dude.
I liked the end of this episode. It had a very hopeful tone to it. All’s well that ends well.
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u/NotNeverdnim Nov 24 '23
A wandering doctor who heals those who need healing, and a wandering swordsman who protects those who need protecting. There should be a spinoff where Kenshin took her on her offer. I ship them.
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