In Asian Spaces

Need to catch up with the series? Use this link for a free 30 day Amazon Prime Video trial and support the anime legally! Check out last week’s Episode 22 review here.

So, we have arrived at the penultimate episode, folks.

I don’t know what to say. Especially since the last demon to exterminate seems to be m’boy Tahomaru, whose image is now inheriting the oni end card. It makes me really sad, that this is what it has come to.

A young boy with hopes of saving his land, and upholding its prosperity. In the end, he turned into a demon trying to fight his own blood and sided with forces set to exterminate all of Daigo’s lands.

He lost his best friends Hyogo and Mutsu, who have been with him since childhood. The two siblings quite literally followed him into the depths of hell, all three emerging possessed by demonic energies.

In the end, they only wished to do the right thing. To protect the land’s heir, and their beloved friend. Sure, there was a social structure in order and the two would never be on the same level as Tahomaru, but I don’t think the lordling loved them any less. His eyes lit up the day Daigo brought them home from their prison. The trio had been inseparable ever since, even after being reminded of their place when failing to defend him from Hyakkimaru by the spy.

The love of his friends is what grounded Tahomaru, and without them he is lost. Just as how Dororo serves as Hyakkimaru’s last remaining bond to the world of the living. I mean sure, he has Jukai, but Jukai also kind of turned his back on him. The priest Biwamaru is a wild card, only appearing when the story dictates. Yes, without his influence Dororo and Hyakkimaru would have been lost once before, but in the end game he cannot do anything.

No one can, not even Hyakkimaru and Tahomaru’s mother, Oku. I did like that she realized betting the prosperity of their lands on a bunch of fickle demons was wrong. Making a pact with a group of oni in something called the Hall of Hell was foolish to begin with, but she did her duty as the Lord’s wife.

Now she would like to complete her duty as a mother to two sons, whatever that may be. Whatever that may entail.

I don’t agree with Biwamaru’s logic on the nature of human beings. As Oku stated, are there really just those two extremes? You fight until you lose yourself, or you sit on your hands, do nothing, and hide? Because that would be the way of the Buddha? The way of the Goddess of Mercy, Kannon?

The Goddess of Mercy watched over Hyakkimaru until she could no longer. I think that is a divine sign to take things into your own hands. Especially since Oku attempting to sacrifice herself is what broke the goddess’s protection.

I am starting to see the formation of Dororo fleshing out her life goals, and what she would like to do with her father’s anti-samurai money. Maybe she will indeed start with the derelict village of weary travelers, tired of running away from the war and building only to have it swiftly taken away again. A vicious cycle of poverty, enacted by the ruling samurai class and nobles of the land.

Either way it goes, I don’t know if Hyakkimaru will be along for the ride. It’s not looking good for either brothers, although Tahomaru’s death flag has been raised and his time is over. The end cards never lie.

Then again, Tahomaru grabbed Hyogo and Mutsu’s loaned arms before their deaths. Mutsu said he will “create a land of peace” but it implies it will involve Hyakkimaru’s arms…and Hyakkimaru’s transplanted eyes remained closed during this exchange.

So in theory, Hyakkimaru’s influence will be felt, but he won’t live to see the changes in his lifetime?

I really do believe that it was a mistake to sacrifice Hyakkimaru for a false safety in saving Daigo. Especially since Daigo had malicious intent to begin with. He never cared about the lands or people, only his own vanity. He wanted his name to be known, and to remain. And I’m sure he will receive that infamy, whether is praise or a cautionary tale against curses – remains unknown.

Do you believe Lord Daigo is experiencing remorse for the actions against his son? Does Tahomaru deserve to die? What do you think will be the first thing Hyakkimaru sees when he gets his eyes?

And seriously…what on earth is Jukai planning?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Dororo 2019 episode reviews!

See you back here next Monday for another one!

最後の巻:

Twitter Reddit Instagram BlogLovin

Need to catch up with the series? Use this link for a free 30 day Amazon Prime Video trial and support the anime legally! Check out last week’s Episode 21 review here.

Okay, now I am convinced that the demons are simply trolling Lord Daigo and his lands at this point. I’m not sure if my theory was true regarding the twelfth demon eating Hyakkimaru’s eyes from the recent chimera kill, but they were available to be given to Tahomaru this episode. In addition to Hyakkimaru’s remaining limbs going to the siblings Mutsu and Hyogo.

I had no clue those two were actually siblings. Rather, I assumed they were two orphans from the same village who happened to wind up together and formed a pact to survive. Given Hyogo’s sudden character development and protectiveness over his sibling, I guess that was a subtle detail I missed all of this time.

So Tahomaru’s third eye is open, Hyakkimaru is riding a demonic midoro into battle channeling demon energy, and the siblings are on the end card usually reserved for youkai. This cannot be good, can it?

Then we have Oku’s surprising change of heart followed by her short road trip with Dororo that washes them up to a village of despots. Dororo may find inspiration on what to do with the money, and the priest I was sure we were never going to see again is conveniently hanging out asking her of future plans.

Dororo is also feeding the now (arguably) evil pale mare’s foal, which I’m sure will somehow come in to play.

On top of all of this, Hyakkimaru’s Mamma Jukai is making his way into Daigo’s land, whittling at a prosthetic to pass the time.

There is so much being set up for the next episode, and I know the climax to this series will either be: vague, messy, heartbreaking, or a combination of the three.

I am almost positive that by giving Hyakkimaru’s appendages to Tahomaru and his friends, the demons are trying to create discord for the reneged deal. The close up of the statue even seemed like it was smirking towards the ending scene. Mutsu had the vague revelation that the deal could only be satisfied by Daigo and his firstborn, but wouldn’t anyone of the bloodline suffice?

So in theory, if Hyakkimaru kills Tahomaru and takes back his limbs, the demons gain three new souls. When he continues on his vengeful path and kills his father and or mother, that equates to five. If Tahomaru somehow manages to kill his big bro, that is only one measly soul. Hyakkimaru is causing enough chaos as is for the demons to soak up its essence. Why on earth would they still want his lone death when they could acquire so many more?

There is ongoing speculation that Tahomaru may be possessed, and I am starting to believe it. The demons cured their ailments but also took something equally important away – their minds. I know the events surrounding the lordling have been grim, but since when did he make a habit of sitting alone solemnly staring at a wall in the dark?

Where did the bags come from under his eyes, when they were previously not there before their encounter in the Hall of Hell?

Regarding demons, I have read that since they are ethereal beings, they seek the feeling and pleasure associated with human flesh. Meaning, they enjoy the sensations of life and even its suffering because it is something tangible they can attain, rather than watching from afar. In their haste to live, they can rapidly degrade their host to the point that the body exhausts on its own. Or the sheer physical feats not ordinarily possible for the human, but the demon performing these supernatural feats within the human skin – causing the host to perish and completely degrade upon the entity’s exit.

I know I usually throw in a link or two containing related material for you readers to learn more about the topic, but it’s late at night at the time of this writing. Coupled with the fact that I hate writing about these sorts of things, I won’t try to verify this knowledge with outside sources. I am a firm believer that whatever you speak or think about is often drawn toward you, and I am not seeking those particularly bad vibes on this cool spring night.

Sigh…I think I’ll leave this here, as I just remembered Asura failed to eat Hyakkimaru’s head due to Kannon’s influence. If my favboi Tahomaru really is possessed, he ate that brother’s mind while simultaneously devouring his spirit.

It is depressing all around. See you all next week.

Do you think Tahomaru is possessed? Does Kannon have any influence left in Daigo’s Lands? How do you think the Dororo series will end?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Dororo 2019 episode reviews!

See you back here next Monday for another one!

次の巻: Losing Ourselves to Demons

Twitter Reddit Instagram BlogLovin

Need to catch up with the series? Use this link for a free 30 day Amazon Prime Video trial and support the anime legally! Check out last week’s Episode 20 review here.

So full disclosure: after I first watched the episode, I wasn’t sure what to say.

Shit is really hitting the fan, so to speak.

We finally receive the backstory on how Lord Daigo acquired Mutsu and Hyogo, only for both of them to be crippled this episode. Not to mention, judging by Hyakkimaru’s vision – Mutsu is dying.

Whether or not the plague will spread to the now-captive Dororo remains to be seen.

It is ironic that Mutsu gives this speech about becoming Tahomaru’s right hand, while Hyogo has become the left…just for Hyakkimaru to chop off her right hand and Hyogo’s left. Hyakkimaru also seemed to go for Tahomaru’s right eye again during the fight, and I’m not sure why. I know he has more moves than to continually slash at someone’s already blinded eye.

Maybe it’s a metaphor for the young lordling losing sight of his original goals, or only being able to see one perspective. Given the events, I’m sure an impending doom is near. I am almost positive that if Lord Daigo’s spy/flunky hadn’t rode in on a pale mare, it would have been over for his heir.

Also, why was the only option blowing up the prized horse with cute, large anime eyes? I mean seriously, they couldn’t think of any other options but eviscerating a mare that could have been ridden into battle?

I mean, now Hyakkimaru has beholden the pale mare, who has come back to life in the form of a vengeful rapidash after…unknown magical items and armour assembling to create it? Usually the magic or youkai influence is explained or heavily implied in each episode, but I was kind of at a loss here with this one. There were a plethora of dead bodies in the ditch, Hyakkimaru was aware of the spiritual presence possessing the armour, and it even seemed to be inching toward him before deferring at the last minute.

Was the horse a better candidate for its influence? Was it because Hyakkimaru was still alive? Did the armour decidedly help the young man by giving him a steed to ride into his incoming battles? Why do I keep interchanging steed and mare when they have different meanings? Also, why couldn’t they get a horse when they really needed one episodes back? They could have avoided so many weirdos while on horseback.

All jokes aside, this should be an interesting final battle. The ending credits are getting clearer, and a vision of an older Dororo can be seen.

So, Hyakkimaru definitely does get his vision back. But at what cost, and will the first thing he sees be happy? Especially after regaining senses have become associated with pain, loss, and deep trauma that makes Hyakkimaru wish he hadn’t even acquired them.

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Dororo 2019 episode reviews!

See you back here next Monday for another one!

次の巻: A Monumental Final Battle is on the Horizon

Twitter Reddit Instagram BlogLovin

Need to catch up with the series? Use this link for a free 30 day Amazon Prime Video trial and support the anime legally! Check out last week’s Episode 19 review here.

Welp, any hope that we’d get a happy ending died along with that griffin-like creature. I just knew last week’s episode was a little too happy. Hyakkimaru was just a little too hopeful. The character growth was just a little too fast.

Sigh.

So this episode, the dynamic duo meet a wannabe samurai named misery who loves company. Misery, who changed his birth name from Saburota after the death of his mother, lures weary travelers to a brutal death while in a pensive sabbath; questioning our mortality as human beings.

In order to feel relief from the guilt of leaving his mother to die, he enjoys watching other struggle to survive. This allows his fragile ego to remain intact, as those weaker and stronger than him fail to endure the wrath, or hunger, of the Nue youkai. Of course, Misery is surprised when Hyakkimaru defeats the beast and reaffirms to the audience that the young man is indeed still between mortal soul and lingering spirit.

It is a shame, as Hyakkimaru was doing so well. Dororo even gave this cute speech about plans for their future and subsequently rose her death flag for the series end. Her big bro decides to look toward the future as well, character development slipping away while his back is turned.

Dororo is put in a perilous situation as per usual, but this time Hyakki wasn’t able to save her. In frustration, he bangs his head repeatedly against a boulder to presumably kill himself. Just then, old man Biwamaru swoops in and saves the day. He sacrifices his sword to the boulder that would have killed Dororo, symbolizing that this may be the last time he can help the pair out.

The final sequence of the episode dwells on the old man’s face, lamenting aloud the heavy burden Hyakkimaru would have to resolve.

Over on Lord Daigo’s lands, Tahomaru helps his subjects and visits the Hall of Hell. He witnesses the twelfth demon Oku prophesied would cause trouble “eating” Hyakkimaru’s regained body part.

There was this strange shot of distorted vision while Misery was being consumed by his hatred, and I wonder if that was Hyakkimaru’s eyes returning to him. Misery conjoining with the dying demon negated its effects, until it was later defeated for good.

So next week we should see Dororo and Hyakkimaru returning to find Lord Daigo. The pair didn’t seem far off, unless the juxtaposed cliff falling and crack of thunder were to denote the metaphysical storm approaching.

I knew Dororo would be a tragedy when I started watching in January, but it still makes me sad that none of these characters will have happy endings. I enjoy bittersweet endings because of the realism, but I can’t help being frustrated at envisioned alternate paths.

Jukai told Hyakkimaru that he could live differently, as did Biwamaru. In the end, he chose destruction in order to reclaim his body. At first, he just wanted it because it was his, but now he realized a desire to live. Hyakkimaru wants to protect his loved ones.

Despite the universe conspiring to end his delicate life.

I think of Mio, Osushi, and the countless others who desperately wanted to live happily, but ultimately the universe had other plans for them. Whatever happens next, I hope Daigo suffers divine consequences for his actions. Dororo also will never historically outlive the war, but I hope she does something positive with her father’s money.

The two met in the summer, and now their story will end in the fall – just before winter. What a tragedy.

I’ll end my thoughts on this incredibly solemn episode here.

Judging by the opening credits, the two brothers fight. Who do you think will be victorious, Tahomaru or Hyakkimaru? Does Hyakkimaru deserve to get his body back? Will the priest meet them again?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Dororo 2019 episode reviews!

See you back here next Monday for another one!

次の巻: Dangerous Situations Before the Storm

Twitter Reddit Instagram BlogLovin