A Gaze Toward the Sea – Mugen no Juunin Immortal Ep 22 Review

Check out last week’s episode twenty-one review here.

Sometimes while watching this show I have to wonder to myself – who am I rooting for? Who do I consistently support as a character? What cause, or ideology will reign supreme?

More than anything, this series has been chiefly about people. Sure, ideologies are involved but even those under the same banner don’t operate accordingly. There is no group think, no guidelines, no support if what they truly believe is wrong.

Everyone is for themselves, and if they happen to unite – they happen to unite.

Time and time again this happens, and thorough history evermore so. Things aren’t as black and white as they appear to be. Everything is gray, everything is uncertain. Just because you fight for one cause doesn’t mean you cannot support another. Just because you are friendly with someone doesn’t mean you have to let them take you down. You don’t have to lose your life needlessly.

That’s what I like about this series the most, I think.

Manji and Makie by all regards, should be enemies. Manji was hired by Rin to take out her organization. But here we are, at the end. Manji saved Makie’s life. Rin is going down to finish what she started with only two episodes left. Enemies that are teaming up against another common enemy, before going back to fight amongst themselves.

What is loyalty at this point? Who do they craft those signs for?

Giichi and Hyakurin were abandoned by the Mugai-ryu, yet they still helped. The Mugai-ryu lead by Habaki wanted to capture and eradicate Manji. But, Rin is friendly with Hyakurin. Giichi has no personal qualm with Manji. So, they help each other – despite loyalty to their organizations.

And it’s not even that these loyalties are easily turned off and on. People do die, but they prize surviving for the final encounter more than upholding flimsy words, or ideology in time of crisis. I really admire that about all of the characters. This entire time, for 22 weeks now it’s been bothering me how loosey-goosey they all were with their sworn oaths.

But now, it finally makes sense. It finally clicked to me. I love realism more than anything in media, so despite oftentimes being slightly confused with what was happening onscreen, I truly did enjoy this series.

I also accidentally spoiled myself reading the wiki trying to find something out and know how the story ends. It is a pretty old series anyway that has been rebooted multiple times, so it’s a wonder I didn’t find out sooner.

Anyway, how are you enjoying this series thus far?

Are you buying that ‘asaemon syrup’ instantly revived Makie of her ailments? Did everyone leave Renzo in the snow to venture toward the coast? Wasn’t Doa a member of the Itto-ryu? Why isn’t she on the final checklist?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, I’d love to hear from you! Also be sure to follow us for more Mugen no Juunin episode reviews!

次の巻: Why Do They Quarrel?

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