English Dub Review: Rurouni Kenshin – Kyoto Disturbance “Meeting of the Warlords”
OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)
Hiko talks with Kenshin’s friends and is convinced that Kenshin is worthy to learn the final Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu technique. Kaoru decides to tell Misao what happened to the Oniwaban. Aoshi meets with Shishio and the Ten Swords and makes an alliance to kill Kenshin.
OUR TAKE
Yes, that’s right. Because of this season’s weird twenty three episode count, we are actually somewhat over the halfway point with this episode! And it seems that they’ve decided to mark this point by having it mostly be set up for bigger things to come. Kenshin is beginning his training to learn the greatest technique in his unique sword style, which is probably going to be needed against Shishio and the nine remaining members of the Ten Swords. Kaoru has decided to tell what she knows about how the Oniwaban died, something that Kenshin has put off telling her, so that will no doubt lead to some drama at some point soon. And Aoshi, who is still on the war path towards killing Kenshin, decides to go from Anti-Hero to straight up Villain by joining up with Shishio. So I guess that kinda makes up for that missing tenth sword, huh. So yeah, a lot of this is pretty much a tease for major payoffs down the line, so you better keep tuning in so you can see it! Or you can watch the version from a few decades ago if you like the nostalgia.
Well, let’s see. Kenshin getting this new technique is probably not going to be the ONLY thing he needs to win, as having a new power up or fighting move and simply winning with it is not often very narratively compelling. So there’s very likely some character development coming both during the training and when he is able to use it. I already mentioned Misao being probably about to go off on Kenshin for keeping the deaths of her friends a secret from her, though that dovetails pretty nicely into if she’ll face this murderous Aoshi at some point. We know she is basically in love with the guy, so seeing him as he is, especially if he is working for Shishio, is going to be incredibly traumatic. Even more so if Kenshin has to kill him, though that part seems a bit unlikely. And of course we still have nine more of those mooks to deal with in just eleven more episodes, so we really have a lot we need to get a move on. And hopefully we will next week!
