English Dub Review: Rurouni Kenshin – Kyoto Disturbance “Misao’s Decision”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Okina survives his battle with Aoshi, but disbands the Oniwaban to try to protect Misao. Instead, she decides to be the new leader of the group. Meanwhile the Ten Swords get ready to unleash their most unpredictable member.

OUR TAKE

It looks like we’re still in a bit of an interim period as Kenshin continues to train, so this episode is about more build up of major things to come. As hinted at by the title, this week we finally see Misao coming to terms with all of the information that was hidden from her, as well as fully understanding that Aoshi, the man she has loved and admired for most of her life, is her enemy as of this moment. I’m glad she didn’t spend any time waffling about it and just put her foot down about running the Oniwaban, even if no one really buys it yet. I’m sure she has some misgivings about having to fight Aoshi (which is good from a pragmatic mindset because she absolutely would not stand a chance and would be killed almost instantly) but she is committed to protect those she loves against those who would threaten them, even if that threat is someone else that she loves. Of course I’m pretty sure it will be down to Kenshin to fight Aoshi, since that’s who Aoshi wants to kill so badly, but good on Misao for standing up to him. That deserves points!

The rest of the episode that doesn’t involve this plot is, as mentioned, a lot of set up for things to come. Sannosuke finally arrives in Kyoto, apparently having been arrested at some point by Saito, so…that’s fun. Not a whole lot to talk about with that guy at the moment other than I guess he’ll eventually fight that one guy from the Ten Swords who taught him that new punching technique. As for the Ten Swords themselves, we finally learn from Cho, the guy Kenshin beat a little while ago, what Shishio’s big plan is. He wants to cause massive fires in Kyoto to replicate a horrible fire from a few years ago. And then I guess he’ll blame the fires on DEI, HEYOOOOOOO. But yeah, just a bunch of setting up things to come. With nine episodes left in the season and still a bunch of Ten Swords that have remained unpunched, it’s looking more like this arc may be concluded in a following season instead, but I guess we’ll know for sure as we get closer to the end.