English Dub Review: Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia “The Mergen People”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Töregene tells the tale of her life among the Merkits, a confederation of tribes renowned for her archery.

Our Take:
Initially, we all thought that Sitara would be the only person with a grudge against the Mongols for stealing her peaceful life.  But as it turns out, one of the Khan’s wives who’s part of the tribe actually shares similar feelings towards the Mongols as Sitara does.  This week’s episode expands upon Töregene’s background and how she became betrothed to Ogedei, or in this case, became his prisoner.  Through its flashback, the episode highlights Töregene as a former member of the Naiman tribe who was stuck in an arranged marriage with Dayir, the leader of the Merkit tribe.  Though her new husband wasn’t any better, she did make a friend in his daughter, Khulan, during her marriage.  Sadly, that bond ended when they were offered to Temujin, and Töregene ended up with Ogedei after Dayir’s resistance ended in tragedy.
After exploring Sitara’s pain and adjustment to Mongol life, the episode explores these elements from another character’s perspective, notably Töregene.  This leads them to share the same goal, as they work together to get back at the Mongols for stealing their lives and happiness.  It not only showcases the impact of people’s trauma from the Mongols’ actions, but also conveys it in a way that hits most of the character beats seen in other history-based projects.  One such case is Töregene, who originally saw herself as nothing but a “gemstone” but then grew into a resilient woman whose peace was taken by the Mongols. Because of this, “The Mergen People” evokes an impact that’s just as compelling and tragic as Sitara’s first phase of her journey, with Science Saru continuing to dazzle with its art style, notably Dayir’s spiritual tradition.