English Dub Review: The Elusive Samurai “Tokiyuki and Three Great Generals”
Overview
Provincial official Kiyohara returns to Shinano after fleeing back to Kyo following the previous battle. Having grown even more ruthless, Kiyohara launches a large-scale invasion against pro-Hojo factions in northern Shinano. To oppose the combined forces of Kiyohara and Sadamune, the three great generals of the Suwa faith, Nezu, Mochizuki, and Unno, retainers directly serving Yorishige.
Our Take
Picking up from the previous episode, The Elusive Samurai jumps ahead to the year 1335 as Tokiyuki learns that surviving Hōjō loyalists have joined Yorishige’s forces. With Kiyohara preparing to invade Suwa, three powerful generals, Nezu Yorinao, Mochizuki Shigenobu, and Unno Yukiyasu pledge their allegiance to Tokiyuki. The Elusive Warriors are then tasked with carrying messages between the scattered rebel camps, showing just how important communication was during wartime.
The rest of the proceedings do a great job showing how Suwa’s forces work together, with each general bringing their own strategies to the battlefield while the Elusive Warriors keep everyone informed. Nezu’s use of eagles for reconnaissance was especially clever, while Unno’s ridiculous ability to turn his pent-up desires into fighting power provided some hilarious moments. The focus on messengers and battlefield maps also gave the episode a unique feel, though some of the live-action segments felt out of place compared to the series’ usual fluid artwork.
Overall, this was a solid setup episode that builds anticipation for the rebellion without rushing through the story. The mix of strategy, character moments, and humor kept things entertaining, while the growing threat from Kiyohara’s forces gives the story plenty of momentum heading forward. It may not have been the most action-heavy episode, but it successfully sets the stage for what’s to come.
