English Dub Review: Golden Kamuy “Gleaming”

Coming back to haunt you.

Overview:

Sugimoto faces off against Henmi. Elsewhere, Tanigaki finds some old comrades back on his doorstep.

Our Take:

A lot goes down in this episode, and I mean a lot. Henmi has been discovered, and he goes on a rampage in the hopes of Sugimoto possibly trying to kill him. This ends up being, weirdly enough, darkly hilarious, as it’s framed like a shoujo manga. Even though Henmi is killing people and fantasizing about his own death, it’s framed very soft and sparkly, like he’s in love. In a way, he is. He’s enamored with the idea of dying, and his entire interaction with Sugimoto is very akin to a schoolgirl in love. In the end, he gets what he wants- a supreme death. He’s battered by a whale, a direct parallel to the boar that killed his brother and awakened his homicidal urges, and Sugimoto is the one to kill him.

Hijikata also appears again, disguised as an unassuming old man. He’s able to fool everyone but Shiraishi, who is able to recognize him. Most importantly, he recognizes that Asirpa has the same eyes as her father– Noppera-bo. If Hijikata is correct, that means that Asirpa’s father wasn’t killed in the Ainu attack, but was the perpetrator of it. Unlike what Asirpa thinks of her father, with only good memories, he’s actually a murderer. She doesn’t understand the implications of the situation now, but when she realizes, it’s bound to be a shock.

Tanigaki also returns, having slowly recovered by staying with Asirpa’s family. He’s tailed by Ogata and Nikaidou, both who have turned traitor to Tsurumi’s cause. They want the gold for themselves and want to make sure that their status of having turned traitor remains a secret. Of course, it all ends up being a misunderstanding, as Tanigaki is completely innocent. Still, it starts a deadly conflict between them, and Tanigaki finds himself on the run.

As it turns out, Tanigaki has grown very attached to the family and wants them out of harm as quickly as possible. Unlike many of the characters that have been antagonists, especially Ogata, Tanigaki is a lot softer than he lets on. He’s grateful for what the Ainu did for him and wants to keep them safe. It’s reciprocated, as Asirpa’s grandmother prays for Tanigaki’s safe return, and Osoma cries at the thought of him leaving. He’s become an honorary member of the family, and so his fight isn’t just to keep himself alive but to also keep them safe.