English Dub Review: Kochoki “Elder Brother and Younger Brother”

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Some time has passed since Kichou’s departure. Nobukatsu’s grief, regret, and confusion over his prolonged death continue to consume him, with a foul mood filling the castle. Tsuzuki concocts his next scheme, though Tsuneoki is well aware of his plans. Nobunaga still holds out hope that he and Nobukatsu can reconcile, but is also greatly missing Kichou since she’s left. It is then that Kitsuno visits, telling him that Kichou came to her, admitting that she had to leave but pleading with Kitsuno to take her place.

At Tsuzuki’s counsel for his next plan, Shibata outright refuses it. Nobukatsu meets with him personally later on, but asks him for a favor, which convinces him to follow the plan. Said plan is to first lure out Tsuneoki with false news of his mother’s poor health, then capturing him as a hostage to bait Nobunaga. But before things can go much further, Nobukatsu confronts Tsuzuki for his manipulation and betrayal, banishing him. However, he does not call off the plan, taking the blame for himself and facing a desperate Nobunaga. He rants about how Nobunaga’s rash nature only made things worse for their family, but he was always able to hold onto support despite it. How he wouldn’t show up for his father’s funeral or to get vengeance for Hidetaka’s death. And while he let Nobukatsu live after his rebellion, someone else he spares might harm him someday.

Nobunaga tries reasoning with his brother, but once he is told that Tsuneoki has been killed, he loses all reason and kills Nobukatsu, who allows him to take the fatal blow. In reality, he only used Tsuzuki’s plan as a chance to both banish him and finally talk to Nobunaga before facing the death he felt he should have gotten long ago. He has one last request of his brother: to take the blame alone for this matter so that Nobunaga can finally move on and bring the Oda clan together.

More time passes and Nobunaga has a child with Kitsuno named Kimyoumaru, who bears a striking resemblance to Nobukatsu.

OUR TAKE

Wow, they were really pouring on the feels with this one. No corny 4Kids soundtrack songs could have prepared me for this as the resolution to the battle between the brothers of Oda. As I’ve said, Nobukatsu’s arc in this series is probably the most interesting out of everyone’s, and while it took a bit of a dip in the last episode, I think he really came back to both put an end to Tsuzuki’s tricks (though I would have rather he killed him) and resolve the tension between him and his brother that was threatening to start more conflict. While it’s true that much of this came about because of Nobukatsu being manipulated, it’s also fair to say that there was plenty for him to say to Nobunaga. How much of his rant was a lie to sell the act of being a hateful demon and how much was the truth is hard to say, but he found a reason for his continued existence that truly brought peace to his family.

However, sadly we must also be reminded that this series is very much a work of fiction working from a large amount of artistic license with history. Based on several reports, it seems that what actually happened was Nobunaga faking illness in order to kill Nobukatsu himself when he came to visit. As I’ve probably mentioned earlier in reviewing this series, history and influential figures in it are usually more complicated than straight heroes and villains, and typically lionizing some great figure means conveniently ignoring some key details in order to fit that narrative. This looks to be the case here, as the Nobunaga portrayed in this series is very plainly a good hearted leader with facing unreasonable opposition, whereas likely more accurate accounts put him as much more sneaky and cunning. But the reality wouldn’t fit this character, I suppose. I’m glad with what we got for this story, but I can’t help but wonder what a more realistic show would look like.

I’m not sure how they’re going to wrap up the series with the next two episodes, with the only real dangling plot thread being Kichou’s disappearance and needing to cut her hair to match the Ending Credits, but I’m generally interested enough to find out. Perhaps we’ll finally get some of the darker aspects of Nobunaga’s reputation start to emerge now that he’s visibly older. Either way, it’ll at least be interesting? Maybe?