The Elusive Samurai Season 2

Episode 6

The Suwa warriors may be recovering from a fairly devastating loss against Kiyohara and Shōkan's armies, but the war is far from over, and our heroes must press onwards. What better way, then, for the show to inject some levity into the proceedings than by introducing a chaotic little gremlin of unprecedented suckitude? Yes, “The Boy Who Became a God” is truly an episode for the Shenanigans Freaks out there, which is exactly what our crew needs right now. Well, except for Tokiyuki in particular, since all of this week's yuks are predicated on his endless suffering.

The titular little shit-boy is none other than Yorishige's own grandson, Yoritsugu. This diminutive agent of lies and chaos is The Elusive Samurai's very own Baby Herman. He cries, he schemes, he kicks, and he makes one hell of an Ugly Diaper Lord face whenever he sees our young lord hogging all of those sweet tickles and nuzzles from Grandpapa. After so many weeks of nonstop strategizing and monologuing about the ins-and-outs of warfare, I have to admit that it is refreshing to watch an episode of The Elusive Samurai that is little more than a series of increasingly ridiculous opportunities for the animators at CloverWorks to see who can draw the most upsetting distortions of Yoritsugu's features.

On a dramatic level, there isn't a lot going in this episode, but that seems to be the point. We're dealing with a gang of kids who bear the burden of their clans' futures on their shoulders, after all, and if there's one thing this show excels at, it is in cutting loose and showing off how likeable these teeny heroes can be when they get the chance to just goof around and have fun. It's funny that, even in the wake of all the action and suspense we've gotten in previous weeks, this is one of the most vibrant and thrilling episodes of The Elusive Samurai's second season, yet. Plus, there is an ever-so-slightly compelling throughline to follow regarding Tokiyuki's uncut hair and how it symbolizes the childhood innocence he has yet to fully cast off. I imagine this will become a more developed idea much farther down the line, but I appreciate it all the same.

I must again shout out the mad lads and lasses at CloverWorks, since much of this episode's (and the entire show's) appeal lies in their pristine artwork and animation. While The Elusive Samurai has yet to become a story with enough weight and pathos to earn a place amongst the all-time greats, it is never anything less than delightful to simply watch. Clans will rise, armies will fall, and Japan will be irrevocably changed by the time all is said an done, but I'm pretty sure these kids are going to be alright.

Episode Rating:

The Elusive Samurai Season 2 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

James is a writer with many thoughts and feelings about anime and other pop-culture, which can also be found on BlueSky, his blog, and his podcast.