Overview: Sagiri (Marisa Duran), Yuzuriha (Jill Harris) and Senta (Jordan Dash Cruz) work as a unit to take down the Tensen they stumbled upon in Mu Dan. (Ian Sinclair, Michelle Rojas)
Our Take: Every Tensen has been their own special brand of crazy and Mu Dan is no exception to that rule. Mu Dan is batshit maniacal in how they treat humans like experimental playthings. They’re every bit the threat his brethren are with his human dolls adding creepy numbers and tension. Their manipulation of Tao is also unique in his flight capabilities along with tried-and-true superhuman strength and speed.
Each Tensen brings a nugget of info with them, and in Mu Dan’s case, that’s the true nature of Shinsenkyo. The elixir being a sham, turning humans into trees if consumed, brings up the question of just how Gabimaru and others will complete their quest. Even more twisted is how humans serve as different experiments for the Tensen, depending on their potential. Especially tragic are the lies of the afterlife Hoko and the other villagers were fed to keep them in line.
Sagiri, Yuzuriha and Senta’s teamwork is well constructed in how they plan their attacks in sync. Although, their coordination is a bit unrealistic in how they seemingly, never planned their strategy or worked together before. However, the pure spectacle keeps things exciting, especially in the natural, accumulating presence of Sagiri and Yuzuriha’s Tao. Making Tao an inherent part of the world is a smart move that continues to pay off, ramping up the thrill of battles.
Yuzuriha’s white bodily fluids are back and with a vengeance, surely to get all the freaks going (myself not excluded). Jokes aside, her abilities have cool and varying implementations in battle, like whiplike characteristics and/or poisonous applications. The true strength of her character lies in her overwhelming confidence, however. Her determination and high spirits are positively infectious, uplifting Sagiri’s dwindling faith in their mission and survival.
Senta and Yuzuriha have always shared something of camaraderie in her understanding of his true nature. Although, it could have easily been reduced to nothing more than a simple crush on his part. Thankfully, it goes much deeper than that. Senta’s self-loathing and regret establishes a personal admiration to
Yuzuriha, who’s, conversely, proud and self-assured of who she is. His flowery self-sacrifice for Yuzuriha is a harsh and saddening one, especially in admiring her as an artistic muse. Mu Dan’s eerie flower form acts as a stunning cliffhanger, especially as Shion comes to the girls’ rescue.