English Dub Review: The Elusive Samurai “The Gentle Uncle”

Overview

Takauji Ashikaga, once considered the guardian of the Kamakura shogunate, stages a rebellion that led to its quick destruction. Toki/Tokiyuki’s older brother, Kunitoki, successfully evades the eyes of the warriors loyal to Takauji, and he is placed under the care of their uncle, Muneshige Godaiin.

Our Take

During their journey to Shinano, Toki and his companions are stranded in an abandoned house due to heavy guard at the city exits. During the night, Yorishige attempts to kiss Toki on the cheek while he sleeps, but Toku rightfully avoids the gesture, surprising everyone by leaping onto a beam. Toki later expresses his concerns about leaving Kamakura, but Shizuku reassures him, suggesting they pose as refugees from a shrine that recently burned down.

Toki’s uncle, Muneshige Godaiin is a wretched piece of shit and his sinister presence dominates the latter part of the proceedings. As his towering, titan-like design only further emphasizes how evil this dude is, yet the scene of him running through the woods was well done in terms of animation quality. Despite my disgust for Muneshige, I must admit the action sequences with his swordsmanship were impressive. The second half of the episode, especially the climactic battle, helps further top that so a lot of wasn’t boring.

Overall, while the show’s animation is top-notch and Tokiyuki’s character development shows promise, the tonal inconsistencies and exaggerated comedy hinder its potential. The cast and comedic elements are difficult to connect with, overshadowing the otherwise stellar production quality. Despite its flaws, the series holds promise, but it needs to find a better balance to fully engage its audience.