Welcome to the final week of Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu, where the plot is rushed and the art is at its best. Lets jump in.
Ranbu opens this week with the title card, skipping the OP. Looks like they want all the time they can get. Picking up where they left off, Ranbu has Horikawa go and get the young Tetsunoske at Hijikata’s request. Reenacting the flashback we saw in earlier episodes, Hijikata tasks him to take his sword back to his family. During this, Horikawa walks out and meets Kane in an empty part of the fort. The direction here is good, with shots mostly showing them together but with objects such as a cannon between them. The two talk for awhile and we learn that for the past 3 years Horikawa has been fighting the Retrograde while working for Hijikata. During that time, apparently he still has not made a decision about whether or not to save Hijikata. Had their breakup lasted longer than an hour for Kane, it would almost be touching.
While walking back to the Shinsengumi camp however, something unexpected happens. The scene of Hijikata and Tetsunoske doesn’t follow the flashback. Instead of taking the sword, the young solder begs Hijikata to keep the sword, no doubt at the influence of Horikawa. With this, Kane can now participate in Hijikata’s last battle. Apparently, this was all Horikawa could think to do, one last try for his companions happiness. Sadly, this change doesn’t last long. Kane strides over to Hijikata and after a 2 minute conversation convinces him to send the sword with Tetsunoske.
Basically, Kane shames Hijikata into giving it up and preserving history. Its rather disappointing as this change in history was the only unknown factor left. To make matters worse, Horikawa is completely fine with Kane striding in and destroying the last 3 years of his work. There’s no conflict here, everything just slides smoothly out of the way for the final battle against 1000 Retrograde troops. It killed the story for the sake of the action.
With the story points wrapped up, for good or ill, Kane now rides out to meet Mutsunokami and others against the Retrograde. Dozens of portals appear in the sky and one by one the Retrograde are zapped down. Somehow, 6 are supposed to stand again 1000. Even assuming 6 could defeat 1000, there is no way they could stop them all. They could not cover the ground required to keep them from the Imperial army. As the fight goes on our heroes realize this as well, but at the last moment reinforcements appear! Mikazuki and the rest of the 2nd Unit are sent in! With Horikawa on his way, this now makes it 12 vs 1000. Still absurd, but its the final battle, the Rule of Cool is expected.
Plot and story issues aside, this final fight is well done. The lighting throughout is great and a lot of the choreography, covered in places by flashing swords, looks good. A large number of shots could be taken from this fight and made into backgrounds or just pretty pictures. Ranbu shows us moments for each individual character, such as Tonbokiri overcoming an Ootachi or Yagen and his brother working together. Its all very eye catching. However all good things must come to an end, as Horikawa and Kanesada defeat the last Retrograde soldier, winning the day.
With the battle done, Ranbu cuts to what was at stake in this battle. We see the Imperial troops attack and Hijikata charge. Safe on a far away hill, Horikawa and Kane run towards the battle, but are to late as Hijikata is shot and falls from his horse. The 1st and 2nd Units mingle and chat a bit, before our heroes are sent out on another mission. No rest for our heroes apparently. Then, without a word of discontent, everyone welcomes back Horikawa as if nothing had happened. He disappears for 3 years, virtually deserting from their ranks and conspiring to change history, only to be welcomed back as if nothing happened. Cut to the credits.
Ranbu’s ending shows all of its flaws in one final, glorious wreck. Its a pretty wreck, but wreck nonetheless. The issue we see with Ranbu time and again is that nothing matters. History isn’t allowed to be changed, except when it is as seen in episode 1. Retrograde winning means nothing so the conflicts have no weight, as shown in episode 5. The characters have no agency and are only their stories only exist to fill in between fights, as shown in this episode with how quickly Horikawa capitulated in regards to Hijikata. Or when the 2nd Unit accept Horikawa back as if nothing happened. Ranbu started with the status quo and ends with the status quo. By the end, nothing had really changed.
But hey, atleast its pretty right? See you soon with the full series review and a final mark.
