The Reel Rejects - SHŌGUN 1x07 “A Stick of Time” | Breakdown & Review

Episode Date: April 2, 2024

ANOTHER INSANE ENDING!! Visit https://www.babbel.com/Rejects to save 55%! Shōgun Episode 7 Full Episode Reaction Watch Along: https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects Continuing FX & Hulu's highly-accl...aimed new adaptation of SHŌGUN with our First Time Reaction, Commentary, Breakdown, and Full Spoiler Review of Episode 7, “A Stick of Time - as Toranaga attempts to solicit the help of his Half-Brother Nobutatsu in hopes of staging a surprise attack on the regents in Osaka.. John & Andrew dive into the epic drama starring Hiroyuki Sanada (John Wick Chapter 4, The Wolverine, Sunshine) as Yoshii Toranaga, Cosmo Jarvis (Peaky Blinders) as John Blackthorn, Anna Sawai (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, F9) as Toda Mariko, Tadanobu Asano (Thor, Mortal Kombat) as Kashigi Yabushige, Takehiro Hira (Monarch, Gran Turismo) as Ishido Kazunari, and MORE! How does this adaptation live up to the original book, the 1980 miniseries (starring Richard Chamberlain), and the actual history? Let's find out!! #Shōgun #Shogun #FX #Hulu #HiroyukiSanada #Miniseries #Japan #Samurai #Feudalism #FirstTimeWatching #Reaction Follow Andrew Gordon On Socials: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieSource Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agor711/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/Agor711 Become A Super Sexy Reject For Full-Length T.V. & Movie Reactions! https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Aparrel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Music Used In Manscaped Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG On INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Make your next vacation unforgettable. On Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Star of the Seas. It's everything you've loved about every family vacation you've ever been on, with mind-flowing thrills at the largest water park at sea, seven onboard pools for every level of chill, more than 40 ways to dine and drink, and even more to enjoy, at our award-winning private island, perfect day at Cocoa. This is the new Star of the Seas.
Starting point is 00:00:27 Click or tap the banner to find out more. Did you know that at Chevron you can fuel up on unbeatable mileage and savings? With Chevron rewards, you'll get 25 cents off per gallon on your next five visits. All you have to do is download the Chevron app and join to start saving on fuel. Then you can keep fueling up on other things like adventure, memories, vacations, daycations, quality time, and so many other possibilities. Head to your nearest Chevron station to fuel up and get rewarded today. Terms apply. See Chevron Texcores.com for more details.
Starting point is 00:01:00 On WhatsApp, no one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call, message, or sending a password. To WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late-night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends, and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp, message privately with everyone.
Starting point is 00:01:30 Thank you to Babel for sponsoring this video. Andrew. John. Give something to the people before we hop in. All right. It's time for the crimson sky, I think, John. True that. Let's do this.
Starting point is 00:01:46 Well, and gin. How did you feel that episode seven? Wow. That was intense, especially that ending. But, yeah, let's start from the beginning. It's usually where we like this are. That was a great, like the previous episode, you know, with Mariko and what's her name, the heir's mother. Oh, Chiba.
Starting point is 00:02:09 Oh, Chiba. Thank you so much. I'm so grateful to have you here. As always. But, no, there was a great flashback to, I did not know, Torinaga at age, I figured he was probably 16, which still, that would have been impressive. But to see him at 12 and again, we talked about it, the contrast between his son and him. totally, I mean, he's even younger than his son is currently, and they're in totally different stages in their, you know, in their life
Starting point is 00:02:37 and where they are in terms of battle tested and all that. So that was interesting to see. And also, too, how, you know, his enemy had respect and, like, giving up his life. And then, you know, the whole thing. I like, too, how ambiguous it was where it looked like he got him on one, you know, he stabbed him. And then it's great. It looked like it was just one, one swift motion.
Starting point is 00:02:55 And then that was it. And then we hear the line from his brother later about, legends and lies and all that and then you kind of brought up the line like are you truth you're like wait what exactly happened and then we find out later he's like oh it was actually nine nine strikes apparently which understandably he's 12 years old i love the and again yeah no that was great um and with the other story placed in yeah no no no it's fine it's fine you didn't object to that the truth it's like it's about the truth yeah yeah yeah i thought he was talking about the story of course i mean we all Any of us would hope for that.
Starting point is 00:03:30 Yeah, yeah. But, yeah, no, that was a great introduction and flashback, of course, with Toraynaga's character. And, I mean, there's just so many different other layers of this episode. I really appreciate it. Especially Buntaro looked like he was going to explode at any second.
Starting point is 00:03:46 He's not dumb. He understands exactly what's going on with his wife and me. I mean, excuse me, John Blackthorn. Yes, of course. You're losing the line between fiction and reality. Yes, right. I'm just imagining what Anna, so why? Is that her name? She's very, very
Starting point is 00:04:03 talented, actually. Also, too, I really again, I will let you speak in one sec. I really, really, really dug as always what was going on with Fuji's character. Again, MVP of the show. No, she's really is fantastic. As an actress, the character, well, just so many emotional
Starting point is 00:04:19 layers in depth to this character. Again, I just feel so much emotion for what has happened to this poor woman. And then getting the, sorry, go ahead. No, and for Nagakata to bring her the ashes, I assume that was both of them, right? Yeah, I mean, yeah.
Starting point is 00:04:36 And for then him to me, the end that he does later on. Like, it's such a, the strange, like, circle of life and fate is fascinating. But that scene, too, where she was like, you know, where she was like, well, I forgot the stick or whatever that she was. Oh, yeah, the stick with the plate. Yeah, and then, but, like, having like an uplifting, you know, emotion there. And I thought that was just a great.
Starting point is 00:04:56 scene for her just having a new kind of I don't know new lease on life is the proper word but just I really like that she's embracing or at least actively participating in the in the purpose that she remains here right fulfills so yeah I think that that conversation she had with her grandfather definitely you know helped her a little bit but again I just I feel for this poor woman and she just she's got such um you know grace and honor and dignity in in light of all this awful horror that's gone on in this poor woman's life. And I just love this actor so much. And again, this character, I'm just so damn in fact.
Starting point is 00:05:37 If anything happens, I'm walking out of here. I really don't want anything to happen. If Fuji dies, we riot. Yeah, we seriously will. I got so much more to say. It was such a, I mean, so much tension in this episode. What did you think? Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:05:49 I mean, I, again, am continually impressed with and just pulled into it. It's the thing. I'm just like you're so pulled in and I particularly kind of noted in the episode that moment where we were both sitting there and there's like a commercial break and we're like oh god the black screen
Starting point is 00:06:07 is lingering for a little bit longer than you know expected is this the end like no please tell me it's not the end and you know we're used to like binge shows that have you know like oh at the very end there will be some kind of cliffhanger but like it's nice to be feeling that way and granted it was close to the end but still like
Starting point is 00:06:22 feeling that way before it's the actual end is always good sign to me and uh yeah just watching the entanglements and the sort of yeah clashing between again truth and legend and lies and gossip and half truths and and all that stuff like is fascinating and the currency of legacy most certainly i'm curious to see um where the character of what is it nobutatsu goes uh the brother the half brother because uh you know at the outset you know the We are introduced to him and you have that initial subversion of expectations where it's like, oh, okay, like, you know, he's a bit warm. He's a bit jovial. You know, he's off on his own. He makes that crack about like, oh, you know, if all you had to do is, you know, hang out here and watch over the Riverlands or whatever. You know, you would be pretty relaxed and look pretty good yourself. And then sure enough, you know, it's not, he's not content to let that be his legacy. He wants something greater and seems to be making a vibe. for that greatness or at least the slingshot integrator prominence via the regents and i thought the way this handled its various reveals and twists was yes was great too on top of on the heels of the previous
Starting point is 00:07:36 episode and uh you know to have it be that they have this discord like at the at the end of the last one you have this like sense of comfort because you're like okay they can't agree on uh this guy that they got you know from the the theater this other you know edo i believe Ito, yeah, I can't remember exactly what rank he was promoted from, but, you know, they can't agree on him. So we're like, oh, cool, we've got some time. And then this episode, it's like, oh, no, damn, they already figured this out. And that's one of those things. They already got to him.
Starting point is 00:08:04 They already secured potentially, this thing is, I never write off anybody's allegiance. And I feel like a character like Yibushige is a great example of that. Because now, like, for as much as he's been playing both sides, it feels as though he's certainly sort of been forced, much closer toward de facto Toranaga, team Torinaga than before. But yeah, like, I'm still waiting for what shoes might drop with the brother and, and also, too, I mean, it's fascinating. We've had two episodes end on huge events surrounding Nagakato.
Starting point is 00:08:40 And so, like, to go from the same kind of maneuver, and it's always after he talks to Omi. And even this time, it didn't, it didn't feel as overtly as if Omi, was was like sowing the the seeds as much as before but it's still
Starting point is 00:08:57 that proximity of like damn dude like you know the weight of his you know
Starting point is 00:09:05 relationship to his father and the ways in which he sort of wants to rise to the occasion but yeah he's not tested and you know he doesn't have
Starting point is 00:09:14 just the ins it's you know you look at that flashback with you know the child warlord or whatever they called him right And you're like, that is not Nagakato.
Starting point is 00:09:23 Like as much as he wants to have that glorious death. And that's like one of those elements of peripheral magic. That's kind of what I call. I don't know what, there's probably like a storytelling term for it. But that's like a spiritual element that comes back. Nakakato has been so kind of fixated on glory in battle and being gung-ho and wanting to rise to that occasion. and he suffers this horrible, unceremonious death. That thing nobutzatsu says about, like,
Starting point is 00:09:57 I can't remember the exact line, but it's like, it's so, like, there's no beauty in this. Yeah, yeah, right. Yeah, and it's like all Nagakato seem to be wanting. I mean, certainly he didn't want to die right away, but, you know, you all want to secure that noble death, and not only was he acting against, you know, of treacherous, though, he may be he's acting against a family member and again carrying out another action that is kind of a
Starting point is 00:10:25 rash and of his own you know design and you know it echoes back to that thing when he's talking to Fuji in the woods and he's like it should have been me that day I should have got up and said something how different might things be for you for everybody you know if I had instead of your husband yeah thought to stand up and defend my father and then you asked a good question it's like well given that he is the son would he still have to be put to death for some kind of transgression like this. It certainly seems like he would, but I don't know. And how would this look different? And so like, yeah, it's the right amount of that thematic magic to me at the end where it's like, oh, man, this is poetic and
Starting point is 00:11:04 tragic for this character, uh, especially after so many ruminations on this, like the irony that this is how he would die. Yeah. And yet it makes sense, like it speaks just enough to like that fluke quality of life, you know, that, yeah, just like, oh, he stepped on the wrong stone during the rain, and there you go. Yeah, this could be a totally wrong analogy, but I mean, for Nagakato, I mean, it's hard being Michael Jordan's son, like, who can live up to that, you know what I mean? So I get it where he was coming from. And again, in terms of the twist you were talking about, I mean, obviously we had, you know, Toranaaga's brother being the new region. We always talk about, like, what a strategist, Yoshita Tornaga is. And, like,
Starting point is 00:11:47 Like, no one's on his level, but Ishido, like, that was quite a move on his part, like, now getting on the level with Toranauga. So I like that. That makes for good storytelling, good characters. And it keeps those characters present, feeling, even when they're not on the screen. Absolutely. Totally agree. Like, he was still hovering around the episode, even while not being present in the episode. Totally agree.
Starting point is 00:12:09 I was thinking that absolutely the whole time. I was thinking about Ishido the whole time. Absolutely, good call. And then also, too, you know, again, you get that twist. like possibly Nagakado he's going to get his first kill and it's going to be his uncle and then he's twist and turn but also too you have that foreshadowing line he's talking about like a beautiful death and it's like tragic poetic it's kind of the foreshadowing for him later than on the episode he's just trying yeah so too hard yeah but it's also interesting you get it yeah and then there's a lot
Starting point is 00:12:40 of interesting other things like manipulation and where people are positioning themselves like I guess that's the politics of everything. Obviously, you have the whole, I mean, what's the episode called, like, the stickers of time or whatever. Yeah, yeah. And then you have the whole, I forgot her name. It's the one who's in charge of the, yeah, Kiku's boss. She is like the, the miss. Is it like the matron or the mistress?
Starting point is 00:13:06 Yeah, but what is the name of the woman who heads abroad? Yeah, the head of the willow. The tea house, right? But I found that whole exchange, the interaction with. Toranaga, because he's like, all right, I can't really deal with this right now. I got a lot on my plate, but sure, what's going on? And then, like, she has...
Starting point is 00:13:23 The madam. The madam. We'll just call her the madam. Okay, the madam. But, I mean, that whole exchange was interesting just from terms of, okay, we want to have our own guild and Edo, like, we're here to help kind of thing. That was freaking fascinating. That was, yeah, no, for sure. And I, like, you know, it was a proposition. Like, hey, I mean, the chips are really down right now for you, but we're here to help and kind of thing. It's like, I just don't have.
Starting point is 00:13:45 have time to two. I mean, I'm like about to die right now anyways. Hello there, esteem viewer of the Real Rejects. I, Greg Alba, language connoisseur, and worldly gentlemen. I'm here to bestow upon you the secrets of Babel. Babel is an engaging language learning app designed for real-life conversations, offering quick, 10-minute lessons tailored by linguistic experts to effectively teach you a new language. Its conversation-based approach enhanced with speech recognition technology makes Babel worth
Starting point is 00:14:09 trying for anyone looking to learn at their own pace anytime, anywhere. My dear friends in this age of monolingual mundanity, mandanity, mundanity, mundanity. Babel is her beacon of hope, crafted by an army of over 150 language experts. Their lessons are like linguistic caviar, rich, refined, and oh, so satisfied. Personal tale of triumph. I once whispered sweet nothings in Spanish, or for the layman, Espanual, to my wife, courtesy of Babel. Her reaction, well, I'll tell you, she was utterly bewitched. Greg, you silver-tongued devil, no paraphrasing.
Starting point is 00:14:38 She exclaimed such vocabulary as I basked in the glory of my perfect pronunciation. Because Babel isn't just about learning words. It's about embracing the art of conversation with podcasts, live classes, and a veritable smorgasbord of interactive lessons. I know the words I'm saying. And their speech recognition? It's like having a personal language butler. Ensuring every syllable is impeccably crisp.
Starting point is 00:14:58 Now brace yourselves for an offer of monumental proportions. Here's a special limited time. Deal for our viewers and listeners to get you started right now. Get 55% off your Babel subscription. But again, only for our viewers at babble.com slash rejects. percent off at babble.com slash rejects spelled b a bbbl.com slash rejects rules and restrictions by apply join me the greg alban the adventure of language mastery at babel we shall not just learn no nay we shall conquer the world of communication or as they say in
Starting point is 00:15:28 spanish communication we're done with this ad so it's like yes in there being like man I feel like you could you know it's like it's not going to help necessarily like the direct efforts of military strategy in the immediate sense but part of me is like yeah
Starting point is 00:15:52 in a new world that you seem to each be fighting for like I can see how your interests might be aligned and in that moment you want Toronaga to be sort of sympathetic to or at least demonstrate openness to what she's saying there and it makes me curious
Starting point is 00:16:08 because, you know, we are dealing with a time and play. You know, every different culture has its own version of brothels and courtesans and what the role of that is in society. And I thought it was a really interesting plea that she had. And it makes me wonder if, I mean, I have to imagine that these ideas have been brought up over the centuries. But it is like a progressive idea to think about in the here and now of the show that makes a lot of sense where it's like, yeah, this is something that we've already established is. you know, a holistic service that can be provided. It's, like they say in the earlier episode, in the, in the ladies of the Willow World episode, you know, it's not just about the physical rush of everything. It's, it's more than that.
Starting point is 00:16:53 And it's something that everybody or most people to some degree need. And it's like, there are a lot of horrific circumstances that go into, you know, perpetuating this system as it stands at this moment and in various other moments throughout history. but like something like that is like oh wow you know like that is kind of a progressive idea in terms of how we interact with and look at like sex work and uh and yeah to have the idea of like a guild and give us our own area where we can kind of and not to say you know people or people or people there's always going to be potential for treachery but like yeah it seems only fair that they would just have their own means of operation and their own means of making sure that things are done in the you know most healthy of above the board manner possible because, you know, it's possible that people might still, you know, opt to engage with, again, the sort of spiritual nature of what this is, this holistic, you know, means of caretaking that is a little more involved than, you know, the average thing you might think about. So it's just like an interesting moment to center the episode because it is like two very different perspectives coming together and like the
Starting point is 00:18:04 way her whole mood changes over the course of the conversation because she first comes to him very respectfully and is again pleading toward his sympathies. And then when he's sort of like, I ain't got time for this. She very quickly changes her tune and starts to show again that she's got the restraint, but she's also very much determined. And she's also probably got means of moving. Everyone has means of moving through the margins to sow the seeds that they are looking out for and everybody has their own self-interest or this the interests of their own like group their immediate group self in a way and so for that to be you know like sticks of time i get the sense is simply to acknowledge like you have literally the burning down of this stick of incense
Starting point is 00:18:51 which in and of itself is you know a transfer from physical matter into you know something more ethereal um and life is you know like the burning down of some kind of long fuse and until it's gone. So like to have that conversation happen over the moment that clarifies the name of the episode, I thought was quite interesting because like those, the clash between, yeah, like all these military concerns and government concerns, then kind of balanced
Starting point is 00:19:20 across from human, holistic, and, you know, more concerns that are like way, are rooted in things that just run deeper than borders political concerns. So this is super interesting. Yeah, no, absolutely. It was intriguing. And then obviously we see that Torunaga's son and Kiku were then working together in order
Starting point is 00:19:44 to slay the uncle. I thought that was, right? Yeah. That was fascinating too. I mean, and. The position themselves obviously, but still, that was still fascinating. I mean, intriguing. Well, and I'm like, how much did, did Omi have anything to do with that?
Starting point is 00:19:59 I thought. He couldn't get him to talk to her. Yeah, exactly. I don't. And how much do she and Nagakato, you know, have, uh, yeah, constantly, you know, like, it shall be, I would assume it'll be reviewed. And part of me, too, wonders if, uh, uh, um, the madam, I wonder if I got the sense that maybe she I pulled some, I feel like, strings.
Starting point is 00:20:22 I feel like that. And we've seen, like, in one of those early episodes, and it's like, never come back, we saw that flashback where there was like that female assassin. And like, and she seemed like, she was. She was there to kill the Hatamoto. Yeah, and part of me is like, I don't know if there's some kind of crossover, it would be like an easy way to hide in playing the site. So part of me is like, will that come back or is this in any way related to that? Because again, like this is a place hidden away from the world and there's all that stuff about the Willow world.
Starting point is 00:20:51 And we get to kind of explore that perspective and all those things from previous episodes. And that's a great thing about the show is it gets you in the present episode thinking about prior episodes. for sure and yeah all that stuff they keep saying about like it's it's we can turn out the lights no one can see anything no one can hear anything and yet also you get the sense that someone is always watching yeah um so yeah i'm very fascinated by what the circumstances ultimately turn out to be in the light of day uh based off of that because yeah it's not where i was expecting this episode to end up at all oh no not at all i mean it's going to be obviously indreaseo torga response to that as well um did i miss it before
Starting point is 00:21:32 Or, because now, it was, was it revealed this episode that Buntaro is Hiramatsu's son, or was that revealed? That too. Yeah, I'm not, I, because I am not 100%. Okay, if it was, let us know, because I didn't know that before we heard that dialogue. Sure, yeah. And that's, you know, and this is another, you know, I think anybody on a first time watch, you know, there's a lot to take it. And this is stuff that gets me excited to go back and look at the further nuances. And in that moment, I mean, it certainly felt like that information was kind of articulated the way that they do these kinds of, it reminded me structurally of the reveal of the allegiance with nobutatsu being, you know, at least certainly seemingly as of now in Ido's, in Ishido's pocket, depending, but it's always like depending on, you know, what choice, Toronaga, whoever makes. Yeah, it certainly seemed like that was a thread further clarified here at the very least. I am curious, too, in the next episode or the following episodes, if we're going to get, I would assume, but just again, just making a point, if we're going to get more into the backstory, whether it's a flashback or via exposition dialogue about just the story with Tornaga and his brother, because obviously he talks about legacy, like, is it a jealousy factor on like, you know, him,
Starting point is 00:22:59 becoming the boyhood warlord or the childhood warlord wherever it was or is it you know did they have something in their past that created this riff between them i'm very again i'm just like i'm so excited to see like what what caused that riff between them i mean jealousy i would totally understand that motivation like it makes me wonder because when he first walks up he's like oh what could ever cause you to come you know turn to your yeah you know he kind of slags himself off in that first introduction, you know, you're, you're, he doesn't call himself dim-witted, but yeah, inversion, yeah, you know, it sounded like he was almost echoing some kind of insulting remark that, you know, he's probably been had, he's probably had people say about him many
Starting point is 00:23:42 times and maybe Toronaga said something like that about him. And maybe that's why he is just sort of out here, you know, sort of remote and, and not really as involved with the major players. And yeah, maybe now he's like, you know what, I've lived long enough. I want my piece of the pie. I want my piece of legacy for real. And I'm, yeah, I'm curious to see how that character develops because when you meet him, he does kind of seem like, you know, ah, you're my, you're my goofy half brother or something, or a guy that you're not as inclined to just immediately take seriously. But then, you know, he surrounds them with his forces and, uh, and real quick sidebar.
Starting point is 00:24:20 Just like the, the costuming has always been great, but like the contrast between the dark uniforms that Toronagas guys have and then his half brothers, you know, armies all dressed in these sort of white or more like silvery garments and things like that just like really interesting color play and all the different like landscape shots with both the foliage but all this permeating mist around spent a lot of time at the hot springs and two i heard one brief little thing i was listening to something about the show and they were talking about the original one and the people who adapted yeah the people who adapted it from the book were like okay how about we take all this stuff, but, you know, since we're producing this, you know, we're doing
Starting point is 00:25:03 an American production, let's like set it from Blackthorne's perspective. Let's flip it. I guess the book isn't necessarily set that way. So it's like, let's set it from his perspective and kind of learn through his eyes. And I feel like here they've done something really interesting and neat because, like, you're always with him when you're looking through his perspective. And he, again, always feels like a singular sort of presence within the show. And yet, you know, he's not like the main focus and I feel like they've just struck like such a lovely continual balance with him because he never feels like an afterthought but he also doesn't have to always be the present you know in in your face thought for sure and the way that yeah he's constantly sort of
Starting point is 00:25:45 tiptoeing sometimes gracefully sometimes very much not between the sort of yeah you're giving me all these gifts and things and bestowing me these titles and these honors but like all I want is my ship and the goalpost for our arrangement keeps changing and like the amount of restraint he has to show and the amount of the room he has to read in those moments where again we don't have translation like that whole thing at the riverbank i thought was fascinating too where yibushige is like and it's a great you know indication of like you are going to have to learn how to use that sword like it is weird it's like ceremonious ceremonially you need to carry this around because that's you know how this is all set up but at the same time part of me is like someone's got to train
Starting point is 00:26:30 this man at least in the basics yeah because then buntaro steps up and you're like oh like part of me is like is he going to begrudgingly train him or what and it doesn't you know i feel like maybe that would be too cheesy but yeah like the the tension alone in a scene like that is fascinating you to tom cruise less samurai him but i do love that each episode he's getting better at speaking japanese too and adapting to their ways a little bit and obviously uh last thing i want to say too I found, once again, the chemistry between him and Mariko is fantastic and the exchanges between them and how she's, like, really trying to, again, keep the peace and trying to keep him, like, in his lane just from causing any damage. Like, just stop, like, don't push the limit on the, or whatever she was saying, like, if she genuinely cares for him.
Starting point is 00:27:16 And then, obviously, the interaction she had with Tornaga, after the exchange he had with Buntaro, it was very interesting. like are you like are you here with me to like continue your father's work or are you with the barbarian like I mean it was very compelling and intriguing stuff that was going on with that scene and like again you friggin feel for her when she's like please free me from all of my oh my no I was my heart was pounding in that moment I felt for her because how do you it's like you know the clearly there's an undeniable and I think again the chemistry the casting the way it's written the stuff between her and Blackthorn I think is actually really lovely yeah I really like the gray areas and the things that it's clear there's something there and it's that age old
Starting point is 00:28:01 again clash between the heart and you know the the greater needs of the people and the systems around you and yeah and in that moment i felt so much for her when she's like yeah i've given my like she and fuji are fascinatingly similar in that they're both like look i i'm giving you my life because I have to, because I have to keep fighting this fight, you know. And yet all I want to do is just to let go of all this weight. And, and again, the eightfold fence thing, like, in that moment when she has to say that thing about, like, well, I am my husband's property. He can do with me as he wishes. Like, you see her spirit to recede. And, like, there's just so much. And too, with Buntaro, I feel like there is, I remember in the comments, people were saying, like, you know,
Starting point is 00:28:48 he wasn't necessarily always. I did see. the cause of her coldness. And that's certainly something like I kind of missed as well, is sort of, and I think in these later moments, the way he's so bothered by this, I think suggests that while, you know, there is, you know, that element of shame and, and, you know, the transgressions of her, you know, father in the past, you know, those are hung around her neck like a, like a big albatross. and yet I feel like he does or there's a part of him that probably does like want some kind of warmth or to be warm in a way toward her and it's just like you know
Starting point is 00:29:30 as he said she was never open to that from me and so like in a way even though there are a lot of ways in which we can look at a character like Bunthera and be like man this guy kind of sucks at the same time of course the more time we spend with him I get it and I really love watching him too even despite the harshness of certain aspects of his relationship.
Starting point is 00:29:51 And again, we talk about facial reactions and expressions. Like, what he's displaying, like, again, the rage and jealousy that he's seeing how she's clearly, she can't show it, but like how he feels that she's displaying towards John Blackthor. He's like, where have, why can't you have that with me? You've never done that to me. And all the time we've been married and you're showing that to a barbarian of all people. And it's not like big and loud in soap opera. But it's just enough.
Starting point is 00:30:17 It's subtle, but it's enough. Like, it's John. It's because nobody can cuss. Of course. Like me. I'm going to catch up with you one of these days. See, the problem is my Blackthorn impression is just going to be trying to impersonate your Blackthorn impression. It's like everyone's Christopher Walken.
Starting point is 00:30:33 You see people, John is just trying to impersonate me, not Blackthorn. That's true. Because you're the real. You're the and gin, man. I'm the and gin. That's right. Any other thoughts before we hit the book of this? No, again, just wonderful.
Starting point is 00:30:46 one episode, uh, some great twist and turns. I love the flashback. Just, I love everything. Um, uh, that ending was what I was so, I know we off. I know we often say that the ending is not what we were. Yeah, no, for sure. But, um, as always, I hate that we have to wait another week. Um, but I, I'm just so excited, intrigued, saddened as to what the resolve is going to be to the ending of this one. And obviously going to be harsh consequences. Oh yeah. And we only have a couple episodes to go and yet it still feels like we have a mile left to go or a few anyway. So as much as now it is starting to sink in that we have three left. Yes. I'm looking forward to the next three weeks, Andrizio, very much so. Me too, Joe. Well, anyway, guys, do you have any final thoughts? No, just loved it. Can't wait.
Starting point is 00:31:41 Thank you guys for again, seriously all your comments really help. Seriously. Much love. Thank you for, yeah, like this has been such a joy. You know, like everything we get to check out here is a privilege. And there are so many great different flavors we get to engage with. But it's been a minute since we've had a show like this. And two, and one that is a bit, you know, yeah, it feels kind of special. Oh, yeah. This one is very special. It's so, so, so well crafted in so many ways that, yeah, it just feels like you're getting a gourmet meal at the start of each week. Andrew. So, hey, appreciate you for being here. Yes, we have appetizers before we start here, but this is the entree every time we start. Yeah, we're going to make that bean dish. But yeah, leave us your thoughts, and please feel free to expound on anything and everything that we might have missed or that you just want to give us a little bit more flesh to the bone for, and we will catch you next week for episode 8.
Starting point is 00:32:39 Be well, people. Thank you, Rejection. Thank you.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.