Toronaga and what is left of his army go to his younger brother Saeki for help, usually this kind of reunion after so long time no seen don't go to well for the one asking for help, at first everything look smooth but it was very predictable, I think this also depends on how much time you spend watching TV Series, for me well you can tell this is something I do on a daily bases so thinking about the possible outcomes before they happen is a common almost automatic thing while watching the series and it was not boring because of how much interesting is the entire Samurai theme for me but I guess if this series was about something else this could have turn into a boring episode.
Platform: FXNOW
Take this scene for example, Toronaga just won his first battle at the age of twelve years old, 46 years ago; meaning his age at the time of the series is about 58 years. He has won his first battle and was about to behead his contrary, they didn't show this scene when he cuts his head off but I truly doubt this was a single clean cut because of how difficult it must be, the talent and the strength need is impressive and a kid of 12 most likely wont have those two, I also assume this story would be brought to light by his brother, not directly him but when I saw it I was like...hhmmm this will be mention latter on.
Saeki look very happy to have his brother asking for his help, like if he finally felt he was useful to his brother, the reason I though this could be possible "Honor & Pride" as a younger brother you always look up to your older brother but I also though he could just be a sneaky bastard laying a trap for Toronaga an everyone next to him.
John keeps going up in the ranks and this gives him more reasons to question Toronaga, he feels everything he has been giving means nothing just to keep him "happy" another pawn in the Toronaga strategy so either he is truly in and respected as a free men or he is allow to get out of Japan with his ship. This last part is very important because I have a feeling that he will once again save Toronaga ass, on this scene he says tells Toronaga he is down with him to whatever happens, trying to tell him he will go to the end of this war with him to prove his loyalty. Mariko is also no treating him anymore like a kid who doesn't know their culture or indirectly make fun of him, this means she sees him more like a man who she might start to respect soon, only three more episodes to go.
From all the women on the series my favorite character is Usami Fuji, I don't know Japanese culture so sometimes I write about her calling her Usami but then her grandfather called her Fuji when he arrive? ...anyways Fuji is my favorite, always so cute, polite, loyal, her grandfather Hiromatsu, tell her how clean and tight is her place that house does look like a Japanese dream house everything so neat, its like been on a five star hotel with the entire Japanese house on the mountain side.
Sadly Fuji still wants to die, Hiromatsu brought her the ashes of her husband and son after he had to commit Seppuku killing himself and his only son, this broke Fuji heart but she was order to live and be John consort, she agree to do this for six month and then she would kill herself as there is nothing that matters for her its hard to imagine anyone can live under this condition and still laugh and look like she does.
The night has come and as I expected Saeki had everything planned, he already had an offer from Ishido to become a Regent and form part of the Council so he never had the intention to join forces with his brother, now he has them trapped, the entire town is surrounded with no where to escape, my description might be too simple but in fact that is how it is, that night they had some Sake and tell a few stories but everything went south when Saeki disrespect Toronaga in front of everyone, that was the catalyst to understand he have betrayed his brother.
Even Yabushige plans have fall down, he was a pawn for both sides, useful until he was not anymore, both Ishido and Toronaga knew he was playing the double agent game. Behind Toronaga's back he send a messenger to try to make peace between both sides or at least cut a deal that favor him but this messenger was beheaded and send on a box back to Yabushige. He thinks that every since he met John his life turn to shit, he has been three times already close to die since they met, at Osaka, at Izu when he fall down the cliff, during the earthquake and now they about to be killed, its kinda true because if Toronaga have never use John at Osaka he would probably be dead by now and Yabushige at that time had a better understanding with Ishido, so yeah John had to do with Yabushige current situation.
This is probably the best mini series I have ever seen and one of the best series over all, been this episode a slow one it was still good, if I have to rate it this is a solid 8/10, as always I skipped the part with all the action to avoid spoil it that much but if you haven't seen the episode just by reading this post you can imagine what comes next. I seriously doubt Toronaga and John were so easy to catch, they surely have something planned or this is the time John stops following orders and save Toronaga ass once more, if he could get back to his ship he could do some serious damage from far, next episode is going to be awesome because we are back at square one, Toronaga is trapped with no where to go so he has to find some sort of procedure impediment for Saeki to take him to Osaka or someone has to safe him.
