Looks like the hype was deserved.
Summary:
- Sengoku Youko’s episode 3 revealed the backstories of prominent characters.
- It also expands on the themes of the series, while keeping the action consistently great.
- Many fans feel that the anime is getting even better than it was in the first episode.
Sengoku Youko’s premiere was good, or at least certainly good enough to make manga fans less worried about the adaptation. Many anime-only watchers also found it decent — but complained it wasn’t unique enough compared to other battle shounen series.
In general, the appeal of Satoshi Mizukami’s works is not noticed immediately. They usually start out quite normal and only progress to being amazing later. Gradual evolution — of both the story and the characters — is something viewers always enjoy.
In Sengoku Youko’s case, the latest episode already promises that the series will become much more than it currently is.
Backstories revealed
The latest episode reveals the past of Jinka and Tama — which certainly explains their behavior, which some viewers found odd. Their past gives depth to their relationship and interactions, as well as providing additional information about the world.
While the protagonist, Shinsuke, can certainly be seen as annoying by many, viewers already have hopes for him. These characters usually progress greatly during their journey and become true heroes — something that fans eagerly await.
What’s up with the monks?
One thing fans seem to be confused about are the Buddhist monks who transform into monsters and have an entire underground base. Usually, monks aren’t really associated with criminal organizations: however, in the history of Japan, there have been periods where monks played a prominent role.
This isn’t any kind of jab at religion: rather the monks are here simply to show how some people can abuse their power. Regardless of that, the monks are no match for Jinka — whose powers were elaborated on in this episode.
Prospects for the future of the anime
Episode 3 also provides insights into the themes of the series. We see both the good and the bad parts of humanity. The latter is shown in Jinka’s backstory, while the former we can see when Shinsuke interacts with Shaku.
Sengoku Youko is surprisingly deep when it needs to be, and everyone is waiting for more episodes.
The visuals are also staying consistent. Some are even arguing they are getting better: the action wasn’t bad in the first place, and in the latest episode, it is still great.
While good drama and character writing are important, fans want the anime to actually look good — and studio White Fox so far is doing their part flawlessly. The anime is going to run for 37 episodes — a rarity in our days, but certainly a welcome one.