Let’s pick up where we left off last week. Kenshin’s duel with Arundo Akamatsu, which differs from their 1996 encounter where it ended in one episode, continues this week. Meanwhile, Hajime Saito is, once again, lurking around the Kamiya Dojo, with Sanosuke still unconscious from their first round in this week’s episode of Rurouni Kenshin.
Episode 23 — The Wolf’s Fangs
Rurouni Kenshin: Past and Present — Kenshin VS. Akamatsu, Part 2
The duel unfolds as before: Kenshin feigns death, leading Akamatsu to confess everything. After being thrown again, Kenshin lands skillfully and draws his sword with his mouth. Meanwhile, Hajime Saito disguises himself as a regular officer and waits for Kenshin at the Kamiya Dojo. The only notable difference occurs when Kenshin returns home. It’s a minor change but highlights a significant difference between the 1996 and 2023 versions: the older anime excels at creating ambiance.
In the 1996 version, the anime lingers on atmospheric elements like the sky. Kenshin arrived at the Kamiya Dojo at sunset, and the camera captured the setting sun in a striking shot. In the 2023 version, it’s nighttime, and the moon isn’t even visible. Another minor difference is that Kenshin hid his hand wound in 1996, while Kaoru noticed it in 2023.
Rurouni Kenshin: Past and Present — The Lone Wolf Bites
Kenshin’s encounter with Saito unfolds similarly to before. It’s still an engaging scene. In the 1996 version, Saito took his time standing up to face Kenshin, which added to his badass persona. He didn’t rush despite Kenshin’s presence. The scene where Saito recounts various instances of Kenshin’s friends being abducted plays out slightly differently and feels odd. Kenshin criticizes Saito for selling out and acting dishonorably, leading Saito to label Kenshin as weak — too weak to protect his friends.
Saito brings up Jin-e, Kanryu, and Raijuta. In the 2023 version, when he mentions Raijuta, he refers to the scene where Yutaro Tsukayama sustained a permanent injury. In the 1996 version, he expressed disgust that Raijuta managed to land a single hit on Kenshin. It’s a subtle change, but the 2023 version makes more sense here. Kenshin argues that he’s strong enough to protect his friends, but Saito counters that he isn’t, as his friends have been hurt under his watch. Mentioning Yutaro’s injury is more impactful than Kenshin getting hurt. However, the 1996 version also brings up Sanosuke, so the points are roughly equal.
The 1996 version wins for the shippers. Kenshin accepts Saito’s challenge, but Kaoru stops him. In the 1996 version, she grabs his sleeves from behind and presses her forehead to his back in a touching moment. She stays there for a few moments until he walks away. In the 2023 version, Kaoru only grabs one of his sleeves from the side, and Kenshin gently brushes her off. The moment is quicker and less tense.
Rurouni Kenshin: Past and Present — Kenshin VS. Saito: A Sign of Strength
Like previous duels in the series, there aren’t many differences between the past and present versions. The 1996 version depicted the duels as more visceral, with lingering shots. One advantage of the 2023 version is that the 1996 episode ended after Saito stabbed Kenshin in mid-air. However, Kenshin tried to block that stab in the 1996 version — he wasn’t completely defenseless. The movements are also slower, allowing viewers to see each movement without pausing the episode. The room is darker in the 1996 version, adding to the tense atmosphere with the play of shadows.
Kenshin has undergone some changes over time. In 1996, he lost his hair ribbon, and his eyes changed color, a feature typical of the 2023 adaptation. He no longer changes color in hitokiri mode and has stopped calling out his attacks.
In the 2023 version, Kenshin didn’t knock Saito out of the dojo with one of his attacks. Instead, their duel remained inside the dojo, allowing Kenshin to perform impressive wall-jumping maneuvers. The scene where Saito throws his broken sword and uses his belt to counter Kenshin’s strike is quick and somewhat obscured in the 2023 version. However, in 1996, we could see what was happening, making it a clearly epic scene.
Rurouni Kenshin Episode 24: Meiji 11, May 14th
Kenshin and Saito’s duel has concluded, and Toshimichi Okubo must now deliver a grave warning about their country’s future.
What are your thoughts on this week’s episode? How do you think it compares to the original 1996 version? Do you believe the Kenshin VS. Saito duel is better now than it was back then? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Let’s introduce Kenshin to a real monster — a cute one, that is. The Alucard Nendoroid Figure from Hellsing is now available for purchase.
