The climactic battle pitting the fighter-for-hire and former Sekiho Army member Sanosuke Sagara against rurouni and former Imperial soldier Himura Kenshin comes to a close this week. The fight is fierce, but it comes to a remarkably satisfying conclusion.
Episode 5 — And Then, Another
Rurouni Kenshin: Past and Present — Kenshin vs. Sanosuke Part 2
As discussed in the Episode 4 review, the actual battle starts quite differently between the 2023 and 1996 iterations. This is also a chance to complain that Dr. Gensai and his granddaughters are absent again. Has it been a week already?
In the previous adaptation, Sanosuke heads to the Kamiya Dojo to fight Kenshin at night. He calls it off when Ayame and Suzume wake up and call for Kenshin. In the 2023 version, Sanosuke spends two weeks deliberately researching his opponent. So why does this matter? Episode 5 of the 1996 version begins with Kenshin doing chores at the dojo. The girls run up to him and ask to play. At this point, we need some missing-person posters for Dr. Gensai and the girls.
The fight between Kenshin and Sanosuke happens similarly to the 1996 version, but the old one has more style. There’s more movement between the two. We also get more action shots, such as when Sanosuke swings the zanbato, and it looks like the handle is bending. Then there are the split screen shots of Kenshin’s and Sanosuke’s faces. 1996 animation hits differently.
Again, though, there are no epic moments when Kenshin calls out his sword techniques as he’s doing them. If he ever names them, it’s only after the fact as a passing mention.
Rurouni Kenshin: Past and Present — Sanosuke Remembers Captain Sagara
In both adaptations, Sanosuke had flashbacks to his childhood following Captain Sozo Sagara of the Sekiho Army. However, they played out somewhat differently. In the 1996 version, Sanosuke had a flashback before his fight with Kenshin. His second flashback happened the same in both iterations when he’s knocked down and remembers Captain Sagara’s death.
Captain Sagara’s death has a noteworthy difference because, in the 1996 version, the viewer is shown his confrontation against the Imperialist Army in seeking a compromise. Captain Sagara and his men are gunned down in a hail of bullet fire while protecting Sanosuke. In the recent 2023 version, Sanosuke is left behind, and the next time he sees the good Captain, his head is mounted on display.
Interestingly, the 1996 version had changed from the source material because it censored Sagara’s death entirely and omitted the scene of his head on display. The 2023 version holds true to the original manga in this regard.
No Crouching Moron, All Hidden Badass
Kenshin spends the entire episode in full-on badass mode. He has to because Sanosuke Sagara is right in front of him. And the two ruthless criminals, Kihei and Gohei Hiruma, are off to the side. The badass moment of the week has to be when Kenshin blocks Kihei’s bullet with the guard of his sword. Kenshin falls to the ground as a feint to keep Kihei off-guard, but he’s unharmed. The rest of this brief encounter differs from 1996.
As previously stated, only Gohei appears in 1996, a merge of the two brothers. Gohei is both the brains and brawns of the operation. In the 1996 encounter, Gohei successfully grabs Kaoru and Yahiko to use as hostages to force Kenshin to take a bullet to the chest. While on the ground, Sanosuke uses the side of his zanbato to break Gohei’s leg, freeing his hostages.
The 2023 version admittedly plays out far better. Sanosuke throws his zanbato at Gohei and cuts the man’s face, which leaves a bloody mark beneath his eyes and across his nose. Kihei pulls out a third gun but is taken down when Kenshin uses a sword technique. He intentionally holds back so Kihei doesn’t fall unconscious from the pain. Instead, he’s made to stay awake and endure the pain. Come to think of it, this might be the badass moment of the week. Cast your votes in the comments below.
Rurouni Kenshin Ep. 6: Kurogasa
Fans of the 1996 series just got hyped. Jin-e Udo, also known as Kurogasa (Black Hat), is coming. He is Kenshin’s first challenging opponent, a man who can freeze targets with the Shin no Ippo, a mere look. That’s not to say Sanosuke wasn’t a formidable opponent, but he’s not a villain. Jin-e, on the other hand, is pure evil.
Next up on our fantasy fights, as provided by the J-List shop, is the Katana Hero Raphtalia 1/7 Figure from The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2. A cute tanuki girl wielding a katana is always a win, but my money is still on Kenshin.
What did you think of this week’s episode? How do you compare Kenshin’s fight against Sanosuke between 2023 and 1996? Are you hyped to see Jin-e appear in Rurouni Kenshin? Let us know in the comments below.
