Dororo – 11

We keep hearing about this party that’s over, but we have no idea what it was about or who it was for. Does Hyakkimaru look like the kind of guy to go to a party?

All kidding aside, Dororo felt like a great show to chronicle throughout this winter season. Even though I’m a little late to the game, don’t worry – I’ve been keeping up. Quick recap for those of you unaware: Dororo follows the adventures of a child, now young adult name Hyakkimaru who’s father sacrificed his humanity in exchange for prosperity to his kingdom, along with a young girl named Dororo. Hyakkimaru, who has since learned to defend himself in this harsh world, is seeking to regain his humanity by slaying demons who wander the world and cause hardship for others. Every few demons, he regains another part of himself he has lost.

At this point, he can hear, speak, and feel – three things he was completely unable to do at the start of this series! A few character building moments have happened along the way for our heroes. Let’s get into it, shall we?

This episode began with Hyakkimaru and Dororo coming upon lord Daigo’s kingdom – unbenowst to him, his father. While the local lady from the loony bin sings of how the limbless child brings a disaster upon their country, our heroes continue about their business unaware of how close they are to someone who dearly wants them gone. Daigo already tried to have Hyakkimaru done away with as a newborn and he certainly isn’t interested in having anyone know about his existence.

This whole conflict was inevitable but considering the length of this show it happened a lot sooner than I was expecting. I’m not sure if it’s possible for Hyakkimaru to resist Daigo’s small force but I’ll be damned if he doesn’t try, considering that Daigo’s hue is affected by a crimson red. I fully expect Tahomaru to end up confused at the conflict and to end up aiding our heroes eventually, they’ve taken great care to show his moral fiber with the last incident at the village.

Most interesting scene for me was the old priest who noticed that Hyakkimaru has since taken a human’s life, which affected his hue with the same crimson that usually paints his enemies. It was a remark that came from a place of disappointment and pity for the priest, an emotion that is very rarely conveyed well in anime. If you’re asking me, I think the guys that A) killed an unarmed woman and B) killed countless sick children and burned down their house deserved the massacre that Hyakkimaru gave them, but I suppose it doesn’t work that way.

Because this is a two parter, we were left on a cliffhanger. I will more eagerly await the next episode than any thus far.