Rurouni Kenshin: Season 2

 Based on: manga series of the same name by Nobuhiro Watsuki

Produced by: Studio Gallop, Studio Deen, & SPE Visual Works

Directed by: Kazuhiro Furuhashi

Starring (Japanese): 

Mayo Suzukaze (Himura Kenshin), Miki Fujitani (Kamiya Kaoru), Miina Tominaga (Myōjin Yahiko), Yūji Ueda (Sagara Sanosuke), Mika Doi (Takani Megumi), Yoshito Yasuhara (Shinomori Aoshi), Hirotaka Suzuoki (Saitō Hajime), Tomo Sakurai (Makimachi Misao), Masanori Ikeda (Shishio Makoto)

Starring (English): 

Richard Cansino (Himura Kenshin), Reba West (Kamiya Kaoru), Elyse Floyd  (Myōjin Yahiko), Lex Lang (Sagara Sanosuke), Mari Devon (Takani Megumi), Terrence Stone (Shinomori Aoshi), Kirk Thornton (Saitō Hajime), Philece Sampler (Makimachi Misao), Stephen Apostolina (Shishio Makoto) 

This is an anime that wouldn't usually find itself on my list due to its lack of magic or sci-fi and it taking place in a centuries-old era. 

However, that's part of why I find it so charming. If I'm going to watch a realistic, historical story, I'd prefer it to be in one of the less common geographic regions like Asia, Scandinavia, or possibly Russia. I find anywhere in Europe, the Americas, or Arabia very overdone. (Unless you go back to the BC era of early civilization, but, I digress.) 

I've also mentioned in other blog posts my obsession with Asian culture, so that was definitely an allure with the realism of this anime. It wasn't just a historical adventure: I was learning history. Especially as I first begun to watch this second season, I was Googling a lot of the character and setting inspirations, and much of it was based on real Japanese history during the Meiji Era (late 1800s). The main character, a wandering swordsman and former assassin, is based on a real group of political activists in that period. The anime depicts a turbulent time in Japanese history when the government was shifting hands, the shogunate disbanding, and the samurai were declining. Many of these shifts are depicted in the anime in one way or another, especially since the main character had served the Emperor in his early life. 

Kenshin preparing to defend his loved ones

The show focuses strongly on Kenshin, as the main character is referred. There are few other characters who share as much screen time, especially in season 2, which has him traveling a great deal. But he's the biggest reason why I love the show. Like some of my other most beloved characters in fiction (Aang, Obi-Wan, Gandalf, Dumbledore, Superman), Kenshin is a wise and humble person who holds great power but does not use it unless necessary. Also like many of them, he's a very capable and fierce warrior, but prefers to spend his time enjoying life with the people he loves. This seems to be a character type that I fall in love with all the time, and I see no reason to be ashamed of that. 

In season 2, antagonizing forces from his past find him in the peaceful community he's created. They don't threaten the people he loves, but instead inform him of a rising threat in the capital that requires his attention and skill to defeat to maintain peace. Leaving him to decide on his own, Kenshin considers the situation and decides that they're right-- he needs to go help. 

Kenshin at the dojo where he created his new peaceful life, among his new found-family

Over the course of the show, Kenshin is never defeated. Some may consider this a flaw, but I don't. The show isn't about him trying to gain strength or become the best. In fact, the premise of the show (much like One Punch Man) is that he's already the best. He's one of the best swordsmen in all of Japan. So it's only logical that no other person comes close to his skill. Instead, the show is about his internal struggle to keep peace with who he is: his morals and values. He's sworn a vow of peace--not to take a life--in order to atone for his past violence. Therefore, the real intrigue of the show is seeing how he takes on all these incredible foes without compromising the new person he's become. Defending the weak and refusing to break his vow. 

This makes for some pretty awesome fight scenes, some fun strategizing, and great internal dialogue. Some of my favorite moments were when the bad guys kept analyzing Kenshin's own technique and continually being amazed. Even Kenshin's enemies knew they were dealing with the best in Japan and took the opportunity to learn from his techniques. 

I'd say this show is great for those who don't mine typical anime tropes (thankfully minus the sex appeal, otherwise known as fan service) like excessive screaming and cheesy comedic moments. It's great period fiction with a lot of philosophy and history to appreciate.