The thick plottens…
It’s always a good acid test for a series when it has to sustain narrative momentum without the main characters present. Togashi is a master of this of course, though hardly alone. And I doubt Bojji and Kage will be away from the spotlight for all that long. Nevertheless this was an episode that represented quite a shift both in tone and content. Fortunately the cast of Ousama Ranking is so packed with conflicted and fascinating oddballs that it was just fine, thank you very much. And the mythology just gets deeper and deeper.
In point of fact much of this episode takes place in the past. In the process it artfully reveals enough detail to pique our interest yet further, without settling too many open questions. As I’ve noted already what really makes this show special is the fact that no one is as they appear – or perhaps more accurately, no one is only as they appear. Over and over I find myself feeling sympathy and revulsion towards the same character at the same time. There’s definitely something of A Song of Ice and Fire here – the good version, the novels and the TV series before it jumped the shark.
Of all this opaque people, the most crucial of course is King Bosse himself. I wavered several times this episode about just what to think of him. It’s now 100% clear that he knowingly entered into a deal with a demon to sell the life of his child (or at least his strength – and hearing) in return for being made the strongest man alive. This was interesting in itself – then demon tells Bosse (with Miranjo translating) that it can’t give him power out of nowhere – it has to be stolen from a blood relative. And since Bosse doesn’t have any of those, he has to make one – literally. And that’s where Bojji’s mama comes into the picture.
Say what you will about Bosse needing to be stronger to defeat the hordes of ogres – what he did here was naughty as hell (and morally indefensible). It seems clear he later regretted it, but so what? I don’t think that mitigates his crime. Yes, there’s something of Dororo in this premise, but it actually goes back a lot farther than that. What Tooka Sousuke (there’s a fascinating interview with him out this week where he says his parents still don’t know he quite being a salaryman to draw manga) is doing here is plumbing the depths of fairy tale tropes – the magic mirror, the wicked stepmother, et al – and turning them on their heads.
What we still don’t know that seems crucial to all these mysteries is just who or what Miranjo is. Once a seemingly normal human, now stuck in a mirror, always seemingly behind Bosse, pulling his strings. If there’s a “root of all evil” figure in Ousama Ranking it seems to be Miranjo. The question is, to what extent was Bosse complicit in having himself brought back – thus sacrificing a second son – and in Miranjo’s plans going forward? These scenes with Bosse-Daida can be interpreted in multiple ways. Miranjo’s latest move is to order the assassination of Queen Hilling – and Bosse agrees. But I’m not so sure.
What the mirror showed the king – that Bojji was now the strongest man alive – may have changed his mindset. He takes out one of the magical beasts Miranjo plans to use to murder Hilling in the name of “testing” them. He attacks Dorsche (Hilling’s personal bodyguard) but doesn’t injure him. Is he trying to undermine Miranjo’s plans without tipping her off? She’s certainly suspicious that he keeps whispering orders to people. Perhaps seeing the son he loves advancing so quickly has encouraged him to stop defying death and leave the fight to the next generation.
One of those people being whispered to is Domas, who’s come back to the castle to try and rescue Hokuro. He’s about to be executed by Hilling – exactly what Domas predicted would happen if Hokuro returned to tell her what happened to Bojji. Domas is another of those characters I feel little sympathy for – “just following orders” is not a credible defense – but he is clearly broken up over what he’s done. Once Bosse realizes who Domas is (and Domas has realized who “Daida” really is, too) he gives him a secret order – to destroy the gate to the underworld beneath the castle. Yet another act that could be interpreted in multiple different ways.
As for the next generation, Daida isn’t dead at least – or if he is, his soul is trapped somewhere dark and deserted. Another character I feel conflicted feelings about – he ordered Bojji killed, albeit under Miranjo’s aegis, but this seems a very cruel fate indeed. As for Bojji, we see almost none of him but apparently Death-par works pretty damn fast. We still don’t know what weapon he’s using to level up so quickly (and neither does Kage), but Miranjo herself says he’s now the strongest so whatever this training is, it seems to be working a treat.
Princess Usagi
December 4, 2021 at 10:27 pmI loved how they had Bosse’s back story in the same episode as Domas’ internal struggle between self-preservation and rescuing Hokuro. It elegantly compared the two in a way, with both stories of selfish action followed by deep regret.
Chaitan
December 5, 2021 at 5:46 amMiranjo is so loyal to Bosse, she’s even willing to bring him from dead, seemingly bypassing one of the demon’s conditions.
An interesting question is whether Bosse’s wish was driven only by his personal ambition, or whether he had to win the war at all costs.
That attack on Orс’s settlement was like Attack On Titan from Orс’s perspective.
King Daida in his “evil” mode is kind of stealing the show, reminds me of King Joffrey from Game of Thrones.
Guardian Enzo
December 5, 2021 at 9:12 amYes, I’ve made the Joffrey comparison before but Daida is nowhere near as vile or cowardly.
Fernanda
December 6, 2021 at 12:15 amI think that something that might play later is that being the strongest man alive doesn’t necessarily means being the one with the most phisical strenght. Boji is strong in his believes, he tries hard for himself and for his loved ones, and even when suffering, he keeps his pain to himself and continues to go on. In this world, continuing living the life you want and believing in yourself despite of what others may think really is strenght.
Guardian Enzo
December 6, 2021 at 7:50 amI certainly agree with that.
blargnobia
December 10, 2021 at 7:15 amI’d say there are three possibilities: (1) what you said–the nature of strength not is purely physical, and which would make Boji the strongest; (2) he somehow is really strong (unlikely–I feel like the split boulder was a misdirection); or (3) Miranjo is lying, presumably to manipulate Bosse.
Unrelated:
I don’t have a lot of sympathy for Domas, but I loved how he laughed wickedly at Horuko’s sense of duty, only to turn around and gar-ishly try to rescue the guy. Dudes just a grab-bag of internal conflict.
King Bosse’s behavior is pretty abhorrent overall, but I can’t believe he had the gall to tell Boji to dedicate himself to his sword training when he, of all people, knew how pointless it was.
Guardian Enzo
December 10, 2021 at 7:44 amAll of those are possible I suppose. But #3 seems unlikely to me, since if anything making Bosse think Bojji is the strongest runs counter to Miranjo’s interests. I think.
Maybe Bosse had a long game in mind when he told Bojji that?
Gina
December 6, 2021 at 2:22 amI see Bosse’s desire to be strong as an act of self-ego (though I’d like to be surprised if he had another backstory to prove otherwise). However, whether there is any act of redemption at this point is a mystery. But what seems clear now is that he is not fully on board with Miranjo’s orders yet does not have the power to defy her openly? I wonder what hold she has over him.
Yeah agree that whatever Domas did was unscrupulous even if it was an order from the King. But it’s true to his character as he has always supported Daida to be King, and would empathise with his goals. Bojji being his student wouldn’t matter to Domas, since Domas pursued strength and personal glory.
Guardian Enzo
December 6, 2021 at 7:51 amMiranjo’s nature is the biggest mystery in a story full of them.
Bounty
December 6, 2021 at 9:40 pmThis is hands down the best anime I have seen in years. I almost stopped watching anime and reading manga as of late, but stuff like this certainly gives me a reason to come back to the medium as a whole from time to time.
The adaptation is also better than the manga, even though there are not many chapters translated into English so far. I made a somewhat-thorough comparison and most stuff was adapted admirably. The demon flashback in the manga is a bit abrupt and comes way too early, they handled it way better in the anime.
If this gift keeps giving 16 more episodes with the same quality as the first 8, it will probably enter my top 4 or even top 3.
Guardian Enzo
December 6, 2021 at 11:18 pmI think it’s 22 eps total but yeah, agree with your larger point.
Jindujun93
December 8, 2021 at 5:50 pmSeems to be the middle value. Both Anilist and MyAnimeList have it listed with 23 episodes, and upon further research, that seems to be based on the BD listings, so pretty much confirmed at this point.
kiwi
December 7, 2021 at 4:47 amjust caught up with this show over the weekend, and all i can say is WOW. totally engrossing story and characters. It reminds me of Vinland Saga, although I don’t know if that is an apt comparison.
So far, almost every character has had more beneath the surface than it first seems. You’re led to believe that the snake guy is evil, but then Domas is the one who tries to murder Bojji. Hilling may have conflicted feelings about Bojji’s ability to be a ruler, but it is clear that she loves him, subverting the “evil stepmother” trope. Even Daida was appalled at Domas’s lack of loyalty to Bojji and reprimanded him (only to use him later…) as for Bosse… the jury is still out on if he has any redeeming qualities.
I’m curious about why Bojji’s mother died since she was so strong. I’m curious to learn about other people’s ulterior motives. And i want to give Bojji a hug.
Guardian Enzo
December 7, 2021 at 3:22 pmTh line forms behind me…
If complicated characters are your thing, this is your jam. I love the way he frames that by turning fairy tale tropes on their heads.