Synopsis
This the tale of a group of prisoners who have been exiled to Tsushima Island. Instead of becoming wanderers of the island, however, they have been enlisted to become the first line of defense against the first Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274. While against this at first, circumstances have the prisoners joined by the Sō clan who then join with the Toi Barai clan to fight the invaders consisting mainly of Mongolian and Goryeo forces, but also including Jurchen people.
The Good
As a series that features samurais and an impending war, it was only expected that there would be a good amount of action to enjoy. What makes the action stand out in this series though is how it deals with its action scenes. Rather than speeding things for the viewer to feel the scene’s adrenalin, it instead has the viewer feel the impact and strike of the characters’ attacks while hooking them into the scene. What’s more, the general style of the series also gives a different and unique feel for the series. Simply put, it has this sort of rough style that isn’t seen a lot but works with the given theme and story of the series.
On the note of the story along with characters, the first episode gave a solid introduction and create a strong framework for the story. Jinzaburou presented as a rather interesting character for the series and the other exiled characters weren’t half bad either. As for the story, there was a solid amount of exposition given while leaving just enough for the viewer to be interested in seeing the next episode. Noting on a smaller thing, the format of the episode also gave a slightly different vibe in terms of build-up and presentation.
The Bad
The first thing that popped up as a flaw from the episode was how it presented its antagonists in the beginning. Their designs pretty much a giveaway to their general personalities. Then there is the whole thing with the princess. Initially, she seemed like she would be this interesting and unexpected villain that held a leash on the exiled characters. Instead, we get this character that seems to flip-flop in terms of presentation. The characters, in general, seem rather typical when looking at the big picture really.
Conclusion
It’s different; that’s the first thing that can be said about the series with what the first episode gave. There’s an interesting enough plot and the main character certainly gave something different in terms of presentation and personality. So far the only issue that the series has presented is that it could have done better with its secondary characters. Still, it is worth checking out if you’re into action and history.
Rating: 7/10