What They Say:
As Toyohisa and Joan clash in the moonlight, the strings of fate that tie the Drifters together start to converge, and the strength of their alliance is revealed. As the dust settles, the identity of the leader of the Octobrists is unveiled
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
An epic battle has been laid out before us, dear reader, and the conflict (epic as it may be) encapsulates everything I have loved and…not so loved about Drifters thus far. From an aesthetic point of views, this episode was a feast for the eyes; especially Toyohisa’s battle in particular. Flames, gore, and sorcery abound in what I equate to the “mini-boss” fight of the season, and for the most part it is very satisfactory. Remember the bit about the stuff in Drifters that I don’t like? Well, that is exactly what spoils what would’ve been an otherwise great episode.
As the battle begins, we clearly know (because we are all history buffs) that Joan of Arc is a woman. A fierce warrior for France that met an untimely end by being burnt at the stake under suspicion of witchcraft. Our Drifters don’t know this, obviously, but when they (Toyohisa) learn about Joan’s lot in life near the conclusion of the duel, the reaction is predictable. It was not the reaction that bothered me as much as the complete lack of change in perspective upon seeing a woman fight so hard. Toyohisa, who fought so viciously against Joan immediately gives up, telling her to “behave like a woman”. I hope that eventually he will get some kind change of heart, but at this point I don’t see that happening.
Joan didn’t come alone though, her faithful follower Gilles De Rais is along for some action as well. Rais’ opponent this episode is our deadly archer, Yoichi, who spends the entire episode showing us exactly why he deserves the reverence he demands. Arrow after arrow is pumped into what feels like Gilles De Rais’ unstoppable walking corpse, with not a single one slowing the manbeast even a fraction. Compared to Toyo’s walk in the park, Yoichi definitely pulled the short straw here. All the elves can do (feel they can do) is look on in a mixture of awe and anxiety, curious and worrisome if their coach will walk away from this fight. Oda, in his desperation, calls for the elves to fire a volley into Rais but even this does not bring the beast to its knees. But where arrows won’t do the trick, weapons of a little more…advanced age fit the bill.
Yes, our cowboys are back! With the Master Octobrist, Abe no Seimei, in tow, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid haul ass into the fray and blow Rais away with the wagon mounted Gatling gun. With Rais crumbling into a pile of salt and the day seemingly saved, Olminu mulls over a most poignant observation; if the Drifters are supposed to be the more thoughtful and emotionally present beings compared to the ends, where does (psychotic) Toyohisa stand?
In Summary:
Rife with carnage of a more intimate variety, episode 7 of Drifters encapsulates its highest and lowest characteristics thus far. With one branch of the Black Lord’s enforcers destroyed in Joan and Rais, I am wondering just how strong his grip on this realm really is now that Toyo and the gang have arrived to stir things up?
Grade: B
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
