That’s my favorite title line to write – if I like a series, anyway. And if I stuck around long enough to write it that means I probably liked it pretty well. The headline here is that a third season of Rurouni Kenshin 2023 was officially announced at the close of the second. That’s obviously no surprise, but it’s still a very significant moment in anime history. Because it means, in effect, that the “Jinchuu” arc is confirmed. “Kyoto” won’t take up two full cours so unless S3 is one cour – which seems exceedingly unlikely as that would be too few to finish “Kyoto” – we’re finally getting “Jinchuu”.
Those not versed in the history of RuroKen won’t get just what that means to those that are and love it. The closest thing I can compare it to is when “Chimera Ant” was confirmed. The wait had been seemingly endless, and as great as the 2011 Hunter X Hunter adaptation was (better than this one, as good as it is), until Chimera Ant it was just covering old ground in a new (albeit wonderful) way. As great as Kyoto is, and Lidenfilms has grown into this adaptation of it handsomely, we have seen it already in anime form. It was inexplicable that Jinchuu sat unadapted for almost three decades, but it seems that’s finally going to change.
When is anybody’s guess, but I wouldn’t imagine the wait for S2 will be more than 18-24 months. In the meantime we have this finale to discuss, and of course the rest of this arc to look forward to. Kyoto isn’t naturally designed to have a stopping point, so this version had to manufacture one to an extent. They didn’t markedly change the plot to do so – the divergences in this episode were mostly minor and of the stylistic variety. Dialogue was added and characters grouped in such a way as to create the classic “calm before the storm” ending, and that worked perfectly fine for me.
The key event here is Houji taking it upon himself to act – no permission from the boss. Houji is undeniably a man of principles – you can take issue with those principles but not his dedication to them. He could talk for Japan but he backs it up, so fair play to him. He did indeed send out those duel invitations – to Kenshin, Saitou, and Sano. The duel in question is to be the Ten Swords (shouldn’t they really change that name at this point?) versus the three amigos. Or so the challenges say, but Houji has other ideas.
Fearlessly, the loyal dog defends his actions to the master. With the Rengaku gone, the Juppongatana are the biggest asset Shishio has in the quest to conquer Japan. They would have a huge numerical advantage if all nine of them fought the Kenshingumi trio. But given that Ken and Saitou at the very least are stronger than most of them, they’d likely lose at least a couple (more) of the Ten Swords. So the duel will be only the strongest – Shishio, Soujirou, and Usui. The other five will go to the Aoiya and exterminate everyone there, both as revenge for their interference and to forestall any future resistance.
The logic is pretty sound. But this kind of initiative is not part of the Shishio modus operandi. Shishio’s response is to throw Houji under the bus. He blames him for the Great Kyoto Fire being a diversion, and Houji accepts this. In truth it makes sense, given that anything that shakes up absolute loyalty is a major threat to the group’s chances. Not only does Houji accept the false accusations he embraces them (I’ve always thought he was a bit of an “M”). That’s enough to convince Shishio of his resolve, and he takes up Houji’s plan as his own.
Part of Houji’s thinking here may be that Shsishio and Kenshin’s propensity to think similarly might make Shishio’s plans too easy to decipher – something that might not be the case with his own. But Kenshin is not blind to the possibility that the Aoiya will be attacked given his own absence – he says as much to Yahiko in the climax. He rejects Okina’s suggestion of a send-off party, declaring that he’ll go to sleep early instead. Before that Kenshin makes another trip to visit Hiko, and we’re not privy to most of their discussion.
This is where most of that added material comes in (Megumi isn’t in Kyoto yet in the manga, for starters). In a sequence that is in the manga, Kaoru joins Kenshin on the rooftop under the stars as the latter explains the impossible balance he must achieve in using Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki against this foe – to avoid becoming a manslayer again without surrendering his own life. But soon Yahiko joins them, scolding Kaoru for not taking the bull by the lips. Eventually the entire gang joins in, and Yahiko is horrified to hear that Ken has no plans to take him to the duel. But Kenshin diplomatically assures the boy of the Aoiya’s need for protection (and in truth, that’s no lie).
In fact, this scene is largely faithful to the manga (as was the 1996 version). The key is that the anime swapped it with the confrontation at Shishio’s hideout, shrewdly realizing it worked much better as a denouement for the season. It’s one of many quietly good decisions this adaptation has made this season, which have in fact improved the flow of the story at times. As much as the focus will and should be on Jinchuu, Kyoto could never be an anti-climax – it remains the best arc in the series, one of the best in shounen, and as compelling now as the day it was published. Whenever thee third season does arrive, all the pieces are in place for it to me a triumph.
Season 3 Announcement:
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