#shinichiro watanabe

Was thinking about Samurai Champloo and particularly how character development is shown so subtly in small significant moments. At first you dont notice how the characters have changed because their outer manerisms and physical appearances remain the same but.

Jin, for the first time in his life, has people who he calls friends and trusts to watch his back and who he actually cares about without it being his duty.

Mugen had to survive a harsh life filled with crime, betrayed by people he had called friends, which made him selfish and a rogue. The only thing he has to help him survive is his sword and he would use it on anyone if it would get him out of a tough situation. AND by the end, he gives up his sword to save someone he cares about, knowing he could never get out of this one alive, which is so sognificant for Mugen because his whole deal is that he values his survival and his life. Honestly it’s all saving yourself through saving another. I find it similar in a way to Jaime returning for Brienne, maybe even Theon helping Jeyne knowing it could cost his life because he believes its his last chance to save the person he was, not to save his life. A different thing with Mugen is, we dont know if he cares about his redemption, maybe he doesnt even think he needs to change something about himself, we dont get to see inside his head but its still so significant how he acts so selfless in that moment. (Actually the scene before that, when he gives up the chance to fight a strong opponent to save Fuu is important too becasue we also know how much he loves fighting against skilled fighters.) -And Jin, willing to fight the opponent himself so that Mugen can save Fuu(because fuu believes mugen doesnt care about her), not just because he wants to fight the guy too.-

Fuu thinking her whole life her father abandoned her, gets hurt when Mugen and Jin argue and leave her in the middle of the road even though they supposedly dont have any personal attachments, and she is so afraid for their trip to be over, meaning they will leave her once again and this brief friendship coming to an end, so she leaves them herself because its better than being abandoned.

Then. Mugen returns for her after she gets captured (actually this happens often during the series but the final one is the most important because it is solely to save her, not because he wants to fight some guys and have a fun time. and he throws his sword away!! saying let her go in exchange of my only possession and self defense) , when she is so sure he wouldnt.

Then. she learns her father abandoned her to save her and her mom’s life.

Jin confronts the shogunate guy and finally faces his past trauma, confirming they’re the corrupt ones, not him for killing his master, and it doesnt really matter anymore because he has experienced more important things and saw there are better things to life than his duty to a cold and unloving masters. -Again, this theme comes up in asoiaf in different characters in different ways.-

Jin also returns for his friends by the excuse of “fighting mugen as they promised” but they both know they dont have the heart to kill each other.

Mugen faces death and comes out alive once again, Jin faces his past and comes out alive once again and Fuu faces her father and the entire purpose for her trip and comes out knowing her father cared about her. And she has people who care about her now.

They meet again and acknowledge what they mean to each other and this time, willingly part ways, going onto different directions, knowing they can survive and “fate loves throwing them into each other’s ways”.

Ok i didnt mean for this to get so long jm just musing on them and i probably have said some of these before too but it amazes me everytime how seemingly such a goofy show has such depth in only 26 epiosodes..