RetroBlog Series

While I rummaged through my PC files, I came across several articles that I wrote before and I thought, why not post them in the blog, hence, the title RetroBlog series because these writings were done way back. Here’s a sampler, more to come soon (but not necessarily on the same topic).

[NOTE: Things you should know first: 1.) Spoiler warnings for Samurai 7 (ep.25); 2.) Katsu bashing; 3.) Kyuzo is one of my favorite characters, along with Momotaro and Heihachi; 4.) Series 1 title was in reference to an earlier Kyuzo rant to Choco.]

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RetroBlog Series 1: “This is not about Kyuzo...”

This is about why young wannabe-warriors, no matter how zealous and well-meant they are, should not be allowed to go to battle WITHOUT extensive physical and mental training. I claim such premise from the following observations:

1. They take their superior's verbal (sometimes, physical) criticisms personally that they break free/leave with the thought that they can do better without their superior/mentor. Example: Katsu leaving Kanbei after the latter reprimanded him and Kiku for infiltrating the capital to "save" him. (Sure, Kenshin left his master, too, with idealistic views on protecting others--but that's a different story, and besides, Kenshin has FAR greater sword skills at Katsu's age).

2. They have the tendency to become overzealous that they may compromise the safety of those that they need to protect by laying out half-baked plans and strategies which they actually think would be fool-proof and effective. Example: Katsu and his flying log plan to get to the capital. (The kid--Komachi's friend--was smart enough to know such plan lacked in some aspects).

3. They make bad lookouts. Even if they claim that they will "cover you as you do your job", they often get distracted when the one they are supposed to look out for gets in a little trouble. They LOOK AT, and SHOUT the name of the one that they are supposed to look out for, AT LEAST three times, giving the enemy an opportunity to aim for the one they are supposed to be looking out for. As a result, the one they are looking out for ends up getting in bigger trouble. Example: Katsu "looking out" for Heihachi as the latter died accomplishing his job.

4. They can have ear-shattering battle cries but their actual battle does not even last as long as their cries and they end up being saved by their superior/mentor, putting the latter's life in jeopardy. Relative to this, they may have the sense to return the favor and save their superior/mentor, but without the composure to aim only at the enemy. They end up taking down a comrade as well--one that actually contributed more to their cause. Example: Katsu shooting Kyuzo accidentally to save Kanbei. Must be Kyuzo's fault--he moves way too fast to get to Kanbei which was too much for Katsu's reflexes and reaction time.

5. Despite all these, they end up surviving, while the rest with great personalities do not. The experience of surviving a battle gives them an edge in future character development, giving them a "tragic past" that suckers like this writer has a soft spot for. Nevertheless, that does not exclude them from being idiots sometimes.

See? This wasn't about Kyuzo.