The 6th episode of The Elusive Samurai made me think just what was going through the head of the mangaka while writing this. Let us see how this episode turned out.
The Elusive Samurai Episode 6 Director
Yōko Kikuchi
The Elusive Samurai Episode 6 Release Date
August 10, 2024
Native Title
Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi or Nigewaka / 逃げ上手の若君
Manga By
Matsui Yuusei
Genre
Historical, Samurai

The Elusive Samurai Episode 5 Recap
In this episode, the tension ramps up as Tokiyuki faces off against Sadamune in a thrilling horseback duel. The stakes are high: Tokiyuki needs to either take down the dogs or target Sadamune himself to secure the points necessary to win the tournament. But Sadamune has the upper hand, staying in Tokiyuki’s blind spot and crashing into his horse every time Tokiyuki tries to aim at the dogs. It’s a tricky situation, leaving our hero struggling to find a way out.

Yorishige advises Tokiyuki to be both elusive and aggressive, a near-impossible task. Yet, Tokiyuki’s agility and evasive nature give him an advantage. In a stunning move, he executes the famous Parthian shot, showcasing his unique skill.
However, Sadamune isn’t one to accept defeat easily. He rushes to the capital, securing an emperor’s edict against the Suwa clan. With the unjust order in hand, things look grim for Tokiyuki and his allies. But there’s a glimmer of hope: a plan to steal the emperor’s order. To do this, they must enlist the help of the infamous thief Genba. Known for his greed there is much about his credibility.
The Elusive Samurai Episode 6 Review And Recap

This episode starts on a very serious note as we see Tokiyuki and Genba almost being caught while they are still inside the room stealing the emperor’s edict. For escape artists like them, this should be easy, right, but it was not because of the presence of another formidable opponent who possessed exceptional hearing abilities. Ichikawa skilfully manages to realise their ploy and even almost kills our hero. Thankfully, he is not a great archer like his master Sadamune and misses the shot, which starts the intense chase.
This part here will give you goosebumps with thrills, at first, and then with its sheer weird characters. I thought Sadamune was creepy, but now I will have to agree that his retainer, Ichikawa, takes the cake for being creepier. He clings to his master and instructs him how he can land shots at the intruders. However, what they do not know is that Genba has already been won over by Tokiyuki. Genba understands that Tokiyuki will never betray him like others, and thus, he really brings out his A-game and saves the day.

This is how our hero manages to gain another retainer who does not follow him just because of his faith in Tokiyuki but mainly for money. However, the highlight was not the intense, creepy, yet funny first half. It is the second half that will make you mesmerised with the artistry of this show.
Slowly, we are getting more info about the situation of Takauji. His popularity and power are definitely something that even the new emperor or his sons would not agree with. There is also a high chance that the man who has betrayed the previous emperor can also betray the current one. Hence, Prince Moriyoshi takes it upon himself to take down Takauji, who seems more like a monster than a human. And he is very much right on that prediction. Takauji has indeed become something far more ominous than a mere human, and he has more sinister plans for the future.

Verdict
Today’s episode was a mix of everything. You will love the chase in the beginning, laugh at Sadamune’s fate and get mesmerised by the brutality of Takauji. There is always something new with this series, and its unpredictability is something that I absolutely love. Watch this if you have not yet.
Also Read: The Elusive Samurai Episode 5 Review: A Thief Joins The Squad

