Ain’t nothing breakin’ Zatoichi’s stride! Ain’t nothing gonna hold him down, oh oh! He’s got to keep on movin’!
Truly the writers of the series have really parsed down Zatoichi to his most memorable qualities. The roving blind samurai by this point has a few reliable quirks that can be milked for audience satisfaction but it’s handled in a way that still allows a story to settle. With Zatoichi as moral compass for those around him, he’s become even more of a static protagonist. He’s Paddington Bear with a sword.
What I like about the action showcase at the end is how the character of Denroku is given a chance to shine. Zatoichi is dealing with a majority of the swordsmen, but Denroku is helping the brothel girls escape bondage. I actually laughed out loud seeing how he, a weaselly little bastard with a heart of gold, outsmarts skilled swordsmen with a few little comedic beats. A nice change of pace, for sure!
Ain’t nothing breakin’ Zatoichi’s stride! Ain’t nothing gonna hold him down, oh oh! He’s got to keep on movin’!
Truly the writers of the series have really parsed down Zatoichi to his most memorable qualities. The roving blind samurai by this point has a few reliable quirks that can be milked for audience satisfaction but it’s handled in a way that still allows a story to settle. With Zatoichi as moral compass for those around him, he’s become even more of a static protagonist. He’s Paddington Bear with a sword.
What I like about the action showcase at the end is how the character of Denroku is given a chance to shine. Zatoichi is dealing with a majority of the swordsmen, but Denroku is helping the brothel girls escape bondage. I actually laughed out loud seeing how he, a weaselly little bastard with a heart of gold, outsmarts skilled swordsmen with a few little comedic beats. A nice change of pace, for sure!
