[ Episode 21: Jiguro Musa ]

First thing’s first: Young Balsa is soooo cute! And young adult Balsa is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s no wonder Tanda fell for her after living together for all those years. I also laughed at how Torogai looks exactly the same as she did all of those years ago. Man, how old is she going to live to be lol? Anyways, I enjoyed this episode as it was an insightful look into Balsa’s past and answers a few questions I had been pondering for some time now (such as how she eventually came to learn martial arts/the spear, how she lived while in Kanbal, etc.). It’s interesting how her past seems to be taking up two episodes though from the looks pf the preview it’ll probably be two and a half since it seems to also deal with Balsa now teaching Chagum martial artists and the way of the spear.

[ Episode 20: To Hunter's Cave ]

It’s episodes like this that makes you see just how detailed this series can be. After the slight conflict between Torogai and Shuga (along with the hunters) we basically see the Yakue bid farewell to the group as they travel to Hunter’s Cave (I’m going to miss Nimka though =/). Now the wait is on for spring when Chagum must face his destiny. Until then, preparations of all kinds must be made. I found it interesting to see Balsa teaching Chagum how to take care of himself by showing him how to cure fish and other meat along with other tasks. Things like that you usually don’t see and are simply referred to as “training time” even when they are mentioned. For now though, Balsa will be discussing her past with Chagum. It’ll probably be one or two episodes in length but nonetheless I’m more than intrigued to see a young Balsa.

[ Episode 19: Flight ]

This episode is easily the most emotional episode of Seirei no Moribito to date. Also, this is one of the best episodes of the season. If you didn’t cry or at least felt like crying but stopped yourself during this episode then…you probably need to get in touch with your softer side. Either that or you weren’t watching the series closely from the very first episode. The issues between Balsa and Chagum are resolved in this episode very nicely. Balsa earnestly wants to protect Chagum and managed to get him to understand that with a well-deserved slap to the face and some comforting words and an embrace thereafter. I do believe Nimka reflects the proper reaction to what took place.

As for Shuga and the hunters they managed to arrive at the village but fortunately Balsa and Chagum were gone around the time they came. However, Tanda and Torogai are still there so it’s going to be interesting to see what happens to them. I don’t think anything bad will happen since they are present with Balsa and Chagum in the preview but I’d like to see why they weren’t taken into custody (maybe they ran away or Torogai used her shaman abilities).

[ Episode 18: The Ancient Village ]

So Chagum finally knows what his fate will apparently be. I guess this works out for Balsa since she didn’t know how she was going to tell him about it. Though I don’t think she wanted him to find out like that in the story that was being told. I’m sure if someone told me my fate was to be ripped into two I wouldn’t react with a simple “Oh, I see”. It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles the fact that he’s destined to die. Perhaps the girl will help him in someway? Balsa will probably have to straighten him out since he doesn’t seem to be in his ‘right mind’ anymore like the preview suggests.

[ Episode 17: The Water Wheel in Flames ]

This was a great episode. All of the build-up before is showed off in this one episode and will probably carry over a bit into the next one. The highlights were definitely Shuga bumping into Balsa and Chagum. Too bad for Shuga that Balsa doesn’t need to use hardly any of her strength to take him down though. The other highlight has to be Tohya. The guy was pretty smart to light Balsa’s home aflame so that he could warn her about the assassins. It was pretty sad to see him surrender though and then see him cry after they left. He must’ve been terrified and disappointed in himself all at the same time.

Now to wonder what will happen after this. I’m sure Chagum is going to find out about his fate when he, Balsa, Tanda, and Torogai head to Toumi but I can’t imagine what will happen after that. The King, Shuga and the assassins will definitely continue their search but I can’t see how they’ll be able to track down Balsa and Chagum unless they do some intense interrogation on every traveler they meet. Well, being this uncertain brings a certain level of excitement anyways so I don’t mind being in the dark for a while.

[ Episode 16: In All Earnestness ]

So, Balsa and Chagum are preparing to leave on their journey but major things are happening unbeknown to them. Shuga has now told the Emperor, the Holy Sage, and the four hunters about Chagum still being alive and has gained their belief and full support. This can only spice things up, especially since before the episode concluded Shuga and the hunters have already begun their operation and are now tailing Tohya in order to find Balsa and Chagum. Things are about to pick up now that everyone is so close to each other and given that the advantage for now is clearly with the hunters I’m sure Balsa will find a way to escape them.

Tohya seems like he’s going to be in a bit of trouble though….