Blood River Episode 6

Meeting scummy father

The opening of this episode is well done. Sword aimed at Changhe immediately stopped by younger Xie clan member stabbing elder. That was unexpected by me but the smirks between Changhe and younger Xie said a forgone conclusion. The Mu’s are an eerie lot that make children and others be puppets for them. I like them least of the three clans after the three wastes in Soul Reaper hall that gloat about causing chaos and ordering Patriarch to do their will. These three seem to be the most worthless of them all and the driving force of everything wrong and most challenged by Blood River members. They are obeyed by force but have no loyal subjects so waiting to see how they will be dealt with as story progresses. The next fight of Changhe was against a top Mu family member. While he was battling Muyu was also in battle and the drama nicely flashed between battles to give you the highlights of both and demonstrating how well balanced Changhe and Muyu are as friends. I also liked how Changhe gave Muyu the credit for his puppet skills which means these two friends give unexpected skills to each other to help in combat. Changhe again provides humor when he tells the Su members to say how he almost was killed and had done his best. The humor is a nice touch to lighten the scene a bit but it does not distract from story or overdone. Muyu is holding his own to protect the healer. Her family story wasn’t believed by him til surprisingly confirmed by Uncle Zhe who went from wanting to kill her to questioning her closely about her mother. This starts more rebellion as they were not supposed to marry outside the three families, tho ironically the three families are formed by the combat tests and not by blood. At this point Uncle Zhe changes sides to protect his daughter and help her complete her mission. Muyu offers to leave it to them but both request he stays. It is an awkward meeting of father and daughter and neither want to be alone with the other. They continue to patriarch where she reveals that if she cures him she dies. Here the host asks if one can die in her stead and before we get the answer it shifts to the Mu’s. There is discussion how to sway their leader’s mind and the coin tosser turns to him and says his death will. The spider sect surprise Muyu with a show of allegiance to him and to take the Dormant Dragon sword as patriarch when the elder patriarch dies. I do not think he expected such a single mindedness from the group. Muyu’s character has been pointed out for having least expression and wooden face. This is true. However, he is singularly different from all of them. Coming from the no sword place, he was taught to have an aloofness from their craft with weapons. He is not driven by the weapon and this sets him uniquely apart from the rest of them. While he is still labeled an assassin, he uses his skills to defend more than kill and has to have a reason he thinks valid to be a blade for another. As the new snake member pointed out, he is the light of Blood River. When fusing scenes together the production team does an excellent job of broadening depth to the story and understanding while not diminishing the flow of the various battles to storyline. This is unique for me as a viewer.

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