Hyakkimaru is having trouble with his new found hearing. He’s able to hear all the animals surrounding and it’s overwhelming him. To Dororo it’s quiet. It’s remarkable that something that we assume would be great for Hyakkimaru, his hearing, turns out to be a bit of a burden. It made sense that regaining his pain receptors would cause him trouble, not his hearing. Hyakkimaru and Dororo are attacked by a flying demon that instantly reminded me of Fearow from Pokemon.
Hyakkimaru manages to damage the bird with his arms, but doesn’t manage to kill. However, the old priest arrives to deliver the death blow. Dororo informs the priest that Hyakkimaru has been having trouble with his hearing. He plans to find some medicine in the big town across the river. The priest informs him of the war that’s brewing, making it too dangerous to travel. The Sakai clan has betrayed and ally, resulting in war.
When the morning arrives, Hyakkimaru wanders off and meets a young woman in the river. The girls name is Mio, she lives with other orphan children. Many of these kids don’t have there limbs, having to result in using wood tied to them with bandages. Mio begins to sing while heading out to get food, Hyakkimaru finds her voice to be pleasant. The old priest finds a better home for the children, out of the way of the war. The problem, a demon “owns”” the land. Hyakkimaru quickly heads to kill it.
Mio decides that she’s going to work for the enemy as well. Dororo plans on going with her. Meanwhile, Hyakkimaru and the old priest face off against the demon. It’s pincers shoot out of the ground and it begins to spin, dragging them both towards it. As they battle the demon, Dororo finds out what Mio does for a living, prostitution. After the battle with the demon Hyakkimaru suffers a major consequence, he loses the bottom of his legs. He can finally be heard, screaming in agony.
The ending of this episode is haunting. To be honest I instantly knew what Mio did to get food. A pretty young girl during war really could only offer so much. This episode wasn’t without it’s kind moments though. The orphan kids creating a family and Mio sacrifice, along with her beautiful voice. Speaking of sacrifice, Hyakkimaru put his life on the line for the orphans.
For a series that focuses on him retrieving his limbs, it never occurred to me that he would lose one he got back. A few thing didn’t make sense. How did Hyakkimaru know what the priest and the others were talking about? He can’t possible understand language yet. Any way each time he gets a limb or body part back it costs him something else. This show seems to value showing the good with the bad.
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