Spoilers

“Crimson Sky”

Holy crap.

I can’t believe what I just saw.

This is absolutely mind-blowing and I have a pit in my stomach. I thought Mariko was gone twice during the episode, and, when I felt as if she was safe, she was not.

The fight she had at the front gate was unbelievable and I was worried that Mariko was going to die at this point. She did not. Then, the whole seppuku scene with her, I was sure that she was a goner (especially after the death from episode eight) and when Ishido came and prevented it, I was relieved. I was sure she was safe.

Then the relationship between John and Mariko was made clearer. I have never felt like Mariko had the feelings toward John, but this was obvious with the actions and the slight looks.

All leading to the dramatic ending, starting off with a betrayal from Yabushige. I was confused at first what was happening, because I wondered if this were men from Toranaga that Yabushige let into the castle. However, when they started going after John and Mariko, I did not understand. And Yabushige was there with them at the end.

If I was correct, I think I was able to determine the shinobi were sent by Lord Ishido because he did not want these women to be able to leave and this would safe face for him.

This was a heavy Mariko episode, with Yoko Shimada, and it reminded me of a LOST episode when a major character would die. It always seemed like it was an episode that was centric to that character. This was very much that way. We even saw a flashback to when she was pregnant, which I did not know she had given birth. Her son comes to see her and does not treat her well.

I have not have had a reaction to a scene like the ending in a long time. I was totally shocked at the explosive death and it hit hard.

The finale is next week. What a powerful penultimate episode this was.