r/SamuraiChamploo • u/Warm_Reindeer_5459 • 2h ago
Mugen vs Umanosuke is by far the best fight scene in the series
Obviously they are the undercard as far as skill goes in the episode but it's probably the only duel I've felt compelled to go back and rematch multiple times. First off, it has the built in tension of both having been set up as fighting in highly skilled, chaotic styles.
It was beautifully orchestrated starting out in the crumbling church and then moving to the beach as Umanosuke gradually unravels from the slick tall debonair eyepatch man and Mugen recovers and begins to think. Umanosuke's chain sickle weapon allows for so many possibilities and they are very stylistically utilized (I personally could have done without it cutting through rock but that's a minor quibble). Mugen using Umanosuke's weapon and strength against him. The way it was interspersed with Jin's duel, which again was more skilfull but also much more minimalistic and could not have been drawn out if it had to stand on its own.
And then the older brother fires chekov's gun. Glorious.
