Blue Miburo Season 2 Episode 11: A Clumsy Strike

The episode begins with a stark image: wet floorboards, then blood splashed violently across a paper screen. A woman lies dead, her face pale, eyes open and empty. Serizawa Kamo appears distressed, his face bloodied, as Hijikata Toshizo asks, off-screen, about a woman's value.

Hijikata finishes his cold assessment: a woman's worth is in her beauty, but also in whether she holds 'lead in her stomach'. Serizawa, initially pained, shifts to a dismissive laugh, challenging Hijikata's resolve in battle. Their first direct clash follows, swords meeting with deadly intent.

After the opening credits, the rain falls outside as Hijikata and Serizawa face each other, swords drawn, the fight clearly resumed from the opening tease. Hijikata questions Serizawa's dual-wielding style, calling it a desperate trick. He then outmaneuvers Serizawa, forcing a block and exposing his defense, showing his mastery.

Hijikata, bleeding but triumphant, dismisses Serizawa's dual-wielding as a mere trick. Serizawa, however, warns of no interruptions and unleashes his true fighting style, proclaiming it 'Ran' or chaos. Hijikata, despite his injuries, recognizes Serizawa as a 'child of the sword', a 'personification of battle'.

Serizawa reveals his deeper plan: he could have become a master swordsman for strength alone, but instead chose the path of the Miburo. He uses the discarded kodachi to inflict a grievous wound on Hijikata, a tactical move Hijikata recognizes too late as 'Mikazuchi'.

A poignant flashback shows Serizawa in the rain with a frightened girl, whom he cannot take with him. He reflects on a friend's death, hinting at the sacrifices made and the heavy burden he carries. This glimpse into his past humanizes his earlier brutal calculations.

Hijikata, screaming in agony from his wound, refuses to die easily, thrusting his own sword into himself in an act of defiance. He attempts to escape, declaring this is not his place to die. Serizawa is frozen, inexplicably unable to stop him, his internal conflict palpable.

Another flashback delves into Serizawa's past, his cynical view of the 'true samurai', which he calls a 'deception'. He recalls his farmer roots, proudly declaring that the nation was supported by farmers, not idealized warriors. This memory underscores his contempt for false fronts.

Serizawa, joining the Miburo, brazenly proclaims his desire for women, castles, and his own country. Kondou Isami, surprisingly, smiles in approval, recognizing Serizawa's raw ambition. Hijikata later reflects on Serizawa's true, personal motives for joining.

Serizawa, enraged by the insinuation that a mere farmer cannot kill a warrior, delivers a final, devastating blow to Hijikata. The arrival of sleeping children tragically complicates the brutal act, forcing Serizawa to confront the immediate, terrible consequences of his violence.

Further flashbacks reveal Serizawa's complex relationship with Kondou. He recalls Kondou's vision of a warrior who fights for his nation and pledges to uphold that dream, a promise he now seems forced to break.

Serizawa agonizes, unable to betray Kondou by letting Hijikata live, yet unable to move to save him. Hijikata, in his final breath, tells Serizawa to follow his own path. With tears in his eyes, Serizawa proclaims, 'I will become a devil,' before delivering the killing blow.