This is the best episode of the season. The escort mission has real stakes. The historical weight is palpable. Shigure avoiding her historical death is a genuine moment of victory. And the subtle touches like Shigure asking about the cargo show the attention to historical detail that this season does well. But the production mess is frustrating. The delays, the dragged out pacing, the "retirement" instead of death it all adds up to a show that could have been amazing but keeps tripping over its own feet.