Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion Episode 4 Review: Back to the Capital

I don’t really understand what is going on. But there’s a lot of glorified killing, that’s for sure.

Japanese Original Episode Title: 国府へ

Plot

The beginning of the episode had me lost for quite a bit, mainly because I did not remember what happened last week, at all. So the episode starts and Teruhi is being sliced like honey roast ham by some guy called Ginshichi, who turns out to be a Japanese traitor, trying to save his wife and son. He is, naturally, killed by Jinzaburou, who has no time for this shit. The Japanese troops then continue their overnight ambush on the Mongols; their leaders are not impressed. An eccentric shows up (was about time, wasn’t it?) and he declares that after finishing his little matouqin performance he intends to hunt down the leader of the Japanese. And so he does. After a brief battle with Jinzaburou, they each leave with a new small scar on their left cheek. Also, For no apparent reason whatsoever, based on what the show has been hinting so far, some Toibarai show up and assist the Japanese with their battle, all while being very nonchalant about it. The Japanese use this opportunity to snatch back their children and their women, whose breasts are completely unnecessarily hanging about and being zoomed on. The troops and rescued civilians regroup in the forest and have a drink of water and some rice cakes. Jinzaburou spits some healing herbs on the princess and encourages Sasamaru, the traitor’s child, to come and find him when he’s older, to kill him and seek revenge for his father.

Episode Highlights

Zero empathy: I noticed that one of my main problems while watching this is how little I care about the characters in the show. There is basically no character development taking place, everyone has an overused cookie-cutter persona and to be fair, if the Mongols won and everyone died I couldn’t care less; they look equally horrible, violent and savage as their enemy, with the only difference being that they have women and children at risk.

Worst Princess: Hey hey, 1996 called, they want their Revolutionary Girl Utena character back… Wait, Anthy actually had a hell lot more of a personality than Teruhi has. I actually feel tired every time I see her on the screen; as she’s either gonna be acting like a spoiled brat who wants to play war, or will be blushing away in a corner looking at Jinzaburou’s ugly mug. Seriously, she’s done nothing else so far.

The pirate: Another sinful choice of character, the large savage ogre who cause havoc in his way and despite being completely stupid is not affected or killed by his choice of have a drink in the middle of the battlefield while it’s raining arrows. His role in the show is, apart from yelling and being annoying, to crack the occasional dick joke for the audience to uncomfortably laugh at (unless you are 15 and horny, that is, in that case, any dick joke is a good joke).

Themes & Trivia

Matouqin: The matouqin, or the morin khuur, also known as the horsehead fiddle, is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people and is considered a symbol of the Mongolian nation.

Dantsuke mochi: Mochi resembling to food prepared in haste during the Mongol invasions of Japan. Unlike its ancestor, it consists of red beans and not bean paste. It is a tourist-oriented product that can be found advertised and sold in the areas where the Mongols invaded Japan, that have also become places of great tourist interest.

Not much left to say

That is gonna be one long season.

How did you find this Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki’s episode? Let us know in the comment section! And don’t forget to check the rest of the Summer 2018 anime reviews on MANGA.TOKYO!