Legend of Basara (episode 3)  .

For a review of the full Legend of Basara series, please watch for a future entry. This is a single episode synopsis and will contain spoilers.

The Red King has kidnapped a large group of villagers, many who were refugees from Tatara’s town.

Episode three begins with General Kazan — the man who slew 16-year-old Tatara — beating one of his own men. He’s not doing this out of “I’m the bad guy BWAHAHA” cruelty, but because the soldier laid violent hands on a female captive. The lady happens to be Tatara’s mother, which makes her a valuable prisoner. Kazan’s scolding words clearly show a sense of chivalry inside the fearsome warrior. Looting, pillaging, and raping may be the order of the day, but Kazan and his king consider such vulgar acts beneath them.

When Tatara’s mother threatens to kill herself, General Kazan explains they shall use her body as bait for Tatara — Tatara, the boy of destiny who’s destined to unite the lands. Tatara’s mother is stunned to learn that her son is alive, but she quickly puts the pieces together in her mind. Tatara is indeed dead . . . it’s her daughter, Sarasa, who now poses as the “boy” of destiny. With the knowledge that her child still lives, Sarasa’s mother cannot die yet; she must persevere and see her daughter again.

Meanwhile, Tatara (Sarasa) and company plan their attack on the Red King, to free their friends. The sly Ageha, voiced by the always-slick Kaneto Shiozawa, seems amused at the prospect of 20 peasants taking on a king’s army. Tatara dismisses Ageha’s naysaying and takes hold of the Byakko blade, the sword that she was never allowed to touch back in the village.

As the rebels approach the Red King’s stronghold, they come across an old woman building gravemarkers. She mourns the dead villagers of Asahi, peasants who worked the land and rose in rebellion when the Red King raised their taxes. They were all slain for their insolence . . . all but this one old woman. Moved by the sight, one of Tatara’s followers — the mother of Mako, the boy who pretended to be Tatara six years ago and was slain for his bravery — makes a grave. But she doesn’t make a grave for Mako. She builds a grave for Sarasa, the poor girl who is believed to have died in Tatara’s place. It’s an interesting sequence, as few have ever witnessed their own funeral.

While resting, Sarasa wanders from the camp and encounters the mysterious wanderer Shuri once again. He gives her an herb necklace as a memento. Later that night, when Sarasa dons Tatara’s attire, she still wears the necklace. The attraction between Sarasa and Shuri is clearly mutual.

Of course, at this point, the viewer already knows that Shuri is the Red King. Shuri and Sarasa are clearly falling for each other, but they’re also blood enemies. Romeo and Juliet thought they had it rough, but this will turn out even worse!