Ep 14. The story of Sabame

The episode "The Story of Sabame" from season 1 of Dororo focuses on the titular character Sabame and his village. The episode begins with Hyakkimaru and Dororo wandering through a forest when they come across a man who has been attacked by a group of demons. They learn that the man is from a nearby village and decide to investigate further.

When they arrive at the village, they find that it is strangely quiet and almost deserted. The only inhabitants are Sabame and his followers, who seem to be the only ones who have not been affected by the demons. Sabame is initially wary of Hyakkimaru and Dororo, but he eventually tells them the truth about what is going on in the village.

Sabame explains that his village has made a pact with the demons. In exchange for the demons leaving the village alone, Sabame and his followers regularly sacrifice travelers who pass through the nearby forest. Sabame justifies this by saying that the travelers would have been killed by the demons anyway, so sacrificing them is the only way to keep the village safe.

Hyakkimaru is understandably appalled by this revelation and confronts Sabame about his actions. Sabame argues that he is doing what he must to protect his people, but Hyakkimaru points out that he is sacrificing innocent lives.

The episode also introduces a character named Nuinokata, a woman who was once married to Sabame but left him when she learned about his pact with the demons. Nuinokata is now a prostitute who lives in a nearby town, and she provides an alternate perspective on the situation in the village.

Nuinokata argues that Sabame is not protecting his people, but rather he is using his pact with the demons to maintain his power and wealth. She also believes that the demons have already started to turn on the village and that Sabame's sacrifices are only delaying the inevitable.

As the episode progresses, we see both Sabame and Nuinokata's perspectives on the situation. Sabame genuinely believes that he is doing what is best for his people, but Nuinokata sees his actions as selfish and ultimately futile.

The episode ends with Hyakkimaru once again confronting Sabame about his actions. This time, however, Sabame has a change of heart. He realizes that he has been wrong and that the sacrifices must stop. He goes to the demons' lair and makes a deal with them to spare the village in exchange for his own life.

Overall, "The Story of Sabame" is an emotionally complex episode that explores the themes of sacrifice, power, and morality. Both Sabame and Nuinokata are flawed characters who have their own reasons for the actions they take, and the episode does a great job of presenting both sides. Hyakkimaru's presence serves as a moral compass, highlighting the consequences of Sabame's actions and forcing him to confront the reality of what he has been doing.