Ep 4. Sure Does Get Carried Away

Sure Does Get Carried Away is the fourth episode of the first season of House of Five Leaves, an anime series. The series is set in Edo-era Japan and follows a group of misfits who are brought together by the scheming leader of a group of kidnappers, Yaichi. The show focuses primarily on the character of Masanosuke, a ronin (a masterless samurai) who is struggling to find his place in the world.

The episode opens with Masanosuke and Yaichi discussing their recent kidnapping job. Yaichi is pleased with how it went but Masanosuke is troubled by their actions. He questions whether they should really be stealing from innocent people in order to make a living. Yaichi brushes off his concerns and reminds him that they are not doing anything truly evil, but rather providing a service for those who can afford it.

Despite his misgivings, Masanosuke continues to work with Yaichi and the rest of the gang. In this episode, he is tasked with helping to kidnap a wealthy merchant named Yagi. Masanosuke is initially hesitant, but eventually agrees to go through with the plan.

The kidnapping is successful, but Yagi proves to be more of a challenge than they had anticipated. He is strong-willed and refuses to be intimidated by his captors. In fact, he even begins to bond with Masanosuke, and the two share a moment of honesty about their respective positions in life. Yagi tells Masanosuke that he envies him for his freedom, and Masanosuke admits that he envies Yagi for his wealth and status.

As the day wears on, tensions begin to rise within the kidnappers' group. One member, Otake, becomes increasingly agitated and begins to act out of turn. Yaichi tries to calm him down, but it becomes clear that Otake is on edge and may pose a threat to their operation.

In the end, the group is able to collect the ransom money and release Yagi unharmed. Masanosuke is relieved that things turned out okay, but he can't shake his feeling of unease about what they are doing. He begins to wonder whether he truly belongs with this group of outlaws or if he should try to find a more honorable path in life.

Overall, Sure Does Get Carried Away is a tense and introspective episode of House of Five Leaves. It delves deeper into Masanosuke's character and his struggle to reconcile his sense of morality with his need to survive in a harsh world. The episode also showcases the strengths of the show's writing and character development, as well as its unique setting and tone.