Ep 33. The New Fight of Aoshi

Rurouni Kenshin season 1 episode 33, titled "The New Fight of Aoshi," sees Aoshi, the leader of the Oniwaban group, taking up a new fight against Kenshin. Aoshi finds himself struggling with a sense of purpose after the fall of his former lord, Takeda Kanryuusai, and his goals for the Oniwaban are torn apart. Seeking redemption and a new sense of purpose, Aoshi challenges Kenshin, who he still views as his greatest enemy.

The episode picks up where the previous one left off, with the Oniwaban group retreating from Sanosuke's assault. After their escape, Aoshi rallies his men, telling them that their goal is to kill Kenshin, no matter the cost. This new goal is not met with enthusiasm from all members of the group, particularly Misao, who remains loyal to Kenshin's group of warriors. However, she is ultimately powerless to stop Aoshi and decides to join forces with Kenshin once again to try to reason with him.

As Kenshin and his group try to figure out their next steps, they are ambushed by the Oniwaban group. Aoshi and Kenshin have a tense standoff, both eager to prove their worth as fighters. The two engage in a fierce battle, with Aoshi revealing that he has been trained in a new deadly martial art style that has given him the competitive edge over most opponents.

Throughout the fight, Kenshin holds back from using his full strength, not wanting to seriously injure Aoshi. However, Aoshi's new fighting style proves to be a formidable challenge, and Kenshin eventually starts to lose ground. Meanwhile, Misao tries to reason with Aoshi, even resorting to violence at one point to try to get through to him. However, Aoshi remains steadfast in his determination to defeat Kenshin and prove his worth as a fighter.

As the battle goes on, Aoshi reveals that his new fighting style was taught to him by a mysterious woman named Shishio Makoto, who he now dedicates all of his efforts to. This revelation shocks Kenshin and Misao, who had both assumed that Aoshi had turned away from his past and was searching for a new sense of purpose.

Eventually, Kenshin realizes that the only way to win the battle is to use his full strength, even if it means potentially hurting Aoshi. With a new-found determination, Kenshin unleashes his full power and lands a devastating blow on Aoshi. The battle ends with Aoshi retreating, defeated but still alive.

As the episode concludes, Aoshi is left questioning his sense of purpose once again, unsure if he will ever be able to find true redemption. Meanwhile, Kenshin and his group are left to ponder the consequences of their battles and the tolls that they take on themselves and their enemies.

Overall, "The New Fight of Aoshi" is an intense and emotional episode that explores the themes of redemption, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions. The fight scenes are expertly choreographed and the characters are complex and well-developed, making this episode a highlight of the series.