Review of Samurai Champloo

Contains spoilers: It’s difficult to put into words to describe the experience I felt when I watched this show (which I have multiple times). Is it nostalgia? Longing? Aimlessness? Actually, there is a great word for it which isn’t in English. ‘Saudade’, a Portuguese word meaning “a yearning for a happiness that has passed, or perhaps never even existed”. This word basically embodies the spirit of Samurai Champloo. Unlike in Cowboy Bebop, where the theme is no matter how hard you try to run from the past, it’ll always catch up, Champloo takes the opposite route and deals with the dangers of dwelling on the pastfor too long. This can be seen through all three main characters, Mugen, Jin, and Fuu.

Mugen’s life as a vagrant and showing hostility to anyone. Jin’s reluctance to form any bonds and continuing to forge his skills as a swordsman. Fuu’s obsession of trying to find her missing father for “revenge”.

It’s only through the non-linear thread of the show that our characters grow, with chance encounters often happening to get the show going. Now, that can be seen as a criticism as the over-arching plot of Fuu’s search isn’t developed much until near the end, but, it’s only through these “random” episodes do our characters experience the change they much need in order to grow as people.

Let me refer to Episode 11, “Gamblers and Gallantry”, one of my favourite episodes. Without saying too much, this is Jin’s episode and his character growth is meaningful. This is the first time he shows any affection, and to a woman no less. However, she is forced to work in a brothel and Jin does what he’s most skillful at, by slashing his way through his problems. This doesn’t work out and so, he works hard to earn money instead to buy her off, something that is quite uncharacteristic for him to do. By the end, Jin sacrifices his own happiness so she could escape. This was a significant turning point for Jin, displaying an act of selflessness.

There are many other examples of growth in the show but that would take too much space and I might go into rambling territory (especially about the phenomenal soundtrack).

The only reason I am even writing this review is because I have tried many times before to write how I truly feel about this show but simply couldn’t put it into words or didn’t try. So, much like the show, I’m freestyling this in order to get it over and done with. This just might be a personal bias but the reason I love this show (to a damn fault) is because it came at a perfect time during my high school years, I was pretty depressed and had no idea what I was doing. Champloo showed me that people from all walks of life can get lost, and that obsessing with your past can critically halt your progression as a person. It’s only through random encounters in your life, whether meaningless or meaningful, that you’ll grow. Life is a gamble, so just play your cards.