Fans are talking about The Elusive Samurai #17 — here's what they had to say.
Ngl, Shokan staging a comeback with actual actual strategy makes him way more terrifying than before, and the sheer whiplash between epic battle tactics and Yorishige messing around is peak.
Commenter
Breaking news broadcast vibes lmao wtf broke humanity's mental safety valve (not my problem tho lol) Lost the muscle mass. Don't underestimate mountains. The difference between floats and mikoshi. Lost to teeth instead of blades (panik) They really managed to hide this mess of dudes…? Dad's horse is the most powerful w Next time too!! Blood tear makeup. Give everyone's resolve back w
Commenter
Ep 17: Just when you think you're ahead, a surprise attack flips it instantly‼️ To use your imagination and risk your life on a battlefield where you never know what's coming—gotta respect Tokiyuki. Shokan's tactics are genuinely impressive tho. Even as an enemy, well played‼️
Commenter
Kiyohara Shinano-no-Kami looked like a total scrub at first, but doing it for Emperor Godaigo who believed in his spirit? Kinda based tbh. Also love the narration about "so many nobles taking up unfamiliar weapons and risking their lives on the battlefield."
Commenter
Nigehisa is such a human hymn treating even total weirdos and saints as comrades who desperately lived through that era, so loving how Kiyohara gets that treatment too. Same vibes as the Taiheiki finale.
Commenter
"We became united… or so it seemed" Nah, thanks to Yorishige-sama it totally "seemed" otherwise tbh… 💀
Commenter
Shokan aka Hirano Shogen, said to be a rogue who raised an army with Kusunoki Masashige, but apparently he was also a retainer of Saionji Kimimune
Commenter
Bro really set up a Joker-type character in one ep, Kiyohara-dono… well, if you survive there's always a next time
Commenter
"Ugh, where are the replacement troops" Targeting the left side to wear down the guys holding swords while carrying the thing
Commenter
Been winning the whole time, so a loss arc hits different tbh. Well, from here on out tho. Season 2
Commenter
A loss is a loss, but can you exit cleanly. Can you preserve your forces. That right there is the abyss of military strategy.
Commenter
We already know the aftermath of this death match. This trope of early-game powerhouse making a comeback is literally my favorite shit ever
Commenter
Ugh, two annoying powerhouses teamed up now. Guess it's time to run away… Tokiyuki's specialty
Commenter
The Emperor's orders that were just a gag in season 1 are suddenly insanely badass, not fair man
Commenter
That "The Emperor decrees…" line was a repeating gag in the manga, but it actually got hype here!
Commenter
Giving off that vibe of chasing us down without letting up since the last fight, kinda giving me Takaoka from Assassination Classroom flashbacks
Commenter
Looking like he's just shooting blindly through that tiny window, how does he even hit anything tho?
Commenter
Shokan was already a pain in the ass, but now he's acting like an actual proper samurai and it makes him an even bigger threat
Commenter
Don't emperors usually use "Zhin" (朕) instead of "Yo" (余) w?
Commenter
Ah I see, since they aren't factoring in the dominant hand, the left side becomes the blind spot
Commenter
Thought he was praying for Tokiyuki's safety… Turns out he was just on fkn vacation wwww
Commenter
Yorishige acts like a total clown but he's actually super revered and an absolute genius ngl
Commenter
A combat mikoshi? Just shoot some fire arrows at it and it'll turn into a fireball and be over with tbh
Commenter
Shoulda put the southpaw carriers concentrated on the left side instead smh (!?)
Commenter
Wait it's actually you again? Wasn't this guy defeated before?
Commenter
Can a single pep talk really change a guy this much? Creepy af fr
Commenter
"Survive and wait for that moment!?" The lyrics to Onigoto payoff!!!!
Commenter
Bro's messenger work is literally moving the samurai's hearts tho
Commenter
Explaining this with a news-program-style CG is sending me lol
Commenter
So Maro wasn't just a throwaway chump after all…
Commenter
A flying kick… on a horse!? Do horses become absolute beasts in the Nanbokucho period too…
Commenter
Saw the crisis with future sight? Too late for this timing tho
Commenter
This scumbag Kokushi is getting another round, which is why he's the worst kind of nuisance
Commenter
An emperor with actual charisma, guess the people around him were just useless after all
Commenter
Stop with the grasshopper meals lmaooooo
Commenter
Tokiyuki's buildup is paying off too well. Yorishige is hilarious lmao
Commenter
Fubuki casually stealing food in the chaos is too funny lmao
Commenter
Emperor Godaigo had a charisma rivaling Ashikaga Takauji fr
Commenter
Probably because Emperor Godaigo himself made that epic breakout from Oki lol
Commenter
Shokan was totally waiting for the exact moment to strike the decisive battle
Commenter
Seriously might not be able to work with this guy anymore 💢
Commenter
Fubuki stealing snacks from Yorishige is way too cute wtf!!!!
Commenter
Shina-san and Hoshina-san are genuinely such reliable adults fr
Commenter
Wait, is Shokan actually Skuratov?
Commenter
Don't just go "Ah" wtf what are you doing Yorishige-dono