Joran The Princess Of Snow And Blood “Star Sign” Review
Joran The Princess Of Snow And Blood “Star Sign” is the tenth episode of the Joran series. Following the shocking revelation in episode 9 the show shifts to showing Kuzuhara’s past and how he became a Nue executioner.
Becoming a killer
The episode begins with experiments being done on humans by Janome, who at the time was working for the Shogun. Kuzuhara Jin (or Iori as he was known then) is a test subject. The boy above him manages to sneak some broken glass into his cage. Jin encourages him to use it to kill the scientists and escape but instead he uses it to commit suicide. Jin doesn’t give up however, he steals the piece of glass and uses it to kill multiple test subjects and scientists to escape. He does escape but just as it looks like he’s going to get caught a Nue executioner saves him.
He’s brought to the Shogun as he has a strong mind and body and it’s shown that the scars on his back are signs of resistance to many types of snake poisons. He’s the perfect executioner but the Shogun demands he show obedience so a full bottle of wine is poured over the bust of the Shogun and he’s forced to lick it all up. He does so and is finally given his new name, Kuzuhara Jin. Under this name he trains and kills for the sake of the Shogun. Jin is given an assignment to watch over the Karasumori Clan.
Learning to love
Whilst doing so one day, he bumps into a member of the clan who pleads for the life of a mother wolf who attacks him to protect her babies. This member turns out to be Sawa’s mother, Towa. She’s kind to Jin and cleans up his wounds. She brings him things to eat and is thankful for his protection. She basically sees him as another son and treats him the same way.
Inevitably he starts to feel strongly for her. It’s never stated that he openly loves her but he is very close to her and always keeping an extra watch on the house. He eventually gets new orders. The Karasumori Clan must be killed. They have rejected the Shogun’s plans to use their blue blood power to further the Tokugawa regime. He also receives intel that Janome has almost found the village. He must kill them or Janome will.
That night, he makes his way into the village and silently but efficiently kills all of the villagers. Including Towa and her family. He takes Sawa in though and the rest is history. He kills the Nue agent that brought him in as he was going to kill Sawa and swears to protect her forever.
The episode ends with Sawa present day screaming at him “did you kill them?”
Review
I loved this episode! I started to love Jin as a character about 3 episodes ago and to now know for sure that all he’s done has been to protect Sawa has completely taken me by surprise. It was always up in the air for me whether he actually cared for her or was just using her but he seems to genuinely be trying to protect her. How he’ll protect her from the Shogun is anyone’s guess but I’m sure he has a few plans.
This episode was sweet and a great episode on it’s own merit. Along with giving us some much needed background on a key character. I know this is “plot twists: The Anime” but I never thought for a second anyone but Janome was responsible for the destruction of the Karasumori Clan.
The plot twists are coming thick and fast. But we’re finally learning more about the world Sawa is having to navigate and it’s looking like an uphill struggle. Brilliant episode! Bring on episode 11!
