REVIEW: ‘Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys,’ Episode 10 – ” Defend! The Black American Ships”

Shine On! Bakumatsu Bad Boys is produced by Geno Studio. Having learned that the Masked Demons’ next target lies in the port city of Osaka, the Shinsengumi set out to thwart their nefarious plans. But will the group be able to divine their enemy’s intent in time in Shine On Bakumatsu Bad Boys Episode 10?

Opening this story is an unexpected dream sequence that provides some unique visuals for the series. This well-designed opening gets this episode off to a great start as it easily grabs the viewer’s attention, setting up the rest of the episode to carry on the momentum.

With the last episode’s time spent recovering from the Kyoto fire, Shine On Bakumatsu Bad Boys Episode 10 ramps the energy back up as the series prepares for its final run towards the finale. While I won’t spoil the particulars of the Masked Demons’ plans for Osaka, I was impressed by the result. The mission as it plays out is an excellent combination of simple and complex. Simple from a narrative standpoint, which allows it to be easy for the viewer to follow, while also being complex in the reasoning and implications of the story’s events. I appreciated how much thought went into the best way for the villains to work their attack into their larger goals for Japan.

As the plot unfolds before them, Shine On Bakumatsu Bad Boys Episode 10 does a great job of balancing the Shinsengumi’s responses to the situation. It allows the group to be caught off guard and at times a loss for what to do, without making them feel inept. I appreciated this approach to the group’s reactions to the story as oftentimes heroes are allowed to assemble and enact plans so quickly it drains away much of the threat passed by the villains. The fact that the heroes must recover from their surprise reinforces that the Masked Demons are a well-planned group who are not simply punching bags to be thwarted.

The only significant place where this episode stumbles is in the continued narrative surrounding Ichibanboshi and his confrontations with his brother. I wish the series would let up on this plot thread. They continue to clash back and forth without anything new being added and little chance that anything will come of their conflict till the big finale. With where this episode leaves the duo’s conflict, I sincerely hope it doesn’t get brought back up in a significant way again until the series is prepared to resolve it.

The visuals here do a great job delivering the story, even beyond the aforementioned opening sequence. Some new story elements get some slick introductions here, partly due to the solid visual presentation’s ability to make them stand out.

When all is said and done, Shine On Bakumatsu Bad Boys Episode 10 delivers a strong episode that delivers tense action while also setting up the larger confrontation that will carry the season to its finale.

Shine On Bakumatsu Bad Boys Episode 10 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.