REVIEW: ‘Ninja Kamui’ Episode 7

Ninja Kamui Episode 7 is the best episode of the series since the premiere. It’s still shallow and frustrating, but there’s at least narrative energy and a robust and singular fight sequence. It even needs me to walk back my accusation of fridging from Episode 6. Emma (Yuki Wakai) isn’t dead, somehow, but alive and able to exposition dump once more, sharing with Higan (Kenjiro Tsuda) the story of how she met Mari (Yuriko Hino) and their life-saving friendship. It might not be the fix the series needs, but it’s an adept installment that is less cringe-inducing than previous episodes. Low bar scaled.

One of the more immediate wins is the fight between Higan and Lil (Setsuji Satō). The fight lacks the dynamism of early combat, primarily due to the Gusoko Gear the two are wearing. The animation is lacking in the mecha fights compared to the hand-to-hand combat, which is evident in a later fight scene. Still, it’s quick and brutal, with Higan quickly disputing Lil and sending his brutalized head to the Yamaji (Kazuhiro Yamaji) and the AUZU organization as a warning and threat. Because of this, Yamaji finally allows Zai (Yuichi Nakamura) to go after Higan, needing to use his strongest weapon to take the exiled ninja down.

Most of Ninja Kamui Episode 7 is spent on the miraculously alive Emma and her relationship with Mari. Higan wants to know the details of their relationship, so we settle into a flashback-heavy episode. As Emma says, Mari was “her savior.” She means this in more ways than the most literal sense. As a child, Emma was in a horrible accident, leaving her with scars disfiguring her face. Her parents, unable to bear looking at her, abandoned her. This left her as an easy pick for the ninja clan under Yamaji’s rule. She grew and became a reliable ninja, watching Mari, Higan, and Zai from the sidelines.

As she and many other members saw it, those three were destined to become the next head of the clan. Emma believes Mari is the ideal embodiment of what a ninja should be. Throughout her training, Emma became a master of disguise to deal with her traumatic scarring and execute orders made by the clan. But Mari sees the real her, asking her to remove her mask. It’s one of the few moments that stick with Emma about Mari and her compassion. It leaves an indelible mark because ninjas have to cast away emotional attachment. But Mari sees emotions as a means to life rather than a threat of death. To love is to possess the will to live.

Mari’s feelings and affection for Emma are clear. She goes as far as to teach Emma her secret technique, something forbidden by the clan. This is especially vital considering the hostility taking root in the clan as changes force themselves upon the organization. Yamaji allows Western and military influence, and his greed overruns his pride. In his search for power, he threatens those who work under him with exile and death if they dare rebel.

It finally allows us the answer to why there are so many fugitive ninjas. Those who use Mari’s device to disguise themselves refuse to follow Yamaji’s master plan. Seeking to maintain the spirit and pride of the ninja, they’re willing to risk life and limb for their ideals. Emma is caught in the middle. She can’t quite understand why people would run away from the only life that’s ever accepted her, but she also can’t stomach the changes in the organization.

Her decision comes to fruition in the standoff between her and Mari. The fight scene relies on static shots and powerful cohesion to capture the impact. By stripping it down to the most essential qualities, it becomes one of the best moments of the series. Mari loses the fight only because she went to guard her middle, newly pregnant. But before Emma can kill herself out of shame of being pulled in two separate directions, Mari grabs the blade. In both instances, she protects her family.

The fight between Emma and Mari is the best part of the episode and one of the show’s standout moments. Using action without unnecessary gratuity reminds viewers that there are moments of excellence in the show. They’re just often buried underneath nonsensical plot points and characters who lack an ounce of charm.

Ninja Kamui Episode 7 leaves us on another cliffhanger, and Emma shares that Yamaji is in the process of executing the last stage of his plan. With a strong thematic core and a standout action scene, it’s one of the better installments of the series. It still suffers from over-relying on exposition and the one-note characters who anchor the series, but there’s a hint of promise at least.

Ninja Kamui Episode 7 is available now on Max.