REVIEW: ‘Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia’ Episode 10 – “Wisdom”

In less than half an hour, Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 10 ties together all of its current threads into a crescendo to conclude its current story arc. By this point, “Wisdom” does not have to do much but line up the strike, and yet does so with masterful execution. While we are lucky enough to have more episodes on the docket, this episode is a bow tying together a very special season of anime, complete with callbacks, new reveals, and harrowing emotion. 

The bar keeps going up for the spectacular displays of animation from the Science Saru team. Every time a ritual or prayer comes up, they step up the game. But Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 10 returns to the well of grief that made Episode 6, “The Mergen People,” a cut above the rest.

Tolui’s (Ryota Suzuki) death does not come as a shock nor should it illicit much sympathy given his introduction. Yet, the dream conversation he has with Ögedei (Hiro Shimono) highlights that he has more than just brutish nature. He warmly and promptly gives his life for his brother, confident that it is Ögedei who will be more beneficial to their people. 

The balance of power is forever changed due to Tolui’s actions.

Yes, finding sadness in this moment is ultimately sympathy for a monster. Most of the violent actions of the Mongols have one or both of these brothers on their front lines. Tolui’s introduction was the murder of a woman throwing herself between him and a defenseless child, after all. What’s more, the dreamlike nature of this experience Ögedei has does lay some suspect on Tolui’s true nature. Is he really so loving, or just a useful idiot who trusted everyone and believed himself blessed by god? 

Whatever the truth is, Tolui played his part well, and the balance of power in the empire is forever shifted. The chaos that Fatima (Akira Sekine) hoped would follow in the wake of Tolui’s military victories has been completely stifled. Episode 9 already made it visually clear that Fatima had been completely played by Boraqchin (Kujira), but Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 10 clues Fatima in on that fact. It’s haunting to see Elements back in her hands after all this time. In an instant, Fatima is Sitara again, sitting across from someone far wiser and in higher authority, putting her in her place. 

Boraqchin throws Fatima’s manipulations back at her, drenching them in a conviction Fatima cannot emulate. Neither woman is wrong; the likelihood of one of the Khans’ sons turning on the other increased by the day, but Boraqchin makes it clear that if Fatima plays ball with preventing and controlling these outcomes, there’s a safe future for her. 

Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 10 circles back to the start of Fatima’s journey. 

And it’s clear why Fatima actually considers finally surrendering her rage. She’s accomplished what she originally set out to do: reclaim Elements, the book that represented her previous life. But it happens so abruptly, with the added realization of just how much Fatima underestimated Boraqchin, that it’s clearly an emotional spiral. If Boraqchin has the leverage that Fatima originally infers, then maybe she has no hope at all. Then, the circle completes with a crash. 

Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 10 returns to Sitara and Muhammad (Jun Saito) dropping the metal bin in the very beginning. Just as it was then, the resounding sound indicates the power of true knowledge versus implied knowledge. Knowing the truth of something is to know that a metal bin fell from a high place. Meanwhile, those not in the know think a storm is coming. It’s a clarity that gets Fatima back on track and returns her disarming smile to her face. 

Once Fatima gleams that Töregene (Ami Koshimizu) did not reveal Fatima’s true name or history, her new reason for living becomes clear: save Töregene. As far as an arc beginning can be, this is a strong setup. There’s a natural follow-up as a loose thread from what’s just happened and reminds Fatima that hope is not lost. 

Fatima finds a new mission by the end of “Wisdom” that promises great storytelling potential. 

At the same time, Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 10 sidelines Töregene even further. She does not appear in the episode beyond flashes of what she’s said previously. These are the foundations of the need to save her from whatever Boraqchin set up, but at the continued cost of Töregene’s actual presence.

Connecting with her firstborn to begin the mission planning will almost certainly yield more details about Töregene. Yet, it will come from her child and not from herself. Once again, Töregene is defined not by what she does but by what she’s not allowed to do. She can’t speak for herself anymore, either in the context of the story or the context of the anime. If she were a less interesting character, then perhaps this would not matter. That’s not the case with her, though, and the sooner to the spotlight, the better. 

Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 10 is another heater of an episode that showcases the compelling nature of political intrigue. Power has shifted for the Mongols, but it could easily shift again, especially with Fatima being better situated to put her thumb on the scale. Hopefully Töregene will join her sooner rather than later. 

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia Episode 10 is streaming now, exclusively on Crunchyroll.

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