REVIEW: ‘Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia’ Episode 11 – “An Ungraceful Stone”

A long-standing meme in the Western anime community comes from a bootleg translation note. “Just according to keikaku” comes from fan subtitles of a Death Note episode that chose not to use the English word “plan,” a silly and pointless decision that makes for a fun joke. It’s difficult not to see Light Yagami’s snide smirk with this text while watching Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 11. Following a full story arc’s worth of plotting, this episode lays bare how much Boraqchin (Kujira) has been planning and how much things have, in fact, gone according to keikaku. 

“An Ungraceful Stone” gets into the Empress’s mind directly for the first time, first through a flashback to the time of Genghis Khan, and then through her plans to take the house of Tolui off the board. There is a very obvious parallel in the way that Boraqchin finds inspiration and curiosity in sandarac, and in Fatima (Akira Sekine) seeing herself as Töregene’s (Ami Koshimizu) jada stone. However, where Fatima saw herself as a harbinger of storms, Boraqchin is something less forceful and rigid. 

Boraqchin is curious and intelligent, recklessly so, if anything. She becomes enthralled by the nature of minerals and medicine, turning into something of a mad scientist. The willingness to self-poison just to test recovery times is bold, to say the least. The reveal that Fatima was the one who delivered the solution Boraqchin needed to pull off her assassination hits hard. Fatima was in over her head from the start and had no idea. 

Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 11 focuses heavily on power dynamics.

Fittingly, it’s in this realization that the word “witch” is properly spoken for the first time in the series. As conniving and radical as Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 11 frames Boraqchin, she may also be what Fatima needs to aspire to in order to gain the power she really seeks. She must see some of herself in Boraqchin. 

It’s worth observing the implications of both of these women being identified as stones in the first place. Stones, especially at this time period, are fundamental building blocks of architecture. Fatima and Boraqchin see themselves as a foundation for the objectives they believe in and are willing to be used as such. Even while consenting, this setup effectively sets them up to be consumed by these missions–walked over and disregarded while others gain power. 

Beyond the imagery of stone, it seems clear that this status as consumable could be applied to every woman in the story of Jaadugar. From fellow slave Zumurrud, to Töregene, to even Boraqchin, women are resources to be leveraged and manipulated as chess pieces on the larger board of political power. Nowhere is that clearer than with Sorghaghtani (Misaki Kuno) as Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 11 makes her a literal pawn for Boraqchin to complete her plan. Marrying Sorghaghtani into the family through Töregene’s son would further dilute the power of Tolui’s house. 

Science Saru gets to play with what kind of anime Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia is.

That marriage plot exposes Fatima’s willingness to use a fellow woman for her own plans. Töregene’s safety becomes tied to her son Güyük (Natsuki Hanae) marrying Sorghaghtani, which Fatima frantically endorses. She’s made it her personal goal to get Töregene to safety, and as the episode makes clear later, she holds Sorghaghtani equally responsible for the ransacking of Tus. 

Unlike those with actual power, though, Fatima actually is capable of seeing what pain all this maneuvering has caused. She can barely stand to look at the despondent Sorghaghtani because she knows what that feeling looks like. Seeing that enrages her in a way that once again lets Science Saru start playing with what kind of anime Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia is.

The blurry and shaken imagery comes from a first-person point of view to put viewers in Fatima’s shoes and feel how shaken she is at seeing an enemy give up like this. The sequence is then paralleled with Sorghaghtani’s perspective of her family. The direction is effective at achieving its goals, but doesn’t inspire awe in the same way as some of the bold set pieces the series has previously featured. 

Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 11 continues meeting the bar for quality without breaking a sweat.

To Fatima, this isn’t fair and shouldn’t be allowed. She couldn’t bring herself to give up, though it seems she doesn’t recall her mindset at the end of Episode 2. Regardless, it is this moment that finally allows the rage out. Fatima lashes out at Sorghaghtani with all the grief and rage she’s had brewing in her heart for years. In this moment, she’s more real than she’s been before. This isn’t the calculating Fatima talking, not really. It’s Sitara, the traumatized child. No smiles, no placating, no respect. Just a tent full of anger and sadness. 

It’s a very critical error. Fatima’s lashing out is the spark that gets Sorghaghtani back to reality. All of a sudden, Fatima has jeopardized her next objective. If Sorghaghtani refuses the arranged marriage, Töregene’s safety is at risk all over again. Güyük doesn’t have the confidence to assert his place in the story, and Fatima’s only other ally has loose lips. It’s not a great situation.

Furthering that issue is that Töregene is once again absent. Now that the level of Boraqchin’s machinations is fully known, is it even possible for Töregene to be safe? It’s impossible to tell, because Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 11 continues the trend of not giving this particular woman the chance to speak for herself. With any luck, before the season is up there will be a sign of life. But for now, it remains frustrating to see one of the best characters sidelined so much. 

Töregene’s absence remains the sour spot in an otherwise fantastic episode. Jaadugar: A Witch In Mongolia Episode 11 continues meeting the bar for quality without breaking a sweat. The political maneuvering remains just as compelling and tense as any anime battle arc. While it may seem repetitive to say again that this may be the best anime of 2026, it’s just the facts. 

Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia Episode 11 is streaming now, exclusively on Crunchyroll.

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