"I guess I never really faced my fears before"
Fyodor Dostoyevsky // Alanis Morissette
Ok adding onto another person's post about Akemi/Taigen's relationship trapping Akemi into this traditionally hyperfemine position of being Taigen's "prize" for his advancements of his stature; I also personally think it goes the opposite way as well.
Taigen would NEVER have a shot with Akemi if he didn't accumulate this stature and wealth, and his hypermasculine role of a samurai being a symbol of protector of his people (and wife).
For a man to be "worthy" of love in the times day and age, he must be a physically apt protector and provider, as well as hold a high title for his family to live with respect and honor. This is also destructive of his autonomy and worth as a person as much as Akemi's destruction of personhood being a wife. Taigen's worth his measured by his body's ability, just in this case enduring battles instead of sex.
But with Mizu, Taigen holds absolutely 0 worth to them as a protector or a provider. Hes a fucking joke of a dueling opponent to them, even the times he's attempted to serve them physically were thwarted, there is 0 transaction he could possibly make that would be worth anything to Mizu's cause. He tries!!! Time and time again!!! To near SUICIDE ("put my body over yours, theres no sense in both of us dying") attempting to secure his worth as a man, as a protector. The exploration of the horrendous world of patriarchy is explored through Taigen as much as Akemi.
Any worth or affection Mizu holds for Taigen is equally as purely intentioned, untainted by a power or role dynamic. Mizu frees Taigen from the high standards of being a worthy man/husband by the society's standards. Mizu spares and saves him countless times, and just because of his existence, not his service or stature.
Art Thou Satisfied?
Music: Mizu's suite ("Thank You For My Ember") from the Blue Eye Samurai score, by Amie Doherty
Storyboarding references: Blue Eye Samurai episode 1 + Chainsaw Man volume 9
Applications used: Krita (for drawing the frames) + capcut (for fusing the music and the frames)
so about those teasers
god i'm so tired of everybody's bad faith interpretations of everything. where's the trust. where's the forgiveness. where's the understanding that most things are complex and most people have many layers. and like the black eyed peas once said. where is the love
something something breaching containment
you and me and the devil makes three