The Abyss of Life presented one of the most emotional scenes of entertainment to us.
Episode 9, Crimson Sky, continues on the same emotional level.
Blackthorne, Yabushige and Mariko are in Osaka to prepare everything for Crimson Sky. Lady Mariko wants to bring Toranaga's wife and his newborn son out of danger and back to Edo, but Lord Ishido prohibits it.
Mariko tries nevertheless but gets stopped by Ishido's men. She protests and declares to commit suicide at sunset. This puts Ishido and the council in a tricky situation. If they let her go, the other hostages also want to go, if they let her kill herself this would cause protest by the other high families in Osaka.
When Mariko prepares to die, the Anjin tries to convince her not to do it. But even his love can't change her mind.
Literally in the last second Ishido arrives with permission for Mariko to leave in the morning. Our heroes win and everything is prepared for Toranaga's strike.
But wait, this would not be Shogun, if it is that easy.
In the night Yabushige opens the doors for some ninjas to infiltrate the mansion.
Blackthorne, Mariko and Yabushige manage to hide in some storage house but the ninjas prepare to blow up the door. The anjin tries to move something before the door and asks Yabushige to help him. But he does not move. Instead Mariko goes to the door and it explodes.
Puh, that's a shock. Honestly I expected her to commit suicide and was prepared to fill my bathtup with tears, but was reliefed to see her survive. And then that happens. I mean, there is still a chance she survives and I will spent 7 days hoping she will, but if not, I do not know what to say. I loved this character since she was introduced. Love by the first sight, you could say. Her death would break me and the anjin all together. All in all this episode delivered another masterclass. With nine episodes done, we have only one left to conclude this show in perfection. Humanity holds its breath while waiting for the grand finale of the best show of the year. Maybe even the best show of the decade. We will see in one week from now.