Post by Catman on Jun 30, 2022 22:01:49 GMT
In 1868, after the Meiji Restoration, some samurai resorted to crime after losing their positions as elites in society. The government built a prison (Gokumonjo) in the middle of Lake Biwa to contain those who kept escaping. The Kumō brothers are employed to ferry the prisoners to the prison as well as aid in capturing those who manage to escape from custody while in route to the ferry site. They also are tied to a local shrine and quite popular with the locals.
Were that all there was to the story, it would be boring indeed, but there is a giant serpent demon (Orochi) who is due to return, and as a result, the local area is constantly under a cloudy sky. The series follows Tenka, Soramaru, and Chūtarō as they rise to meet their fate. Supporting characters include Shirasu Kinjō (who serves the Kumō at the shrine), Botan (who is Chūtarō's teacher), and the Yamainu (the Orochi Extermination Squad set up by the government).
Nothing is quite as it first seems, and the drama slowly builds up to a satisfying, climactic battle.
There are a couple plot holes never quite explained, and some of the introduction of minor characters is handled awkwardly. A couple additional episodes might have dealt with those problems, but all in all, it's an interesting diversion.