As expected, this episode introduces Goemon, the super cool samurai-friend!

This episode had WAY less fanservice than before, but it makes up for that with Goemon being super awesome and hot. Certainly one of my favorite episodes so far.

I can never get tired of naked Fujiko, but this episode was refreshing to watch.

The episode starts off with Goemon at the grave of his ancestor, Goemon Ishikawa. I assume it’s the first generation of Goemons in his family, considering there was no number after it. Later, he is shown in Paris, at the Arc de Triumph making a deal with a client. The job is to assassinate Tranc Georb, the King of Austria. At this point, Goemon is a novice assassin who is not very well known. This job should be the one to get his name out in the underground

Meanwhile, at the Louvre (I think), we meet the family of Tranc Georb; his three grandchildren, Grace, Louise and Marco (who is to be the heir to the throne). We also meet their tutor, a pretty blonde woman named Marcia who comments that the world’s greatest treasures have been gathered here.

The three children often sing a song together about ice cream and bulldogs and pudding parfait. It’s a bit weird, but pretty cute. Marco, the youngest child, loves samurai, making up a song about them.

The three children, Maria and Tranc Georb (along with a compartment full of circus performers it seems) take the train from Paris to Austria, going home with his treasures in hand. Interestingly enough, I’ve noticed that this show likes to make slight misspellings of country names.

 

The last person to board the train is Goemon, jumping off an overpass to hop on board. Meanwhile, we get some details on the royal family. The three children’s mother and father, the crown prince, died in an accident, leaving Marco the heir to the throne once Tranc Georb passes on. Their aunt, however married into a different family, the Schmeits. It seems as though she wanted to become the next heir to the throne, but her husband wants it much more.

Grace and Louise are admiring the performers and Prima Donnas on the train, becoming sadly nostalgic of their own mother. Marco arrives, running down the aisle with ice cream in his hands, but bumps into the samurai who has joined the train ride at the last minute. The children begin to cry, probably because of Goemon’s super intimidating appearance, which prompts Maria to see what is happening. Later, Maria is helping Goemon clean the ice cream off his clothes, allowing them to talk and get friendly with one another. Before Goemon can give her his name, the children come back with some tea for him. Goemon tells Marco that if he is a man, he shouldn’t cry over things like ice cream.

Another lesson in Manlihood by Goemon.

Goemon demonstrates his abilities by cutting a rabbit shape into the platter. He introduces himself as Goemon Ishikawa, a traveling performer. Marcia is intrigued by him, even as Marco comically undoes his fundoshi.

Meanwhile, Tranc Georb is reading a newspaper article about Schmeit planning to be the successor to him, which puts him in a not so good mood. Goemon overhears this, also stating his famous line, “I have cut something worthless”. As Goemon plans to do his assassination job, the children intervene, wanting to see their grandfather. Instead, Goemon decides to wait until he is alone to do the job. How nice of him! But, he also runs into a bit of trouble when the train approaches a tunnel. It’s no problem for him, obviously. It’s just that he gets a little dirty afterwards. Luckily, Maria is nice enough to wash his clothes again.

 

Maria asks him if there are still samurai like him in Japan, but Goemon cuts her short, saying that have no place in Japan these days. It is a bit old fashioned. Maria also asks if this is the reason why he is traveling, saying not everyone has their place in the world, even her. The children may be her duty for now, but it is only a temporary job. She even mentions that she doesn’t really have a friend. She says goodnight to him, calling him Mr. Samurai-Friend. It seems that Maria has her suspicions of him, noting that he is not just a street performer.

The train makes a pit stop before heading out to Astria, picking up a not so desirable passenger. The one who hired Goemon to kill King Tranc has boarded the train, knocking out the conductor and another train worker. He also plans to kill Goemon. Not cool bro.

The train is out of control, which is made obvious when it didn’t stop at its next destination. The train workers call for help while King Tranc decides on how to handle the situation as well as thinking of who could have done such a thing. Goemon arrives in the compartment, ready to give his two cents. But first he has to do his signature move: cutting a guy’s clothes off.

The King’s guards are ordered to shoot, and the children protest. Knowing Goemon, he can easily avoid getting killed, with the help of his iron cutting sword, Zantetsuken.

Here, Goemon demonstrates his true abilities, slicing every bullet and gun in half, impressing just about everyone in the compartment, especially the children. Goemon admits that he came to take the life of King Tranc, but he was not the one who sabotaged the train ride, saying it was not part of the plan. King Tranc, despite Goemon’s original intentions decides to listen to what Goemon has to say, telling Maria to take the children away for evacuation. However, Marco wants to save his father’s art and goes to the last compartment. What a brave boy.

As Maria runs after him, Goemon tells the king that they did not trust his abilities and intended to kill him as well, leaving Goemon under no obligation to kill the king after all. Instead, his new focus is to stop the train, saving everyone onboard. Marco, who has gone to the freight car, is distraught, unable to save his father’s Samurai art. He reunites with Maria, in tears before they escape the freight car. The new plan for Goemon is to discard the freight car, slowing the acceleration of the train. This means that the art work will be lost, but it is for the sake of the passengers.

Maria runs back to the passenger cart with Marco in tow, reuniting with the other two children and the king. She orders the guards to give her their belts to strap the children in. However, the belts won’t reach all three children. The King offers him his prized belt to help strap the children in. Meanwhile, Goemon cuts off the freight car from the passenger car with his Zantetsuken, saving the passengers! Hooray!

What a man!

Thanks to Goemon’s help, the passengers make it out alive, with only a few scratches and scrapes. Although Maria seems disappointed that the treasures are gone, the children are happy at the outcome, singing their friend song with Maria once more. King Tranc thanks Goemon for saving their lives, but Goemon departs before he can become more friendly with the royal family, showing off his wise samurai words. He also states that one day, he and the others will be friends. Whatever that means. From there, he departs. Helicopters come to rescue the family, as well as the King’s daughter and Schmeit. The King’s daughter is relieved that everyone is ok, but Schmeit does not seem very pleased.

Back at the Baron’s palace, a briefcase is found in their room. I’m not sure if they even gave the King’s daughter a name. I must have missed it. Anyway, inside the briefcase, is the reward money for Goemon, which had been cut to pieces by his sword. It appears that the daughter had no idea what Baron Schmeit had been planning this whole time. Guards come in to arrest him, having arrested his creepy accomplice as well.

In the children’s bedroom of their palace, Maria wishes the children goodnight. She plants a kiss on Marco’s forehead as he sleeps, telling him to become a great king. Afterwards, she runs off into the night, not having any treasure to steal anymore. She meets Goemon again, at the top of the palace walls, stating that it may as well have been a waste of time. Goemon questions who she is and just before she can draw her gun, he cuts off her clothes, revealing her true identity.

As it turns out, Fujiko wasn’t after the treasures after all, but rather the King’s belt, which had been in the royal family for generations. Didn’t really see that coming. Damn, she looks hot with it. Goemon even comments on how beautiful she looks. Goemon, though flustered, goes on to say that she understands what she meant by not having a place in the world, and not having any friends. Fujiko stops his words with a kiss before departing on her motorcycle, still naked, which leaves Goemon a bit shocked.

 

Ahhhhh, this scene was just really cute, if only for Goemon’s reactions. Instead of Goemon being able to bask in the afterglow of the kiss, he is stopped short by guards shooting at him. Goemon manages to escape them, using his signature move and line on them once more before disappearing into the night.

This episode has been my favorite thus far. Next episode, I am really hoping to see some Lupin again, which will mean seeing Zenigata, WHICH WILL MEAN MOAR OSCAR!  AHHHHH! I’m sorry, I just can’t get enough of that pretty blushing boy. <3

To be honest, I was scared that Fujiko may have been going soft when she just let the treasures go into the ocean. She really surprised me when I found out it was all an act to get the belt instead. She never ceases to impress me in this series.

Everyone should watch this series.

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