Family

the most important people

I don't think any Champloo relationship moved me more than the unexpectedly adorable dynamic between the main cast. They're like a dysfunctional family of the worst and best kind, a group of travelers glued together by pure chance yet still determined to look after each other. Yes, and I say that despite how much Jin and Mugen want to start butchering each other, and how often they border on dumping Fuu into a river. There's a sort of grudging respect -- even affection -- between the three no matter how much the squabbling threatens to blot it out.

Which is why I can't think of Fuu, Mugen or Jin in one-on-one relationships separate from the third; they're too closely bonded as a trio for me to separate any one of them. How Jin and Mugen put their very lives on the line to usher Fuu to her final destination. The way Fuu cried out when she saw it happening before her very eyes; the way she choked back tears when the barely-living boys went at it for the last time; the tender look she had as she watched them chow down at the very end -- it nearly made me want to break down weeping. And Jin -- Jin! What he said, smiling softly, about finding friends for the first time ever! It reminded me of just how much I love this series. What a perfect, poignant final episode.

Of course, that final episode wouldn't be half as powerful if it wasn't for the little moments leading up to it. As a member of this family-that-could, Jin is content to sit in the background while Fuu and Mugen make most of the noise. He doesn't really care what either of them do and rarely makes any kind of response beyond his usual "hm", some eyebrow twitching or a strained grimace. He has all the behavior of a man who would rather be anywhere than here.

However, he's more integrated into this little family more than he would like to think. For instance -- the "Jin fails at fishing" scene? Hilarious. I loved how Jin wouldn't sack his pride to admit that he sucks at catching fish, how Mugen and Fuu made fun of his snobbishness, how Mugen was like "Don't meet his eyes" when he ran up with the counterfeit gold and tripped face-first. You can't tell me that's not adorable. Or when Mugen and Fuu bickered and split, and poor Jin was left alone, sighing hopelessly. Or when they actually worked together, even if the sole motivator was the prospect of filled stomachs. Which is not to say that the trio didn't team up for less materialistic causes; often they would come to the aid of one of their group for no reason than to help him or her.

As their quest draws to a close, you can sense that all three of them are bothered in some way -- more specifically, bothered about the end of their time together. Although Fuu is the one openly upset about it, Jin and Mugen are no less affected. When Fuu makes the decision to go off on her own, all they can do is stare blankly off into the distance, troubled by her sudden departure. And as Jin and Mugen come in conflict with Kariya Kagetoki, they trust each other to stay alive. Although this notion is covered up by the usual "we still have to fight", you can sense that they don't want each other to die; they need to stay alive for Fuu and for themselves.

It was because of these moments that made Jin's line -- "I've finally found friends" -- not so surprising. He had always been alone and purposeless prior to meeting Fuu and Mugen; in traveling with them he found his reason to live, his reason to wield a sword. Not for a lord, but for his friends -- the two people who have given sense to his fighting. He may not want to admit it, but they mean a lot to him.