This is a simple story arc, so the risk of filler and boring sub-plots is high; however they manage to avoid it brilliantly. The pace is good, and this sub-plot, while rather simple, is clearly a critical part of the overall character-arc of the main protagonist.
This episode, like most of the others, is filled with fan service, which is not a major issue and I am sure will be of interest to some of the viewers. However the fan service is rather, let us say, bold, especially the way the mother acts towards her son.
What I find most interesting is the morality, while certainly not a peaches and cream story, the morality of being an assassin is high realistic and credible. The relationship morally, while being rather edgy for current times, is certainly a reality for the period this seems to be part of. Its almost historically in many ways, such as nobles with mistresses, which would have certainly been familiar to the members of any royal court in the 17th century Europe, and in certain periods in Japanese history.
This episode, like most of the others, is filled with fan service, which is not a major issue and I am sure will be of interest to some of the viewers. However the fan service is rather, let us say, bold, especially the way the mother acts towards her son.
What I find most interesting is the morality, while certainly not a peaches and cream story, the morality of being an assassin is high realistic and credible. The relationship morally, while being rather edgy for current times, is certainly a reality for the period this seems to be part of. Its almost historically in many ways, such as nobles with mistresses, which would have certainly been familiar to the members of any royal court in the 17th century Europe, and in certain periods in Japanese history.