If, like me, you thought that the coition between Blackthorne and Mariko arrived too quickly in Episode 4, the fifth episode assures you that that scene was placed intentionally there. It amplifies the drama here as Mariko's husband, Toda "Buntaro" Hirokatsu, is revealed to be alive. The pleasures of "cloud and rain" turn into guilt. Episode 5, in a way, reinforces the cliché that a character is not dead unless a dead body makes an appearance. Off-screen deaths are as shaky as Yabushige's loyalty towards Lord Yoshii.
By shining a spotlight on Mariko, Blackthorne, and Buntaro, the fifth episode becomes a domestic drama of some sort. These three are ordered to stay under the same roof together, leading to an eruption of tension, friction, and awkwardness. There is an amusing hostility in the air as the men engage in a slurping/drinking contest (it's funny; it's ridiculous). Whenever Blackthorne and Buntaro are in the same frame, you sense they are very close to cutting each other's heads. Instead of fighting with guns or swords, however, they use words to assert dominance.
The fact that Buntaro and Blackthorne don't fluently speak each other's language increases the discord between them. Their animosity becomes palpable. Both men are connected to Mariko and not merely for the purpose of translation. She doubles up as a source of conflict between them. She also becomes a victim when Buntaro's arrow flies near her face. Later, she faces the wrath of her husband, forcing Blackthorne to confront him on the streets, where a drunk Buntaro blames Sake for his behavior. Buntaro calls Blackthorne a barbarian, but he himself acts like an animal.
When Fuji-sama first sees Buntaro standing in the doorway, she momentarily gets scared. Who can blame her, given the man, covered in darkness, looks like a belligerent phantom. A character says the house they are living in is cursed, and the stench of a rotting bird permeates the air. By taking all this into consideration, one can say the vibes of a horror movie emanate from here. No wonder the episode opens with the arrival of a "dead man." Towards the end, someone else is brought back to life after an earthquake.
Blackthorne continues to be shocked by the practices of the Japanese characters. When a gardener ends up dead, he stands in front of Mariko, Toranaga, and his son and refers to their traditions as "meaningless rituals." Mariko defends the accusation by pointing out that words carry weight. The Japanese characters sacrifice themselves for the greater good. The significance of the gardener's death is revealed at the end when Yabushige and Omi go to a spy's location. Similarly, Buntaro blames Sake for his impolite manners, suggesting he was not in control of himself. But that shot of the two arrows stuck at the right place indicates Buntaro was in control of his senses. Someone should tell Blackthorne that he shouldn't quickly underestimate the other characters.
Final Score - [9/10]