Akatsuki no Yona (Yona of the Dawn): Season 1/ Episode 11 “The Dragon’s Claw” – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

Overview

As our heroes wander through Fire Clan territory, in search of the Blue Dragon, we learn quite a bit about Ki-Ju.

Topic 1: Search For The Blue Dragon (Part 1) – Yona, Hak, and Ki-Ju

Topic 2: Unleash The Dragon – Hak & Ki-Ju

Topic 3: Search For The Blue Dragon (Part 2) – Yona, Hak, and Ki-Ju

Review (with Spoilers) – Below

Topic 1: Search For The Blue Dragon (Part 1) – Yona, Hak, and Ki-Ju

With this being Ki-Ju’s first time outside the village, and not having the praise, admiration, and luxuries he is used to, we learn he isn’t fully prepped for the life Yona lives. For with sleeping on the ground seeming foreign, bugs being frightening, and him unable to handle the means Yun makes, he seems very prissy. Naturally leading Hak to pick with him for a fussy dragon he sees as more so a snake.

Commentary

When meeting Ki-Ju, I realized he was sheltered, but I figured he was being full on prepped for a possible journey. One which would include possible suffering, fighting, and things of that nature. After all, considering the state Hiryuu when the dragons found him, you’d think the White Dragon village would have been prepping Ki-Ju for anything and everything. That is, rather than expect solely the power of Ki-Ju’s dragon arm providing all he would need to protect Hiryuu’s reincarnation.

Topic 2: Unleash The Dragon – Hak & Ki-Ju

With the group in Fire Clan territory, there is some fear that members of the Fire Clan may discover them. A fear which seemingly came true, until it was revealed that it was just bandits trying to rob our heroes. However, being that Hak is well enough to wield his blade, and Ki-Ju’s blood pumps when defending Yona, and his dragon power increases, they easily wipe out the bandits.

Leading to a few things worth noting: Ki-Ju finding Hak’s speed to be on the level of the dragons, despite Hak’s injured state; Hak not being fully healed yet; Yona’s archery has gotten good enough to hit a target’s hand at a distance; and, lastly, Ki-Ju is quite weak when it comes to his body outside of the dragon’s arm.

Commentary

It was quite interesting to see everyone in action, especially Ki-Ju since he represents what we should expect from the dragons, and, to be honest, I feel a tad bit disappointed. For while the dragons seem like magical and mystical creatures, the White Dragon claw wasn’t impressive. Add on that Ki-Ju made Hak seem to be on his level, while injured, and it further diminishes their legend and expectations. Though, considering Ki-Ju seemingly has no training, and was treated like Yona while growing up, perhaps he could one day surpass Hak. At this point though, his usefulness is mostly being a 2^nd bodyguard who could sense someone of better use possibly.

Topic 3: Search For The Blue Dragon (Part 2) – Ki-Ju & Yun

For most of the episode Ki-Ju is trying to use his dragon sense to find the next dragon, but he isn’t doing well at that. And despite Yun’s knowledge of the Fire Clan territory, all the happens is they spend two to three days going from village to village and finding nothing. That is, until Yun realizes there is one place they didn’t look. The place which seems uninhabitable. Though, considering the Blue Dragon’s clan seems like nomads, in comparison to the White Dragons, it seems uninhabitable land is a better bet. Especially since there is an assumption that the clan disappeared versus them being killed off.

Commentary

With the White Dragon tribe only being in for one episode, and their history not really gone into, as for how they settled in the land where they did, I hope the nomadic Blue Dragon tribe is a bit more detailed. For perhaps part of my issue with Ki-Ju isn’t just how underwhelming he is as a dragon representative, but also that we didn’t get much in the way of details about him. We know his parents aren’t around, but aren’t 100% sure why, and we aren’t made sure how they discovered this mist filled area, much less what happened to them since Hiryuu died. Hopefully though, in the future, more on Ki-Ju will be revealed, as well as the background of the rest of the dragons.