Ep 1. Slash!

In the first episode of Samurai 7, titled "Slash!", we are introduced to a world which is ruled by the mechanical samurais who terrorize the citizens. The opening scene brings us to a village named Kanna, which has been under constant attack by the bandits and their ruthless samurais. A young rice farmer named Kirara eagerly awaits the arrival of the seven famous samurais who were tasked to protect the village from further attacks.

As the samurais make their way to the village, we are introduced to each of them. The first is Kambei, the leader of the group, who is known for his calm and strategic nature. Next is the young and brave Katsushiro, who aspires to become a samurai himself one day. The third is Gorobei, who is quiet and reserved but an excellent strategist. The remaining four include the massive and powerful Heihachi, the eccentric and humorous Okamoto, the silent but deadly Kyuzo, and the mysterious and cold Kanbei.

Upon reaching the village, the samurais are greeted by Kirara and her two young friends, who inform them of the recent attacks by the bandits. Kirara is determined to hire the seven samurais to defend their village and offers them rice in return for their help. Kambei is initially hesitant to take on the task, but he soon realizes that the village needs their help, and he agrees to train the farmers to defend their homes when the bandits attack again.

As the samurais start to train the farmers, we see glimpses of each of their unique skills in action. Katsushiro proves that he has the potential to become a great samurai, Heihachi’s strength comes in handy during the training exercises, Kyuzo’s swift movements and incredible precision leave the farmers awe-struck, and Okamoto’s humor adds a touch of lightness to the otherwise serious situation.

Meanwhile, at the bandit's hideout, their leader Ukyo, receives word of the samurais' arrival in Kanna village and orders his samurais to attack once again. The bandits of the hideout are all mechanical samurais who are programmed to fight and kill without mercy. As the night of the second attack draws near, the samurais continue to train the farmers, and Kambei prepares them for the fight of their lives.

The attack begins, and with the help of the samurais, the farmers successfully fend off the bandits. However, during the fight, Katsushiro is injured, and Kirara realizes that they need to find a way to defeat the mechanical samurais if they want to save their village and protect the people they love.

In the end, the samurais realize that the only way to defeat the mechanical samurais is by destroying their control center, which is located at Ukyo’s hideout. Kirara and the farmers offer to provide the samurais with help and supplies, and the final scene shows the group setting out on a dangerous journey to the bandit’s hideout.

The first episode of Samurai 7 sets up a story that promises to be an exciting action-packed adventure with a unique twist on the traditional samurai tropes. The animation is stunning, and the character designs are beautiful, with each samurai having a distinct personality. The series' soundtrack is also noteworthy, adding to the intense and emotional moments throughout the episode. "Slash!" is a great start to what seems to be a promising series.