Director Naoyuki Itô obviously relishes classic world-building elements and oversees some rather astonishing visual set pieces. All the staples are there, too: bloody battles, surprising revelations and dormant powers within unlikely sources.

It has a quaint courtly dialogue style and, alongside the punch-ups, a penchant for realpolitik intriguing that sets it apart.

There [are] many female characters, but they don't feel very well roughed out. Then again, no one does. Not even the battles, which mainly consist of cries of "fire ball".

It's long, violent, bloody. If you are into this particular series, you'll probably enjoy it. If you haven't been watching it, you'll be lost.