Screenwriter: Reiko Yoshida-sensei likes to write about modest characters Maybe that's the reason why there is a part in TMM original story in which Lettuce is the main character . Interview article:
Yoshida: I don't know...I haven't really thought about it, but I'm aware that I tend to like writing about people on the margins rather than heroes. I feel like I like portraying people who have complexes, are easily discouraged, or don't believe in themselves, rather than people who are extremely talented.
Interview Source - https://x.com/Berrychanx92/status/1772730820526043594?s=20
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A spin-off film from the Wicked Priest film series, featuring Ryotatsu (Bunta Sugawara), the blind priest and sworn enemy of Shinkai (Tomisaburo Wakayama), the aforementioned Wicked Priest.
This film was released between the last two Wicked Priest films (#4: The Killer Priest Comes Back, and #5: Breaking the Commandments). In it, Ryotatsu comes across a blind boy abandoned by his mother at a temple. Ryotatsu takes the boy under his wing and teaches him how to survive as a blind person, all the while as they travel searching for the mother.
There is plenty of bloody fighting (as one expects from this series), and Wakayama-san even has a cameo - not as Shinkai, but as an elderly eye doctor with a taste for the hootch who may be able to cure the boy.
The film doesn't break any new ground in the chambara genre, but it's solidly entertaining. And Sugawara-san is always fascinating to watch.
The film was also released as The Whipmaster's Song of Death, The Blind Karate Expert Priest, and Fury of Karate Monk.
I have so much to say i don’t know where to start, I’ll focus on the character development and the episode itself
I love that Lettuce seems more confident in herself, cares for her looks, takes the lead, volunteers to help etc.
Yes it’s all means to an end for her, to get closer with Shirogane but his words really left an impact on her,
even before that she already wished to change at the start of episode 8
But if it wasn’t for his words she would probably never have the courage to change.
Look at that happy smile. even Zakuro notices she has changed and its doing all of this for a reason.
Zakuro LITTERALY is the big sister of the group.
LOL, Ryou is in another world ..... Poor Lettuce is getting chrushed and pushed on into his chest...You can feel the embarassement in her face ... while Ryou is just there being Ryou ... he’s not even aware...He acts so different with the other girls and Ichigo...If it was Ichigo in Lettuce play he would start bashing her.
GOOD GIRL, DOING RESEARCH BEFORE HAND
Sorry for this two random screesnhots but this just proves my theory about this season, exploring the Blue Knight identidy and the search for the mew aqua
Ryou notices something’s wrong with Lettuce. he calls out for her (probably worried and to snap her back to reality) ... I feel sad for Lettuce, relating to the Little Mermaid story
Meanwhile Kish appears and tries to steal the earrings, everyone thinks it contains Mew Aqua but Ryou ain’t gonna let that happen.
I’M SO GLAD FINALLY A CHARACTER THOUGHT ABOUT GRABBING HIS LACE XD
Anyways Kish and Lettuce fight, Kish wins the battle and retreats?? Because?
Letttuce is thrown out by the window and into the ocean, sinking and comes in contact with a light, thinking its mew aqua
Similar to episode 19 of the original anime
She gets transported into another time, when the aliens still inhabited this planet and we get more lore (seperate post)
Lettuce then helps her new friend by giving her some advice and words of encouragement like someone once did to her.
Back into her own timeline, Shirogane goes to her aid.
Finally alone with Ryou, Lettuce comes to accept her feelings for him, and know the viewers have a confirmation that it was actually love
Shirogane is caught by surprise, his reaction says it all. HE NEVER THOUGHT SOMEONE COULD LOVE HIM, AND HAVING THE SHY GIRL FROM THE GROUP CONFESS TO YOU? WHAT? THE SHY GIRL?
He even forgets his cool act
At least he thanks her for having the courage to say something so important.
BUT LIKE I SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES, THIS MAN ONLY LIVES FOR ONE THING AND ITS HIS LIFE WORK / PROJECT
He completely didn’t say no nor did he said yes..... it’s left on open and i hope once the season ends this subject is brought up again.
Like I mentioned on this post, Shirogane really cares for everyone, the burden he carries etc. Go read the post here,
I would translate it too, I’m sorry but I can’t answer your feelings right now, Lettuce
She took this in such a mature way, not loosing her compuster in from of him...
Ryou’s aware he hurt her feelings, that she’s broken, wanting to cry but holding it lal inside
He smiles at her and leaves her alone, despite being sad and heartbreaking, it was the best option in my opnion. She wouldn’t have cried in front of him.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT ZAKURO WAS THE ONLY ONE SELF AWARE OF THIS, MADE A DISTRACTION TO GET THE OTHERS WAY AND BE ALONE WITH LETTUCE AND COMFORT HER
She really is the big sister of the group, the big sister to all of the other girls.
It’s ok, you’re alone now, you can cry, let it all out.
And the episode ends with Lettuce crying in Zakuro arms.
It was a fantastic episode in my opinion, I would love if it focused a bit more on the aliens culture, Lettuce asking questions but I understand, the alien situation was there for Lettuce to compare herself with the earrings original owner and their situation and inspire her to confess to Ryou.
The original anime had thrown in this Ryoutasu moments but it was all very vague, New at least develops her feelings.
I hope in the end she gets a definitive answer, if that never happens...nothing I can do but accept it, we know in a way the Mew Project is never “finished”,
A la mode gave us the roses crusaders
Return had the girls dealing with loosing parasites.
There’s the PS1 game.
So maybe leaving their relationship in open its for the best.
Ryotatsu (Bunta Sugawara), the blind whip-wielding nemesis of Shinkai, hero of the Wicked Priest film series, gets his own solo film outing this time.
Ryotatsu comes upon a blind boy, Rintaro, who is abandoned at a temple by his mother. Feeling sympathy for the boy, Ryotatsu takes Rintaro on the road to search for the mother. During this time, Ryotatsu teaches Rintaro how to live and function with his blindness.
They meet assorted unsavory types during their travels, including yakuza, corrupt army officials, and other no-goodniks, all with the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 in the background. There's plenty of blood and action when Ryotatsu gets riles up, as is to be expected from any film in this series.
Ryotatsu is portrayed in a more sympathetic and heroic light as opposed to how he normally appears in Shinkai's adventures. Bunta Sugawara does his usual superb job in the role, especially as he's given so much more to do this time around.
Whipmaster was released between Wicked Priest 4: The Killer Priest Comes Back (1970) and Wicked Priest 5: Breaking the Commandments (1971). And where is Shinkai during all of this? I suppose he's on vacation, but Shinkai actor Tomisaburo Wakayama was not. He plays a doctor who may be able to cure Rintaro's blindness. It's a minor role, but Wakayama-san still manages to snag a prominent spot on the poster (that's him in the Santa Claus wig and beard).
Poster for Wicked Priest 4: The Killer Priest Comes Back (1970).
Shinkai (Tomisaburo Wakayama), the wandering wicked priest (he’s actually naughty, not wicked) of the title, is back in action. This time he takes on the cause of poor and exploited coal miners.
Ryotatsu (Bunta Sugawara), the blind whipmaster, shows up near the end of the film like the proverbial bad penny, looking for vengeance as usual. The inevitable clash between the two former friends takes on new level of intensity, as Shinkai has also been (temporarily) blinded.
Never has Wakayama-san resembled his brother, Shintaro Katsu, as much as he does here, mimicking his brother’s Zatoichi moves in the battle of the blind versus the blind. This is one of the most vicious duels between Shinkai and Ryotatsu in the entire series, and well worth the price of admission.
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So after watching the original Tokyo Mew Mew anime, I don't really understand why the Lettuce X Pie ship was popular? They didn't interact all that much, and she was clearly being set up with Ryou. Can you explain why people latched onto Lettuce X Pie? I don't get it.
I've made a post analyzing why both ships were popular within the fandom but why they aren't canon and its only up to viewer interpretation.
All the scenes mentioned in the post is what made viewers interpret them as being a future couple.
While ... analyzing it ... i turned off my bias mode and simply focused on the story and characters aspect of the anime
Lettuce x Ryou
Lettuce x Pie
Ryotatsu, the monk whom Shinkai blinded and left for dead, has confronted Shinkai on the road. Ryotatsu demands a rematch. Shinkai requests a postponement, saying there is an important matter he must attend to first.
Ryotatsu isn’t buying it.
Shinkai is conflicted. Prior to the events of the previous film, he had considered Ryotatsu his friend as they grew up. It was only after Ryotatsu’s “heel turn,” joining a group of corrupt priests who worked hand-in-hand with a yakuza gang, that led them to become enemies.
