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Shen Yi Bu
The Xiaolin Warrior I find to be the most relatable
is Raimundo. His character flaws make
him feel identifiable, especially since he develops past them as the series
goes on. They’ve been present a few
times in prior episodes mostly through caring more about frivolous maters and a
messing with Omi. His development past
his attitude problems starts here.
The
Xiaolin Warriors represent a certain natural element. This is why the action has often
cut to them doing a fight move as they say what they represent against an
elaborate backdrop. Raimundo’s element is wind.
The featured Shen Gong Wu, the Sword of the Storm, is wind related, so Raimundo
would be the best one to use it.
However, pertaining to his flaws, Raimundo drifts away to things he
finds more interesting such as surfing and impressing beach babes. He doesn’t
listen to the importance of the Sword of the Storm. As for the Sword itself, it’s an interesting
Shen Gong Wu that creates violent wind storms of
immeasurable magnitudes while also turning the user’s body into
wind. While Raimundo finds it, because
he didn’t listen to the information, he can’t use the Sword of the Storm properly.
As a result, he loses it to another villain hired by Jack and Wuya, a ninja named Tubbimura. Now, Tubbimura may be a standard evil ninja
personality wise, but a few things make him stand out. It’s amusing to see him fight skillfully with
such a round stomach, and while not in battle, he’s soft-spoken and civil.
As for Raimundo, his development kicks in
when he regrets his failure greatly. He
brushes up on as much information as he can on Shen Gong Wu and showdowns going
late into the night. This attitude is an
impactful and relatable form of redemption.
It’s like brushing up on a lot of information to make up for failing a
test so to do better on the next one.
I’ve been through this in school, so I know how this feels.
As was the case for me, Raimundo’s endless
studying pays off. There's a reveal of another Shen Gong Wu the Shroud of
Shadows, and he knows what it does, covering up the user to make
him/her invisible, before anyone else. During
the episode’s Xiaolin Showdown with Tubbimura, Raimundo’s knowledge shines
through.
He makes it a Shen Yi Bu Dare,
a special type of Showdown where the opponents can wager more than one Shen
Gong Wu. The Showdown itself is one of
the coolest. It’s modeled after a
Japanese pond the Shroud of Shadows is found. Its rocks reach to the
sky and the setting becomes stormy. Raimundo and Tubbimura have to use their
Shen Gong Wu to knock each other off their rocks while big koi fish randomly
switch their Shen Gong Wu around. In the
end, Raimundo impresses everyone by combining two Shen Gong Wu, the Eye of
Dashi and Sword of the Storm. This allows him to move with the wind, give Tubbimura a
humiliating defeat, and win a bunch of Shen Gong Wu for the Xiaolin side.
More development from Raimundo is to come,
but how he evolves in this one episode is already impressive. Starting as a bored lollygagging student and
becoming a champion at knowledge in battle, he’s the highlight of the episode.
It goes to show the good that can come from the most unlikely of places.
A+
The Ranking
- Shen Yi Bu
- Katnappe
- The Journey of a Thousand Miles
- Like a Rock
- Tangled Web
The next Xiaolin Showdown review puts the Warriors' tiger instincts to the test when Kimiko is replaced with a doppelganger robot.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is "Face Your Fears" from OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes.
If you would like to check out other Xiaolin Showdown reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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