To start with this is easily the best show of the season and immediately kicks itself into my "things I would tell someone to watch besides it being a seasonal" category. In other words, I will be listing this as 10/10 on the two anime tracking sites I use (anilist mal). This show is *very me* taking place after the end of the Kamakura period and firmly integrates itself into this historical setting. It's full of little historical tidbits that are really fun to learn if you look after the episodes and fine to let slip past you.
The animation quality here is stellar with a fruitful blend of bright colors and the dark mudiness you would expect of war being contrasted against each other in a very impactful way. The titular "Elusive Samurai" is also highlighted though this well deserved budget which his movements feeling unthinkable if done any other way as he playfully dances around the battlefield.
Character designs are also extremely well done with even mob charecters feeling very memorable even after short appereances. (I now know multiple minor imperial officials by name!).
The comedy isn't always for me but this is something I will not hold against it as I am not the target demo for Japanese Shonen comedy. I will however note that some of the jokes I did find a decent amount funny which I found to be surprising.
Women charecters have some presence in the show but like many other members of the genre you an already feel them being sidelined by the 12th episode. There isn't much explicit misogyny but this is obviously unfortunate. This and Genba's pervert bit (Why does every show have this!) are probably it's weakest aspects. I don't think you should take this to mean there are no important female charecters as there are still 2 members of the band that are women fighters. Certainly a better track record than Naruto or DBZ.
