Episode 3 of Houshin Engi is probably the best of the lot. It's not high praise, but it is what it is. It still rushed things. It still introduced parts from later in the story entirely too early, but it didn't mangle anything too badly.
At least, that's how I saw it. Talking with some anime-only people (the few that still exist) led me to understand just how lost some people may have felt about certain things.
Let's go into it!
I'm going to say something important first. The first five or so volumes of Houshin Engi have very dense storytelling. They set up a lot of events and little details that are going to pay off later in the story.
To properly adapt the first volume of Houshin Engi, you need at least four episodes.
In fact, you can turn the entire first volume into a 10-episode anime if you push it. You'd need to move around some things but it's doable.
One panel of manga does not equal one second of animation. Fight panels can be done quickly. Panels with people talking require more time. If you have a panel with a caption box, then you need to figure out a way for that information to reach the viewers.
More importantly it is easier to reread a manga panel than it is to rewatch a scene. When you adapt a manga into an anime, you need to take all those things into account.
Hiko's wife (Her name is Kashi by the way) and sister appear in volume four. They are introduced and killed in the same chapter.
I'm not going to lie and tell you it's not sudden in the manga, because it is. However, by this point, you have plenty of reasons to care about Hiko. There is a tragic element to it, because it is what fully breaks Hiko's relationship with the Empire and, by extension, with Bunchuu.
More importantly, the manga conveys a lot more information than the few short minutes the anime gave us.
The anime poorly tried to foreshadow this in a blink and you'll miss it moment. When Hiko tries to help out Taikoubou in episode 1, Dakki reminds him they have his sister hostage.
Kou Hiko comes from a very important family. They have served the Empire for generations and his sister was made part of the Emperor's harem. Once upon a time, that was probably an honor, but then Dakki and all her demons came.
Now Hiko's sister is a hostage.He cannot do much or else his sister may be killed.
Like the rest of the Emperor's wives (save Dakki), Hiko's sister lives in the palace harem. Males are not allowed in there. In fact, the Imperial Harem does not allow any visitors.
There is just one exception, during the New Year.
That's the only time when Hiko's sister can receive a (female) visitor.
Hiko's wife, being a kind woman, has made this trip for quite a few years now. She's probably the only friendly face Hiko's sister gets to see and only once a year at that. Anyway, this time something different happens during her annual visit.
Dakki shows up.
See, all of this is happening right after Bunchuu leaves. Last time he was in the capital, he began unmaking everything Daki made. Dakki can't have that happen again.
Dakki has arranged for the Emperor to be there that day. Normally, it is taboo for the Emperor to meet the wife of one of his subjects. If you want to know why, just look up all the times a King or Emperor had one of his subjects killed so he could marry their hot wife.
Since the Emperor is under Dakki's control, it only takes a few words from her to make him desperately want to see Hiko's wife. When he does, he decides to take her as his.
However, Hiko's wife is not having any of that. She knows she cannot refuse the Emperor or her husband will be punished in her place so she takes the only alternative available to her.
She dies as Hiko's wife.
If you aren't familiar with stories that take place in ancient Japan or China, this may come as a big shock. However, the Emperor's authority is a big deal. Also, honor and stuff.
Anyway, this pushes Hiko's sister to the brink. She punches the Emperor and also kills herself. She knows the only reason this has happened was because she has been a prisoner all this time. With her out of the way, Hiko can do whatever she wants.
Hiko is now free to leave the Empire.
And that's what Dakki wanted.
Together, Hiko and Bunchuu were a threat to her rule. Separated? Not so much.
See, Bunchuu is fanatically loyal to the Empire. For that reason, he cannot allow Hiko to serve another lord. He is a too important figure. Whoever he serves acquires more legitimacy. That's why Dakki sets up this whole thing.
Now that Hiko is leaving, she has forced Bunchuu to move against him. which strengthens her rule and debilitates Bunnchu who has to go up against his best friend.
The anime fails to properly convey any of that.
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