I loved getting the history between Mariko and Ochiba and how their respective fathers have put them on opposite sides of the war. And Ochiba feels like a good foe for Toranaga, Mariko & friends. The others so far he's easily outsmarted but she's shrewd.
So I have a theory that the Heir is not the real son of the former Ruler. Dude supposedly banged hundreds of women trying to produce an heir and it just so happens that the one woman who got pregnant was the one with a huge axe to grind? I think she saw an opportunity to claim power and avenge her father and all she had to do was convince him she was having his baby.
I saw someone refer to Blackthorne as the Forrest Gump of the show and it made me laugh but it's also kinda true. Bro just keeps failing up.
I desperately need a gif of Fuji sipping her tea at the brothel. Dang but I love her.