The Last Samurai (2003)

As Alex and Ben - and Future Alex and Hightron - try to figure how Cruise can leap from the near future to 2 centuries earlier, they get into a discussion that takes in historical verisimilitude in cinema, race, class and colonialism. Such is life when you're this deep into the Cruisiverse and you get thrown The Last Samurai. Hokey white guilt, epic action adventure or Oscar-bait slightly out of time? Some of these and more, it transpires. Please get in touch if you have thoughts and feelings about any of this (details at the end of the episode). Music is Mission: Improbable by Dorian Kelly; artwork is by Laura Highton.