‘The Red River’ Episode 4 Stuns Viewers with Shocking Twist: ‘Did Yuri Just Die?!’

TV anime The Red River (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori) aired Episode 04, “Incarnation of Ishtar,” on July 28, 2026, and the episode’s jaw-dropping turn of events sent social media into a frenzy.

Based on the manga by Shinohara Chie, which ran in Shogakukan’s Shōjo Comic from 1995 to 2002, the story follows Yuri (Suzuki Yuri), an ordinary modern Japanese girl who is suddenly transported to the Hittite Empire in the 14th century BCE. There she meets Prince Kail, the leading candidate for the throne, and becomes known as the war goddess Ishtar. Caught between the conspiracies of the queen and conflicts with neighboring nations, Yuri must carve her own destiny while racing against a time limit to return to modern Japan. The series won the 46th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo category and was adapted into a stage production by the Takarazuka Revue in 2018. The TV anime began airing on July 7, 2026, directed by Kobayashi Kosuke at Tatsunoko Production, with Tachibana Miku as Yuri and Kato Wataru as Kail Mursili.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for Episode 04 of The Red River.

In the previous episode, Episode 03, Kail’s sudden kiss with Yuri became a hot topic. Viewers commented, “Why is he kissing her? lol,” “He’s kissing again lol,” and “What a loud mouth.” The character Urhi, voiced by Yusa Koji, also drew reactions like “He’s doing something trashy again!” and “A shady character’s CV is always Yusa Koji.”

In Episode 04, Yuri decides to stay in Hittite until she avenges Tito. She follows Kail as he sets out to subdue the Kashga tribe that attacked the fortress city of Arinna.

Arinna is Tito’s hometown, where her three older sisters—Hadi, Ryui, and Shara—live. When they meet Yuri, they glare at her with hostility. The reason: Urhi, who had arrived in Arinna earlier on orders from Nakia, had falsely told them that “Tito was killed by Kail’s concubine (Yuri).”

That night, the sisters break into Yuri’s bedroom to kill her. They force her to drink water given to them by Urhi, and Yuri immediately stops breathing and loses consciousness.

A doctor is called, but it is too late. Yuri appears dead, and her body is taken away by an unknown person. Social media erupted: “What?! Yuri died?!” However, when taken to a different location, Yuri inexplicably wakes up. She escapes from Zuwa, who tries to kill her, only to find herself cornered by a strange man with a blade.

This cliffhanger left viewers in shock: “It ends here?!” “I can’t wait until next week,” and even “I know the original story, but the direction still made me nervous.”

Episode 05 is scheduled to air on August 4, 2026.

Staff

Cast

Theme Songs

Opening Theme: “Akatsuki no Sora” by Nanami Hiroki (King Records) – Lyrics by Nanami Hiroki, Composition & Arrangement by YASUHIRO (Yasuhiro)
Ending Theme: “Reunion” by Shimizu Misa – Lyrics, Composition & Arrangement by Taisei Toda

Broadcast Information

TV anime The Red River airs on Nippon TV every Tuesday at 25:29 (AnichU slot) and on BS Nippon TV every Wednesday at 24:00. Times are subject to change.

© Shinohara Chie / Shogakukan / Anime “The Red River” Production Committee