The episode's plot includes Strand and his team analyzing the damage to the Mesa after retaking it in the present, and both Dolores's plans to assault the Mesa in the past and her answer to Teddy's merciful personality; however, it mostly focuses on Maeve's experiences in Shōgunworld, a park based on the Edo period of feudal Japan where guests can experience more extreme adventures.
"Akane no Mai" received acclaim from critics, who praised the performances of Thandiwe Newton and Rinko Kikuchi, the character development of Maeve, and the technical aspects in the Shōgunworld sequences.
They are taken to a nearby village where Maeve and Hector realize that many of the hosts in Shōgunworld are their doppelgängers fulfilling similar roles to themselves, a shortcut used by Lee in crafting the narratives.
"Akane no Mai" introduces Shōgunworld, another Delos park which had been previously suggested during the first-season finale, with the aim to be set around the Edo period of feudal Japan.
[2] The episode featured compositions from Ramin Djawadi which include a revamped version of his cover of The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" used throughout the first season, and of Wu-Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M.
At Rotten Tomatoes, the episode has a 90% approval rating with an average score of 8.29/10, from 40 reviews, The site's critical consensus reads: "'Akane No Mai' finally delivers a picture perfect Shōgunworld, complete with familiarly intriguing new characters, meticulously intricate world design and a buffet of violent delights.
"[5] Giving it 5/5 stars, Vulture called it the "best episode yet of the entire series" because it embraced a "clear dramatic tack" and told a "contained, straightforward story.