The scriptwriter, Koki MITANI, said that he aimed for "the best villain ever in the history of Taiga Drama," and on appreciation of good acting by SATO, he increased the number of episodes in which SERIZAWA appeared.
「大河ドラマ史上最高の悪役」を狙ったという脚本の三谷幸喜は、佐藤の好演を評価して芹沢の出番を数話伸ばしている。