Demon Slayer succeeds because it pairs the visuals with a compelling story, one that plays out in the conversations between the characters and the action scenes. You can feel Tangiro’s desperation in every sword stroke, his all-consuming desire to protect the innocent against Muzan’s forces.
His helplessness echoes through his anguished cries as he strives to overcome the might of Muzan’s Upper Six soldier. You cannot help but cheer him on during that final push against Gyutaro, applauding loudly as he swings desperately for the demon’s neck. All the while, Inosuke, and Zenitsu are standing their ground against Daki.
This could have easily been the Tengen show. And he deserves it. Rengoku is still my favourite Hashira. But Tengen would probably give him a run for his money, what with his swagger, the confidence behind his boasts, and those awesome swords.
But no. Demon Slayer spreads the attention evenly among all the characters. Zenitsu’s blistering speed gets an impressive showing. Inosuke’s bluster seemingly saves the day near the end, before all hell breaks loose.
Even Nezuko gets a chance to play, proving once and for all that an anime does not have to run for a thousand episodes to create a well-rounded cast of characters. We made significant headway in the story.
Kagaya, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, is clearly on his last legs. The curse will soon claim his life. But he takes a moment to celebrate Tengen and Tanjiro’s victory. An Upper-rank demon is dead. Muzan’s forces have not tasted such defeat in a long time. Meanwhile, Tanjiro ruined his sword again.
This paves the way for a trip to the swordsmith village where Haganezuka will forge him a new one, kickstarting the Swordsmith village arc. The images Ufotable released for the new arc highlighted the Mist and Love Hashiras. Clearly, they will play a significant role in the next chapter of Tanjiro’s journey.
The next season, which may air in 2023, has a lot of questions to answer. Yes, Muzan is down one upper-rank demon. But Rengoku is dead, and Tengen lost a hand. Even if he hadn’t, he promised his three wives that he would retire once they achieved their goal, and they succeeded.
Either way, he is gone. But his comment suggests that Tanjiro will take his place, which sounded silly a few months ago. But that new breathing technique he developed could bridge the gap between him and the other Hashira.
Meanwhile, his origins are still a mystery. Is he a sun breather or not? He was not born with his scar, but that mysterious power proves that there is more to the boy than meets the eye.
Look at Nezuko. She was such a powerhouse this season, and Tanjiro shares her blood. There is something we don’t know. The next arc will tell all, hopefully.
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