Forum - View topicDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (TV + movie) (w/ index).
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#16
At its heart, this is a series about killing cannibalistic Oni. An episode like this has to do its job right, or viewers will get bored and distracted when the occasional slapstick comedy schtick gets an airing. Part 2 of the puppet master, only this time the puppets are living humans. Viewers may not feel it, but for Tanjirou of the bleeding heart seeing his ostensible compatriots getting abused in this way really gets to him. A clever solution for keeping the living puppets is found, but it indirectly ends up getting them killed when the "Mother" has a temper tantrum and kills them all so that she can reset her strings. Her trump card is the intact carcass of a beheaded Oni, so it's very strong and doesn't have any obvious weaknesses at first glance. Tanjirou's eye for the strategic situation gets another workout, figuring out how to disintegrate the manipulated corpse was not easy. The Oni's final moments should be familiar to viewers by now; no matter how angry Tanjirou is he has compassion rivalling Buddha himself when he judges an Oni as repentant before its execution. The relationship between the Oni "family" is a strange one. It's clear the one called "Rui" is calling the shots since he's one of the Twelve, but he's not taking up the role as "head of household", leaving it to another Oni of immense physical proportions. Not sure what he's going for, but the "Mother" was so relieved to be freed from her imposed role that the hold he has over the lesser Oni who are his "family" must be a strong one. Hopefully there'll be more explaining over the next few episodes, since there's plenty more oni killing to be aired. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#17
It's an episode focused on Zenitsu's background. As unappealing as that sounds for viewers who have continued to put up with his antics, it's not a completely wasted episode since it's revealed why he's like that yet managed to qualify for the Final Selection exam. He might be cowardly and a skirt chaser, but blood will out and if he finds a way to draw out the combat potential he has when he's unconscious he'll be much more useful as a swordsman and tolerable as a personality. Just the one attack, but his reflexes are top notch and with lightning as his breath theme there's plenty of power and speed behind the attack. Perfecting the move like his Grandfather ordered seems to mean increasing the number of times he can execute the move at any one go, in this case sixfold. Coupled with the element of surprise he seems to have when enemies look down on him when he's awake, and the series has its sleeper assassin character. Two "family members" down, it's now the turn of the "Father" to make an appearance. He's huge and it looks like he's got rock for arms if Tanjirou's attack doesn't succeed in slicing off the arm despite clean contact. If the blade breaks, it's going to be another duel to the death, but with higher stakes and a penalty for the protagonist. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#18
This is comfortably the longest story arc of the adaptation to date. The Oni "family" with the heavy spider emphasis is gives a new challenge each week, but two of the five have fallen and the pillar reinforcements have arrived. It shouldn't be long before the Oni fall, but the process is where the fun is. I didn't notice this in previous episodes, but the OP animation which shows the pillars reveals a new face each time a Pillar is introduced. Giyuu was always shown, now Shinobu (butterfly Pillar) is visible. Giyuu isn't very sociable, while Shinobu appears to be able to fly and isn't fazed at all even at the sight of Zenitsu slowly turning into a spider. I thought the swords would break trying to cut off "Daddy"'s arm, but it turns out both of the swordsmen broke their blades this episode. Inosuke literally had one foot and half his body through death's door before Giyuu's intervention (which shows what kind of power disparity there is between the elite and the footsoldiers). As for Tanjirou, I don't know if failing to cut that arm did something to the blade's durability, but that cliffhanger ending means he's got some serious evasion to do if he wants to avoid being sliced into tiny pieces by monofilament spider's web. Shouldn't Nezuko be making an appearance soon? Older brother getting cut up with her still in the box would be very out of character for the series shown to date. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#19
Very impressive episode. Yes, Tanjirou needed his own spontaneous power-up moment to overcome this week's obstacle, but it's still impressive all the same. The Butterfly Pillar's monologue about the life-or-death flashback is remarkably prescient in Tanjirou's case. It looks like his humble family background has a secret of its own, but too little information right now to decipher why his frail father has a breathing technique that shares characteristics with the breaths of the various Demon Slayers. As twisted as Rui's concept of family is, he'd made it work for so long through the compulsion of fear and power. Whether or not he has the same background which can elicit sympathy from viewers like some of the previous Oni opponents is open for debate, but it's rare to have such a warped value of family without something to give rise to it. It's been a while, Nezuko. Not only has your brother learned something new to stay alive in this series, somehow you've also learnt how to use a Blood Art of your own. Exploding blood is a double-edged sword though, after all one has to be bleeding to use it and Nezuko doesn't shed blood for the sake of it. Not much air-time left, so how is it going to end? |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#20
All that trouble to finish off Rui and it turns out he decapitated himself to avoid Tanjirou's last ditch attack. Probably not a surprise the elite Oni have learned a trick or two to stay alive for long enough to earn the favour of the progenitor. That would have been the end of the pair then had Tomioka Giyuu not shown up. Similar to the elite Oni, the pillar Swordsmen have tricks up their sleeve which distinguish from the regular grunts. He even has a technique which Tanjirou doesn't even know about. So Rui's coerced game of playing house is a means to help him recover the memories he should have prior to his transformation. The structure feels more like a Yakuza family than one combined from blood ties, especially with the "initiation" ceremony involving Rui's blood. Although the undisputed "godfather" of his Family, Rui never did get the same feeling he experiences when he sees the bond between the Kamado siblings first-hand. Kochou Shinobu is another example of a Pillar with unusual tricks up her sleeve. Extremely agile and fast, she lacks the strength to behead Oni and makes up for it by poisoning them with their inherent weakness against Wisteria flowers. Her dialogue with the surviving family member is unsettling, since she does it with a smile and an even tone of voice despite the macabre nature of the discussion. Zenitsu is effectively relying on her pharmacological expertise to stop his transformation into a mindless spider. Episode ends at an awkward point: usually the "boss" Oni Tanjirou defeats (or in this case had a hand in defeating) have some kind of background story to elicit some sympathy from viewers. The episode cuts off before Rui's entire background can be elucidated. I'm hoping there's proper closure to this mini-arc before the series can reach the end of its air-time. |
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DuskyPredator
 Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Butterfly slayer is the coolest character in the show. She was so fun to watch. And also worming the truth out of the girl demon, who I think had clearly been lying to herself about how awful she had become, and choices she may have had. An abuse victim being in denial about the abuse that they themselves caused?
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#21
The "Demon Family" arc officially ends this episode. Rui's past is another one fitting the pattern of major Oni being a victim of circumstances beyond their control. Muzan picks his targets well, since each one he turns is effectively under his thumb and acting the way he wants them to do with a few choice words. Fortunately for the siblings, Tomioka Giyuu recognises who they are at the last minute and defends them from Kochou who's unaware of their circumstances and is just doing her job. The exchange which follows proves Kochou isn't just good with physical poisons; she's got a venomous tongue to match which she'll use even on her erstwhile comrades. Even the trailer episode follows through with this as she gleefully takes the mickey out of Tomioka Giyuu any chance she gets. Another Final Selection graduate this week; the only one who was female and is apparently working under Kochou if the butterfly hair ornament and Kochou's warning to Giyuu about the second pursuer being any indication. Another comical sequence as Nezuko reverts to super deformed mode to evade the constant attacks. The crows always follow the Corps when they are in action, and it seems someone has watched long enough to call off the attack on the siblings and secure them for interrogation at Corps headquarters. With that last scene, virtually all of the Pillar Warriors are featured as shown in the OP. With the arc finished, what happens next should be crucial on how the story progresses: the main party will have no fighting for at least a few episodes since they are in no physical shape to do so. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#22
With this episode, all but two of the Hashira warriors in the OP have their faces out of shadow. Probably because the Snake and the Wind representatives weren't revealed at the end of last week's episode. If I'm right, all 9 of them will have their faces uncovered in the OP next week. This episode is an attempt to resolve the contradiction that has shadowed Tanjirou ever since he started his new career; how does a member of the Corps get away with taking a kid sister who's now an Oni on his slaying missions? Besides this issue, the episode takes the opportunity to introduce the Corps elite warriors, two of whom (Tomioka and Kochou) are already known to the audience but get a proper introduction in this episode. One accusation that can't be levelled against the nine is bland homogeneity. They all distinctly different from each other and have the personalities to match. It appears the degree of extremism which pervades throughout the Corps membership manifests itself in the Hashira as well; the Snake and Wind representatives are the most extreme in their prejudice and are willing to disobey their respected Corps leader to see Nezuko killed. Speaking of the Corps leader, if Tanjirou is right he is VERY ill. He cannot walk without the aid of the twins from the Final Selection (his daughters?) and he's apparently blind if his greeting to the Hashira warriors is any indication. Despite his physical impairment, the Hashira all went on their knees as soon as he started speaking. Lack of loyalty is not an issue for both the Oni leader and his Slayer Corps counterpart. The cliffhanger ending isn't really what it seems to be. After all, if Nezuko finally snaps and attacks Sanemi she'll be summarily executed and the story will end soon after Tanjirou's own death. Since there's still airtime remaining, that's clearly not an option. Although her restraint should be a forgone conclusion, what happens afterwards should be interesting since even the two prejudiced Hashira will have to grudgingly accept their leader's decision with gritted teeth. |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#23
No surprise Nezuko didn't take the bait, but the brainwashing proved to be a masterstroke insurance policy from Urokodaki. Who knows what she would have done without it, since the person in front of her had stabbed her three times and had fresh blood thrust at her. Whether it's the brainwashing or the influence of her older brother, Nezuko appears to have accepted her responsibility to protect humans instead of following the Oni instinct of consumption. So the Master is blind after all. There's something about his voice which keeps unruly subordinates in line and can calm down any warrior who's excitable or agitated. Too bad there's hardly enough running time remaining to explain why he has that peculiar appearance and is blind yet can still assume responsibility as the 97th Master of the Slayer Corps. Zenitsu is back to his annoying self, which coupled with his physical state means he won't be using his sleeping style for probably the rest of the adaptation. Poor Inosuke had his vocal cords crushed, so he can barely speak. How on earth is this adaptation going to end when next week is clearly some kind of training arc?! |
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EternalDreamz
 Posts: 6 |
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I started watching this anime back in july and i already think it’s really good so far. The animation is top notch and I don’t think it’ll be the kind of anime that has a dozen of filler episodes.
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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#24
The rehabilitation episode is focused on slapstick comedy and the slow recovery of the three oddballs. Zenitsu's VA gets a tough workout on the vocal range, while Tanjirou reminds viewers he's the person he is because he never gives up and will stubbornly pursue a goal no matter how long it takes him. There's still time for character development and little skits. Kanao is the successor to the Butterfly pillar, so viewers are now told why she's a cut above the regular warriors of the Corps. It's hard to believe she's capable of destroying such a huge gourd with air pressure alone, but that's what Tanjirou and the other two need to aspire to if they want to get better than they are. I've always found the Butterfly pillar unsettling, because of her unusual eyes and the emotionless tone she adopts when speaking to people. Turns out she's not as emotionless as she portrays herself to be, but she's taken a shine to Tanjirou and his dedicated efforts and will put aside her hatred for the Oni in general to support Tanjirou's goal of curing his sister. Next week (which should be the penultimate episode) focuses on the successor, who hasn't really had much of a chance to occupy the spotlight to date. Still no idea how they plan to finish this adaptation, especially as there's more material to adapt and with no announcement of an extended season in sight. |
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ACｘS
 Posts: 880 |
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25:
As slapstick as it may be when Shinobu managed to spur Zenitsu and Inosuke into taking taking part in rehab with comedic ease, it hits the nail on the head of an undeniable truth: when it comes to influencing someone, there's no better way to do it than to understand his motivation and work on that. Call Shinobu manipulative if you want; she did something that pure-hearted Tanjiro can't (maybe won't) do. From the onset, the whole 'flame breathing' versus 'fire breathing' conversation seems odd. Like, what's the point of it? Me thinks it's classic foreshadowing: 'fire breathing' might be a secret technique that Tanjiro will eventually learn and master down the (long) road. If that is true, it's figuratively befitting: pairing Breath of Water with the elementally-opposite Fire Breathing technique? How enticing. We're down to the final episode for the season (definitely going to be many sequels to come), but we're introduced to a new demon? Probably just a filler demon for Rengoku, or a plot device for setting up for what's to come in the sequel. Otherwise, what else can the show accomplish with just one episode? |
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Harleyquin
Posts: 2842 |
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Rehabilitation arc is over, but it leaves a big question on how to handle the next episode which is the last one for this adaptation yet doesn't finish anything conclusively. Ufotable going to continue adapting more material, or will someone else take over with an as-yet unannounced new season?
Despite the episode highlighting Tsuyuri Kanao, her background isn't as detailed as I thought it would be. She lived a life so hard that she literally snapped mentally, only to get a lucky break when she's adopted by the Kochou household. The now deceased elder Kochou has a similar personality to the current pillar, but she's no longer alive so the younger sister is trying to act like her to keep her memory alive. It must suck to be anyone other than Tanjirou when it comes to this training arc. He literally put in all of the hours on how to master the new technique, while the more talented Zenitsu and Inosuke save time spent on figuring out the basics since Tanjirou can give them a platform to work from. Being the pioneer for something new and unknown is always tougher than those following afterwards. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Episode 26 (finale)
So the spider guy getting killed was bad enough that Kibutsuji decided that the lower half of his 12 best demons were completely useless, all except one total psychopath. And the three main characters recovered enough for the Infinite Train, whatever that is, seeming to also be the name of the next arc that will be a movie. Kanao also spoke to Tanjiro, and she is totally Tanjiro's main love interest, with him leaving an imprint on her to listen to heart. Either way, good to not have so many female characters be completely silent. I enjoyed the show, although it did not stay at the amazing quality of its first episode, which I would say was the best at really selling the environment. And dragged in places, Zenitsu and Irosuke not always fun characters. The actual demon slaying took its time, along with the coming together of the trio. Perhaps why stopping at the midpoint would have been a bit of a mistake. I would also have liked Nezuko to really do anything, her being a silent character that slept years on end, and explained to have been hypnotized to be safer, she feels more like a plot device rather than an actual character. Anyway, rating this season I give a Good (7/10), at least as it was it was worth watching. |
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DuskyPredator
Posts: 15462 Location: Brisbane, Australia |
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Episode 26 (finale)
So the spider guy getting killed was bad enough that Kibutsuji decided that the lower half of his 12 best demons were completely useless, all except one total psychopath. And the three main characters recovered enough for the Infinite Train, whatever that is, seeming to also be the name of the next arc that will be a movie. Kanao also spoke to Tanjiro, and she is totally Tanjiro's main love interest, with him leaving an imprint on her to listen to heart. Either way, good to not have so many female characters be completely silent. I enjoyed the show, although it did not stay at the amazing quality of its first episode, which I would say was the best at really selling the environment. And dragged in places, Zenitsu and Irosuke not always fun characters. The actual demon slaying took its time, along with the coming together of the trio. Perhaps why stopping at the midpoint would have been a bit of a mistake. I would also have liked Nezuko to really do anything, her being a silent character that slept years on end, and explained to have been hypnotized to be safer, she feels more like a plot device rather than an actual character. Anyway, rating this season I give a Good (7/10), at least as it was it was worth watching. |
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